Ten community organizations were recognized with grants ranging from $1,000 to $3,500.
Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office for Civic Organizations (OCO) today announced the winners of the 2022 love your block Mini-Grants that fund neighborhoods across Boston to organize cleanups, beautification projects, and social programs that highlight our communities’ cultures and transform physical landscapes. Ten community organizations received grants ranging from $1,000 to $3,500 for projects in Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mission Hill/Roxbury, Roslindale, South Boston and Mattapan.
The Love Your Block mini-grant program was created in 2015 with a three-year grant awarded by the City of Boston cities of service. After the grant expired in 2018, Love Your Block became a permanent city program under the Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement.
“The Love Your Block program is a staple for community-minded residents across the city, and the Office of Civic Organizing is very proud to continue this work.” said Director of Civic Organizing Henry Santana. “We are committed to empowering residents and neighborhoods to get involved in civic engagement, and we look forward to working with more community organizations in the future. Congratulations to all scholarship recipients. I look forward to seeing the great work they will do for their communities.”
2022 LOVE YOUR BLOCK MINI GRANT WINNER:
- Sociedad Latina – Revitalization of the Sociedad Latina community garden at the Tobin Community Center in Mission Hill, creating a community mural and installing a community refrigerator.
- South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation – Organized a community clean and plant drive to get residents involved in neighborhood beautification.
- Dante Alighieri Montessori School – Creation of a meaningful green space in the school yard for food production, including raised beds throughout the school yard and a salt marsh for growing seaweed to be planted on vulnerable shores.
- Keep Hyde Park beautiful – Planting and beautification at four locations in Hyde Park.
- Friends of Mary Ellen Welch Greenway – Revitalizing two high traffic areas on the Greenway with Adirondack seating and planting.
- Friends of Blakemore Bridge – Blakemore Bridge revitalization with lighting and art.
- Friends of Curley K-8 School – Beautification of a pocket park, creation of a footpath and bicycle parking area, as well as a drainage system that doubles as a safety measure and useful for plants.
- BRAVE YOUTH – Improvement of the green areas and beautification of the Dr. Loesch Family Parks.
- Hobart Park Neighborhood Association – Hobart Park beautification and improvement with plantings, a new waterproof community plaque and a small free library.
“Congratulations to the 2022 Love Your Block Mini-Grants Recipients,” said Brianna Millor, director of community engagement. “We seek to invest in the work of our community organizers to enrich their communities and the quality of life of residents. I look forward to seeing the finished projects.”
The Office of Civic Organizing recently announced the return of the yearbook Love your block citywide clean-ups. The office worked with him Office for Neighborhood Services (ONS) and local community organizations to carry out community-driven beautification projects across Boston for the past week and again on Saturday, September 24th. Volunteers are encouraged to do so log in bit.ly/LYBVolunteer2022. Additionally, residents have the opportunity to work with the City of Boston to beautify their neighborhoods year-round with support of the Love Your Block program. Interested parties can email [email protected].
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ORGANIZATION
That Civic Organization Office is committed to collaborative partnerships and programs that foster engagement, awareness and service in communities throughout the city of Boston.
