January/February 2011 Newsletter

Renew Boston: NOAH Chosen to Be One of Three Neighborhood Coordinating Sites

In collaboration with the City of Boston, NOAH successfully launched a series of free weekly energy efficiency workshops for income-eligible Boston residents. Both renters and homeowners may qualify for up to $3500 in insulation and air-sealing work that could cut a family's home heating bill by up to 30%. The program is offered through Renew Boston, a Mayor Menino initiative to help Boston residents conserve energy, save money and lower utility bills. Residents can learn how to get free home upgrades and cut their energy use.

NOAH has been selected as one of three CDC's in the City to lead grassroots marketing and neighborhood outreach for Renew Boston. We will serve as a satellite office for the initiative, hiring a Neighborhood Network Coordinator to connect residents with the program's weatherization services. We are organizing a 'launching' event in mid-March, and the Mayor has indicated that he will join us. The City hopes to reach up to 3,000 households through this program. Workshops are offered in both Spanish and English Tuesdays at 6:30 PM at NOAH at 143 Border Street. Call Kim Foltz, NOAH's Director of Community Building & Environment, for additional details at 617-418-8241.

NOAH Youth Update

The Environmental Chelsea Creek Crew (E3C) has been working hard on a number of climate-change related and environmental initiatives, particularly in the areas of transportation and storm water management. The crew has been meeting with MBTA officials to discuss reducing the rush-hour restrictions for bicycles on the Blue Line, requesting that the bike-ban hours during the morning and afternoon rush hour be limited, so as to encourage more bicycle commuting between East Boston and mainland Boston. Pictured are the NOAH youth, Program Coordinator Diana Baldelomar and MBTA General Manager Richard Davey. Continuing their advocacy for a sustainable East Boston, the E3C youth gave a presentation on January 19th on "Blue Cities" at the Boston Transportation Department's (BTD's) public planning meeting regarding the redesign of Central Square. The "Blue Cities" model for storm water management reduces flooding problems and keeps waterways cleaner by mimicking the way by which the environment naturally absorbs water. The presentation was very well-received, and E3C is now meeting with BTD and the Boston Parks Department to continue the planning.

The Know What's Up youth crew has been busy as well. They will be holding their next concert on March 25th; this will be their annual environmental justice (EJ) song and poetry event. They will be working with East Boston High School students to teach about EJ issues and to help generate submissions. For more information about our youth activities, please contact NOAH's Youth Program Coordinator Diana Baldelomar at 617-418-8243. 

Trinity Treasures Fundraiser This June

NOAH plans to hold its 'Trinity Treasures' fundraising and celebratory event this June. We will honor such memorable figures as Dr. Edith DeAngelis, Grace Flynn, Ginny St. Cyr, Evelyn Morash, Mary Cahalane; as well as contemporary figures Rick Dimino, Fran Riley, Joey Cuzzi and Mayor Thomas Menino, all of whom have helped make Trinity House the social and cultural landmark it is today. NOAH wishes to salute the unique role that East Boston citizen-leaders have had in empowering Trinity House programming throughout the years; and ensure that the legacy of civic values embedded in the history of Trinity House is passed along to today's residents, especially to our youth. In part we will also observe the completion of the recent historic exterior rehabilitation of the 160-year old Trinity House, due to generous funding from the City of Boston and an anonymous donor. To date, the Event Committee includes: Joey Cuzzi of the East Boston YMCA, Eastie resident Chris Flynn, Citizens Bank President Jerry Sargent, East Boston Savings Bank President Deborah Jackson, Representative Carlo Basile, City Councilor Sal LaMattina, Senator Anthony Petruccelli, Former Senate President Robert Travaglini, Attorney Diane Modica and Executive Director of A Better City Rick Dimino. If you are interested in serving on the Committee or in becoming a corporate sponsor of the event, please contact Phil Giffee or Linda Miller-Foster at 617-418-8246 for more information.

New Rental Units

The new affordable housing units at the Cutler Heights development in Holliston (pictured) are near completion.

57 First-Time Homebuyers!

NOAH recently completed a program for the City of Boston Housing Authority utilizing HOPE VI funding to help create 57 new homeowners; 53 of these purchased their new homes within the City of Boston. Through the Washington-Beech Homeownership Counseling & Loan-to-Purchaser Program, our staff worked with clients, educating and coaching them through the qualifying and buying process, viewing potential purchases, attending closings, preparing or reviewing documentation, and guiding each client in a timely fashion during the entire process, including post-purchase counseling. The provision of direct financial assistance to homebuyers was key to the successful completion of the project; and eligible clients received a forgivable government loan to help buy their homes. NOAH staff worked cooperatively with DND with 25 of the clients; and 18 purchased homes in the Madison Park development. In January, NOAH held an event to celebrate the completion of the project and to congratulate all of the homeowners involved; pictured are a few of the attending new homebuyers. Many kudos to NOAH's Diana Franco and Zaragoza Guerra for their hard work in completing this worthwhile program!
 

TD Bank Charitable Foundation 

Upcoming Events

Renew Boston Workshops
Tuesday evenings, February 22 and March 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 6:30 PM at NOAH. Come learn about how to get no-cost home upgrades and cut your energy usage! For more information on these free, bilingual workshops, contact Kim Foltz at 617-418-8241.

Youth Environmental Career Fair
On Tuesday, February 22 from noontime to 4:00 PM, at the Youth Environmental Job Fair, NOAH's E3C youth will offer a workshop on environmental justice entitled "More Than Just a Seed" and NOAH's Melinda Alvarado-Vega will present Blue Cities as a model for water quality improvements. The event is being held at the Curry Center at Northeastern University. For more information, please contact Melinda at 617-418-8248.