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Tag: Boston

  • Man charged with reckless homicide in Apple store crash

    Man charged with reckless homicide in Apple store crash

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    HINGHAM, Mass. — A man is being charged with reckless homicide after crashing his SUV through the front window of an Apple store in Massachusetts, killing one person and injuring at least 16 others, authorities said Tuesday.

    Bradley Rein, 53, will be arraigned Tuesday on a charge of reckless homicide by motor vehicle after an investigation by state and local police into the crash in Hingham, southeast of Boston, the Plymouth County district attorney’s office said.

    Rein was arrested Monday night and is to be arraigned in district court in Hingham, the district attorney’s office said in a statement. It’s unclear yet whether he has an attorney to speak on his behalf.

    A 2019 Toyota 4Runner crashed into the store’s plate glass window and struck people Monday morning. The victim who died was identified as Kevin Bradley, 65, of New Jersey.

    Apple released a statement saying it was “devastated by the shocking events at Apple Derby Street today and the tragic loss of a professional who was onsite supporting recent construction at the store.”

    The storefront window showed a gaping hole as first responders worked at the scene of the crash. The store had been scheduled to open about an hour before the crash.

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  • 1 dead after vehicle crashes into Apple store

    1 dead after vehicle crashes into Apple store

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    1 dead after vehicle crashes into Apple store – CBS News


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    An SUV crashed into an Apple store outside of Boston, killing one person and injuring at least 17 others. Errol Barnett reports.

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  • 1 dead, 2 dozen injured, when bus carrying students crashes

    1 dead, 2 dozen injured, when bus carrying students crashes

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    WALTHAM, Mass. — A college student died while more than two dozen other passengers and the driver were injured when a bus returning from a hockey game struck a tree in suburban Boston, authorities said.

    The preliminary investigation suggests the bus was returning to Brandeis University from a hockey game at Northeastern University in Boston at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday when it crashed in Waltham not far from campus, according to a statement from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Waltham police Chief Kevin O’Connell.

    One student died at the scene. The remaining 26 passengers and the bus driver “sustained injuries of varying degrees” and were taken to area hospitals, the statement said.

    Brandeis in a statement early Sunday said 17 of the injured had been released from the hospital and the remainder have been admitted.

    “Given the number of injured people and the different hospitals to which they were transported, it is taking time to determine the status of everyone involved, including which passengers are Brandeis students,” the statement said.

    No names were made public and no one has been charged.

    The crash remains under investigation and police are asking witnesses to come forward.

    Brandeis said grief counselors were available at the university’s counseling center.

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  • 5 juveniles arrested after large group attacks officer at Forest Hills MBTA station

    5 juveniles arrested after large group attacks officer at Forest Hills MBTA station

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    BOSTON – Transit police said three teenage girls were arrested Monday after a group of Boston Public School students attacked an officer. Two additional juveniles were arrested on Tuesday. 

    It happened just before 4 p.m. at the Forest Hills MBTA station.

    Transit police said there were about “40-50 youths” loitering inside the station. An officer approached the group and told them to leave.

    Instead, police said the group “violently set upon the officer,” kicking and punching him.

    When the officer fell to the ground, the teens allegedly continued to kick and drag him.

    Additional officers from Boston Police, Massachusetts State Police and Transit Police responded to help.

    Police arrested three girls who were 14, 15, and 16 years old. They were charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a police officer. 

    The teens were released on personal recognizance with conditions that they observe home confinement except for school, and stay away from the Forest Hill T station and their co-defendants. 

    Police did not release any more information about the two juveniles arrested Tuesday. 

    “We will not tolerate this behavior and will arrest those who engage in such anti social violent and criminal behavior,” Transit Police said. 

    CBSBoston.com Staff


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  • Walgreens Closures Create ‘Pharmacy Deserts’ in Boston

    Walgreens Closures Create ‘Pharmacy Deserts’ in Boston

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    Boston‘s City Council took Walgreens to task this week for closing three stores in primarily non-white, working-class neighborhoods, according to local TV station WCVB.


    Bloomberg I Getty Images

    Walgreens store.

    “For too long, corporate businesses have treated Black, brown and working-class communities essentially as though we are second-class citizens,” councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson said in a statement, per the outlet.

    This week, Walgreens announced it would close three pharmacies in Boston neighborhoods Hyde Park, Nubian Square, and Mattapan. It will leave people in those areas in a “pharmacy desert,” NBC Boston wrote.

    It is likely part of an ongoing strategy by Walgreens and competitor CVS to shutter retail locations, even as both chains get further into providing clinical care. In November 2021, CVS announced it would shut down 900 stores over a three-year period because of shifting consumer spending habits.

    In 2019, Walgreens announced it would close some 200 stores. Economic headwinds this year could even have sped up some such plans.

    But it still leaves people who need prescriptions in the lurch. “There’s not one locally to where I live so it would mean going across town to Quincy,” Kiera Mahoney of Mattapan told NBC Boston.

    “In the Black neighborhood, they are just closing everything. Some of us [don’t] have transportation, some of us have to look for transportation now, especially the elderly, and I am elderly,” Ernell Trench, a senior living in the neighborhood, told WCVB.

    The pharmacies were closed in areas that are “overwhelmingly Black and Hispanic communities,” according to The Boston Globe.

    Walgreens did not reply immediately to a request for comment but said in a statement to WCVB that wants to create “the right network of stores in the right locations.”

    “When faced with the difficult task of closing a particular location, several factors are taken into account, including things like the dynamics of the local market and changes in the buying habits of our patients and customers, for example,” the company added.

    The Boston council passed a (non-binding) resolution that asked Walgreens not to open any more stores in the area unless it delayed closing these three locations.

    “What is occurring here seems to be a present-day manifestation of the embedded economic inequality that we still suffer from,” Fernandes Anderson also said.

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    Gabrielle Bienasz

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  • Higher Hotel And Car Supply Chain Pressuring Package Travel Options

    Higher Hotel And Car Supply Chain Pressuring Package Travel Options

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    Supply chain is a term that used to be used only by those in business or logistics. Today, we hear this daily as to why baby formula is not available, or why containers are stacked up in a port. At Dario’s Italian restaurant in Boston’s Logan airport, on a recent visit they had no cream delivered so could not make some of the items on the menu. The waiter said “you know, the supply chain problem.” Airlines have used supply chain excuses to explain late delivery of aircraft or why they can’t meet a pre-anticipated level of capacity. In many things we buy, we realize our dependency on supply chains when things are not available as we’d expect.

    Airline travelers are facing supply chain problems in other areas, too. Package tours, meaning vacations bought that include a flight, hotel, maybe a car, and experiences, have been affected because not all opportunities have been available or the prices have been especially high. While leisure travel in general was strong in the summer and has stayed strong into the fall, this category of leisure travel is challenged and represents a small risk to a full airline demand recovery.

    Important Segment Of Leisure Travel

    People travel for leisure for many reasons. Package Tours make up a small segment of all leisure travel, but this segment is more important to certain destinations. About 30% of travelers say that they want to pack a lot experiences into their vacation. For these people, a package tour can be the way to fill the days. In 2019, my family took a two-week vacation to Vietnam. We worked with a local travel agency who arranged our internal flights, all hotels, and made us aware of many different activities. We likely could have arranged this all ourselves had we taken time to explore and search, but buying the tour was worth it for us and we had a great and memorable time.

    Especially internationally, package tours can be way to see things and get access that would be difficult or more expensive another way. When hotels are not available or certain activities are not available due to supply chain shortages, this could change the desire to visit a place. While the amount of travel or number of travelers may not change, these supply chain challenges could affect international leisure destinations the most and correspondingly the airlines that fly these routes.

    Staffing Issues Affecting Hotels And Resorts

    One of the biggest issues affecting package rates is the sharp increase in hotel and resort rates. One industry executive stated that while the employee shortages were more acute last year, many properties have kept the higher rates put in place at this time even as some of the pressures have waned. Like airlines, price elasticity affects hotels and resorts, meaning that higher rates reduce the demand. While the “revenge travel” idea may mute this somewhat, eventually higher rates will dampen demand.

    Consumers often decide a trip based on the total price. Higher prices for air fares and hotel rates means one of two things: some locations will suffer absolute volume, and others will get visits but for shorter stays. For both airlines and hotels, one advantage of a package price is that the amount paid for the air fare and the hotel is opaque to the buyer. This allows the airline or the hotel to offer promotional rates to fill otherwise unused capacity, but in a way that doesn’t invite a competitive match or dilute the non-packaged “rack rates.’’

    Car Rentals Still Challenged

    Car rental companies returned many vehicles just after the pandemic hit, and still are facing shortages in vehicles in many locations. Just as new cars are facing supply problems, due to chips or other supply chain issues, this has meant that rental companies often don’t have enough vehicles to meet demand. On a recent trip to Florida, we were told that on check-in that no cars would be available for two to three hours. When we walked out to the car area were able to take a Ford F150 that had just been returned, even though we had rented a mid-size.

    Another industry executive referred to car rental rates as staying “incredibly inflated.” This, like the flight and hotel issue, adds more uncertainty to the package opportunity that likely will be more highlighted at busy holiday times. It also means that ride share, like Uber or Lyft, will likely to be used more often for some trips. Like the hotels are doing, it is likely that car rental companies will test keeping their higher rates even as they bring car inventories back to demand-satisfying levels.

    Housing Prices Can Affect This Travel

    One often under-appreciated aspect of package vacations is the relationship with housing prices and valuations. For some demographics, home equity loans are the primary way these vacations are funded. When housing values are high and interest rates are low, there is more equity to tap in a loan to take this kind of family trip. With interest rates shooting up and housing values stalling, this limits the ability to take such a loan or raise the rates to a point uncomfortable for many potential buyers.

    This doesn’t affect all buyers of these products, but affects some of it. The industry has seen this in other environments, like in the housing crisis of 2008-2011. During this time, some of the most price-sensitive travel just vanished as people’s source of funding evaporated.

    Contributes To Revenue Uncertainty

    In the recent Delta Airline’s earnings release, CEO Ed Bastian spoke bullishly about the demand environment. He focused on the normal drop off from summer to fall not happening, and pointed out that there are no signs demand is weakening. Most of his comments were about business travel and higher-priced leisure travel. While higher-priced leisure may be an industry strength over the next year, there are still many pressures holding back a full volume return of corporate business travel.

    Airline industry revenues may be leveraged more on business and higher-end travel, but the high fixed costs of the industry means that airlines often need to fill in gaps with price-sensitive leisure travelers. When hotel, rental car and other prices for vacationers rise, it adds to the the uncertainty of the revenue environment. While many trends are positive, as Delta pointed out, this strength is not top to bottom and this creates some uncertainty in total revenues. Different airline business models may be more at risk than others for some of these trends.

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    Ben Baldanza, Contributor

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  • City unveils plan for major makeover of Boston Common

    City unveils plan for major makeover of Boston Common

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    BOSTON — Boston Common, America’s oldest public park, is getting a multimillion-dollar makeover that includes an expanded visitors’ center, more restrooms, additional sports facilities, and even a sit-down restaurant at the famed Frog Pond, city officials announced Wednesday.

    The goal is to make the 50-acre (20-hectare) swath of green space in the heart of the city more welcoming, convenient, fun and accessible for both city residents and tourists.

    “Boston Common’s gorgeous tree-lined paths and open spaces have hosted so many moments marked in history, from shaping our collective conscience to celebrating our communities,” Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement. “We’re excited to be sharing a plan that honors the Common’s history, reflects the community’s vision, and creates a space that will be more accessible, more resilient, and more inclusive for generations to come.”

    The Common was founded in 1634 and draws millions of people per year. It has been used as a place for public executions, as a pasture, and a military training field, according to the nonprofit group Friends of the Public Garden, which helped develop the Boston Common Master Plan.

    More recently it has hosted civil rights marches, Vietnam War protests and a 1979 Catholic Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II attended by an estimated 400,000 people during a soaking rainstorm. It was also the site of huge protests in 2020 against police brutality.

    The multiyear plan also includes tripling the size of a children’s playground, a dog park, and adding wheelchair ramps to the Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial, and the Parkman Bandstand.

    “With this Boston Common Master Plan, America’s first public park will have a unified vision for evolving and adapting to meet the needs of Boston’s residents and visitors to our city as well as of the park itself,” said Liz Vizza, president of the Friends of the Public Garden.

    The planned changes are the result of years of public input and will be funded in part by $28 million from the 2019 sale of a city parking garage. The city has opened a 45-day public comment period for residents to share their priorities for the makeover plan.

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  • Fire damages Mark Wahlberg’s childhood home in Boston

    Fire damages Mark Wahlberg’s childhood home in Boston

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    BOSTON — A home where entertainers Mark and Donnie Wahlberg’s family once lived was damaged by fire Sunday in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, the fire department said.

    The blaze in a nearby home at around 10 a.m., but spread to another three buildings because of strong winds, Fire Commissioner Paul Burke said. Two firefighters suffered injuries and one resident was taken to the hospital. There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.

    One of the homes involved was 25 Peverell Street, where the Wahlberg family used to live. Mark Wahlberg visited the home during the production of his Netflix movie “Wonderland” in 2018 and 2019. In one video posted on social media, the actor stands shirtless in front of the house, describing it as “where it all started.”

    The homes affected by Sunday’s fire were a type of classic Boston architecture called a triple decker, a three-family home that’s common in the city.

    “It was a total of four three-deckers that were on fire, mostly in the rear of the buildings on the porches,” the fire commissioner told WCVB-TV. “It’s a very tight street.”

    Boston Fire Department spokesperson Brian Alkins said 15 people were displaced by the fire. He estimated damage to the buildings at $2 million.

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  • Post Malone, experiencing ‘stabbing pain,’ postpones show

    Post Malone, experiencing ‘stabbing pain,’ postpones show

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    BOSTON (AP) — Post Malone went to the hospital again Saturday after experiencing what he described on social media as difficulty breathing and stabbing pain, forcing him to postpone a scheduled show in Boston.

    It was the second time in about a week that he went to the hospital. He was treated for bruised ribs after falling into a hole on stage at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis last weekend.

    “On tour, I usually wake up around 4 o’clock PM, and today I woke up to a cracking sounds on the right side of my body,” he wrote on Twitter on Saturday. “I felt so good last night, but today it felt so different than it has before. I’m having a very difficult time breathing and there’s like a stabbing pain whenever I breathe or move.”

    He pledged to reschedule the show.

    “I love y’all so much. I feel terrible, but I promise I’m going to make this up to you. I love you Boston, I’ll see you soon,” wrote the singer, whose real name is Austin Richard Post.

    The venue, TD Garden, said in a tweet that the show was “postponed due to unforeseen circumstances” and tickets for Saturday’s show would be honored for a rescheduled date.

    Malone is scheduled to perform in Cleveland on Tuesday.

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  • Celtics suspend coach Ime Udoka for 2022-23 season

    Celtics suspend coach Ime Udoka for 2022-23 season

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    BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics have suspended Ime Udoka for a full year, banning the coach who led them to the NBA Finals last spring for the entire 2022-23 season over what two people with knowledge of the matter said was an improper relationship with a member of the organization.

    The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team did not reveal that detail publicly. In a statement issued Thursday night after a full day of wrangling over the terms of the punishment, the Celtics said Udoka violated team policies and left open the possibility that a longer separation could follow.

    “A decision about his future with the Celtics beyond this season will be made at a later date,” the team said.

    Assistant coach Joe Mazzulla will take over as interim coach, one of the people who spoke with The AP said. The defending Eastern Conference champions are scheduled to hold media day on Monday and open training camp on Tuesday in preparation for the Oct. 18 season opener.

    In a statement published by ESPN, Udoka apologized “to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down.”

    “I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision,” he said. “Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.”

    A longtime assistant in his first NBA head coaching job, Udoka led Boston to a 51-31 record last season — going 26-6 in the final 32 games. The Celtics beat Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Miami on the way to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.

    The developments stunned the NBA and shook up a team that had been among the favorites to contend for a championship this season. It would be an unprecedented 18th title for the franchise.

    But in Boston, the story was reminiscent of the shakeup across town in 2020, when Red Sox manager Alex Cora was suspended by Major League Baseball for a year for his role in a sign-stealing scandal at his previous job, with the Houston Astros. Instead, the sides parted ways.

    After a last-place finish under Ron Roenicke in the pandemic-shortened season, Cora was re-hired a year later and welcomed back.

    It is unclear if Udoka and the Celtics will be as eager to reunite.

    The 45-year-old Udoka spent the bulk of his NBA playing career with San Antonio and then joined Spurs coach Gregg Popovich’s staff as an assistant. Udoka was on the Spurs’ staff from 2012 through 2019, winning it all in ’14, and he quickly found his way onto short lists for open head coaching jobs.

    He spent the 2019-20 season in Philadelphia and the 2020-21 season in Brooklyn before the Celtics hired him in June 2021 as the successor to Brad Stevens — who moved up to the front office. In Year 1, Udoka finished fourth in coach of the year voting and the Celtics came within two wins of the championship.

    “The future is bright and we’re just getting started,” Udoka said after the NBA Finals.

    Perhaps not.

    The bombshell on the eve of training camp is the latest twist heading into what was supposed to be a promising season for the NBA’s most-decorated franchise.

    The Celtics bolstered their runner-up roster by acquiring guard Malcolm Brogdon in a trade from Indiana, then added sharpshooting veteran forward Danilo Gallinari as a free agent. But last month, Gallinari tore the ACL in his left knee and will be lost for the coming season.

    Center Robert Williams, a key part of the Boston defense scheme who played through injuries during last season’s playoffs, is still dealing with knee soreness and is expected to miss the start of the season.

    The Celtics were also mentioned in speculation over a new home for Brooklyn forward Kevin Durant, a perennial All-Star who asked for — and then backed off — a request to be traded. Although the talks amounted to nothing, it raised questions about Boston’s commitment to young star Jaylen Brown.

    It’s also the second major disciplinary situation in as many weeks in the NBA: Commissioner Adam Silver decided last week to suspend Robert Sarver — the owner of the Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury — for one year and fine him $10 million after an investigation showed his pattern of disturbing workplace conduct, including abusive and racist language. Sarver said Wednesday he intends to sell his teams.

    Mazzulla interviewed for the Utah Jazz coaching job this summer, a position that ultimately went to Will Hardy — another of Udoka’s assistants in Boston last season.

    Mazzulla’s only previous experience as a head coach is a two-year stint at Division II’s Fairmont State in West Virginia, where he went 43-17 and made the NCAA tournament in his second season. A native New Englander from Rhode Island, Mazzulla played at West Virginia, was an assistant for the Celtics’ G League team before taking over at Fairmont State, and then got hired by the Celtics again in June 2019 to be part of Stevens’ staff.

    Mazzulla’s last game at Fairmont State was against Mercyhurst. His first real game with the Celtics will attract a bit more attention: Boston is scheduled to host longtime rival Philadelphia in the opener, when they will tip off a year-long tribute to Hall of Famer Bill Russell.

    ___

    Reynolds reported from Miami.

    ___

    More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports



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  • Ride-share CEO says all US Uber vehicles will be electric by 2030

    Ride-share CEO says all US Uber vehicles will be electric by 2030

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    Ride-share CEO says all US Uber vehicles will be electric by 2030 – CBS News


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    After a test period in select U.S. cities, Uber is going nationwide with its new Comfort Electric feature. Passengers will now be able to specifically request an electric vehicle in 14 additional American cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Houston. Ben Tracy has more.

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  • News Chopper Crash Lands in Central Boston

    News Chopper Crash Lands in Central Boston

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    News Chopper Crash Lands in Central Boston – CBS News


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    A helicopter operated by WCVB, ABC’s TV affiliate in Boston, was forced to make an unexpected landing in Boston Common, located in the center of the city. WBZ-TV’s Jonathan Elias reports.

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  • Boston’s 2nd Fierce Urgency of Now Festival Celebrates Young Professionals of Color in a Big Way

    Boston’s 2nd Fierce Urgency of Now Festival Celebrates Young Professionals of Color in a Big Way

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    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke in his “I Have a Dream” speech of the “tranquilizing drug of gradualism”. He implored Americans to uphold responsibilities to democracy, and to progress with a spirit of the “fierce urgency of now”. City Awake (a program by the Boston Chamber of Commerce) is commencing the 2nd annual Fierce Urgency of Now Festival on Sept. 4-8 with 40 events in the City of Boston to highlight the opportunities and challenges of young persons of color – and to spark equitable action from business, civic, and government leaders.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Aug 26, 2019


    BOSTON, August 26, 2019 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​​​​​City Awake is calling on the city of Boston to wake up…and to wake up ​now​.

    In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King addressed a crowd amassed along the National Mall to declare: “We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. There is no time […] to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.”

    This Sept. 4-8, individuals and organizations from across greater Boston will gather together to remember, renew, and recommit to the mission that the time of fierce urgency ​is ​now. For five days, both learners and leaders will build connections and community during the aptly titled Fierce Urgency of Now (F.U.N.) Festival. The second-ever annual event is first of its kind in the nation – a festival meant to highlight the experiences of, challenges, and possibilities for young professionals of color in Boston.

    The idea for F.U.N was born out of the results of the 2017 report City of Millennials, a collaboration between Boston Indicators, the Boston Foundation, and City Awake. Results from the report identified a divergent experience for millennials of color living and working in Greater Boston, and demonstrated a disproportionate amount of challenges in issues of affordability, overall economic security, and the continuous narrative of Boston as an unwelcoming city for young professionals of color.

    “To address the reputation and realities of Boston as a city that is unwelcoming to people of color, we need to bring people across sectors, backgrounds, and perspectives together for meaningful dialogue that leads to change,” said Justin Kang, executive director of City Awake and vice president of Economic Growth for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce (GBCC). “Young professionals of color are critical to this work, and through FUN we are giving a platform to lead in creating a Boston where all can thrive.”

    James E. Rooney, president & CEO of the GBCC, shares “For greater Boston to maintain and grow its economic standing, we must ensure that we are addressing the challenges holding us back as a city, particularly challenges that impact our ability to attract and retain a talented workforce. Our region’s population is younger and more diverse than at any time in our history, so it is imperative that we provide connecting opportunities and discuss issues that will make us a better, more welcoming, and more competitive city. FUN is a way to have those important conversations while also having a good time and building stronger connections between the business community and young people of color.”

    “At John Hancock, we aim to build a healthier, more equitable Boston, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive work environment that welcomes diverse talent,” said Sofia Teixeira, head of U.S. Diversity & Inclusion at John Hancock. “We are proud to partner with the Chamber on its economic opportunity initiatives and this F.U.N. festival will enable important conversations and connections that can help drive important change to move our city forward.”

    “Young people of color have a right to feel like they not only belong and are welcomed but that they are truly valued and supported where they live and work,” said Dani Monroe, Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at Partners HealthCare. “As employers, we know how imperative it is that they have opportunities to build their professional skills and presence in the workplace but their ultimate success hinges on much more than we can accomplish within the walls of our organizations. It is vital that we work together as a community to build up this critical segment of Boston’s workforce and Fierce Urgency of Now does just that by providing spaces for people of color to have the opportunity to grow both professionally and socially, and build meaningful connections that will allow them to have a stronger presence in the workforce and in their own personal lives.”

    Festival programs will be hosted across the city by various partner organizations. The festivities will kick off on Sept. 4 at the historic Fenway Park with “After 5 @ Fenway,” a pregame party followed by a Red Sox versus Minnesota Twins matchup. On Friday, Sept. 6, City Awake and P&G Gillette will partner to present the festival keynote event – a fireside chat with Tristan Walker, founder & CEO of Walker and Company Brands, a company that strives to make health and beauty simple for people of color. P&G acquired Walker and Company in 2018, and Walker continues to operate as CEO. In a discussion moderated by Boston Globe culture writer, Jenee Osterheldt, Walker will speak about his journey as a young black entrepreneur, the opportunities and challenges that can come from large corporations and startups joining forces, and running a business as a millennial father of two.

    Other events include a professional development session hosted by the New England Aquarium and the Boston Public Health Commission focused on how climate change impacts communities of color; a panel discussion led by “Googlers of Color” at the Google office; an inclusive and nostalgic 90’s Night at the Boston Children’s Museum; a showcase for queer artists of color hosted by Citizen Schools; an Afrobeat fit session at Hibernian Hall; and the Bostown Music Festival hosted by Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen, to name just a few. A complete listing of events can be found attached and online.

    The 2019 FUN event is made possible by Presenting Sponsors: Arnold Worldwide, John Hancock, Partners HealthCare and Contributing Sponsors: The Boston Red Sox, P&G Gillette, The Boston Foundation, TSNE Mission Works, and Tufts Health Plan.

    About City Awake

    City Awake is the leading platform for next-generation leaders in the Greater Boston area. A program of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, City Awake empowers next-generation leaders through programming that builds community and fosters dialogue about the most pressing issues facing our region. Through this work, City Awake aims to deepen young professionals’ connections to the broader business and civic communities and recognize their important contributions to our economy. Learn More at CityAwake.org.

     About the Greater Boston Chamber

    The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce is the convener, voice, and advocate of our region’s business community, committed to making Greater Boston the best place for businesses and people to thrive. It helps its members and Greater Boston succeed by convening and connecting the business community; researching, developing and advocating for public policies that contribute to our region’s economic success; and providing comprehensive leadership development programs designed to grow strong business and civic leaders. Learn more at BostonChamber.com.

    Media Contact:

    Katie Hauser, Vice President, Marketing and Communications
    (617) 227-4500
    khauser@bostonchamber.com

    Source: Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

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  • Whittier Street Health Center Among 100 Organizations Selected for AG Grant to Partly Fund Summer Jobs for Youth

    Whittier Street Health Center Among 100 Organizations Selected for AG Grant to Partly Fund Summer Jobs for Youth

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    Summer Youth Employment Program at Whittier Gets a Financial Boost From Healthcare Settlement Money From AG Maura Healey’s Office

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Jul 16, 2019


    ROXBURY, Mass., July 16, 2019 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​​​​Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey recently announced her office will award Whittier Street Health Center ​part of the state’s healthcare settlement money in a grant to support the summer hiring of youth. Whittier is one of 100 organizations across the Bay State who were selected for the grant.

    The generous support of Healy’s office will partly fund youth counselors for Whittier’s Summer Youth Enrichment Program, a summer day-camp which began in 2003 to meet the needs of working parents in the community. The majority of Whittier’s campers are from housing developments in the Roxbury area, where the opportunity for positive and safe summer activities is slim.  

    Throughout the six-week summer program at Whittier, children ages 6 to 11 participate in sports and fitness activities, maintain and contribute to Whittier’s community garden, participate in cooking classes and nutrition workshops, and receive mentoring about healthy lifestyles.  

    “Our summer jobs program provides hundreds of young people across the state with an opportunity to challenge themselves, gain new skills and make a difference in their own community,” said Healey, who launched the Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Grant Program in 2015, and has funded more than 800 jobs to date.

    One of those jobs belongs to Roxbury resident Tryshten Suazo, who has been employed as a youth leader at Whittier Street Health Center’s Summer Enrichment Program since 2015. Suazo began the program as a day-camper himself and credits the program for having a profound impact on him. 

    “It impacted me in the way it increased my ability to socialize,” said Suazo, who appreciates the opportunity to work at the summer program and interact with the community. For young people like Suazo, the options for summer work in his urban Boston neighborhood are minimal and primarily in customer service or retail. “Not only are you making money and occupying yourself, you’re focusing on something that you’re interested in. I just love coming to hang out. I’m learning something new every day,” he said. 

    “It really does benefit the community,” added Suazo. “Parents need to find a good place to bring their children, not only to have fun and learn stuff from other people but also expose them to new things they can bring back to their neighborhoods.”

    For low-income youth without a summer day program, a Johns Hopkins Learning Association Report found a phenomenon known as the “summer slide,” which manifested in lower rates of high school graduation, seasonal weight gain three times as fast and deficits in valuable social-emotional learning skills such as conflict resolution, cooperation and communication abilities.    

    The mission of Whittier Street Health Center is to provide high-quality, reliable and accessible primary health care and support services for diverse populations to promote wellness and eliminate health and social disparities. The health center also provides community-based cancer care in partnership with Dana Farber Cancer Institute; general dentistry; HIV services; laboratory; obstetrics and gynecology; pediatrics/adolescent health; LGBTQ clinic; eye care; and mental health counseling. Whittier also runs over 40 social service initiatives from a food pantry to a wellness center/gym, addressing everything from substance abuse, violence, trauma, food insecurity and total person holistic wellbeing. Whittier Street Health Center is a 501c3 charitable organization.

    Media  Contact:
    Jesse Migneault Phone: 617.989.3283
    Email: jesse.migneault@wshc.org
    @Whittier_Boston

    Source: Whittier Street Health Center

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  • Whittier Street Health Center Marks 17-Year Anniversary of President and CEO Frederica Williams

    Whittier Street Health Center Marks 17-Year Anniversary of President and CEO Frederica Williams

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    Under Williams’ direction, the historic Boston health clinic has experienced massive growth; including the construction of a five-story, 78,900-square foot, state-of-the-art health facility in 2012 which now bears her name.

    Press Release
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    updated: May 3, 2019


    ROXBURY, Mass., May 3, 2019 (Newswire.com)
    –
     – Frederica Williams, CEO and President of the Whittier Street Health Center (WSHC) is marking 17 years at the helm of the revered community institution, which has seen massive growth in her tenure.    

    “It’s been a long journey, and I am thrilled every day to be here and serve the community,” said Williams. “The mission of Whittier is my life mission as well, so it’s personal.” 

    Williams was the driving force behind a 10-year effort to construct the health center’s first permanent medical home. After multiple setbacks and extensive property negotiations, the ambitious project was cobbled together through William’s business acumen and determination to raise funds.     

    Completed in 2012, the five-story, 78,900-square foot, state-of-the-art health facility was 14 months ahead of schedule and $640,000 under budget.

    In 2018, Williams was recognized for her efforts to make the now nationally distinguished health center a reality, and honored by the WSHC Board of Directors who officially named the building after her.

    Since joining WSHC in 2002, Williams has received dozens of awards recognizing her work as both a woman-of-color CEO and a driving force behind Whittier’s expansion and success. This includes WSHC being named by the Boston Globe as one of the top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts from 2014-2018.

    On this anniversary Williams is also being acknowledged for her other accomplishments at WSHC, which include opening a satellite clinic on Blue Hill Avenue in Roxbury, building a 6,600-square-foot fitness center at the Tremont location, the creation of a community garden, launching a mobile health van outreach initiative, a partnership with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and a men’s health clinic.  

    Williams was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone and is a descendant of the Creole (Krio) people — a melding of freed slaves, who, with help from the British government, settled in Sierra Leone after the American Revolution.

    “I dedicate this recognition to my parents and pray that their legacy of service, love and social justice continue to live on in the work we do at Whittier for generations to come. The Whittier building project was a family mission with prayers and words of wisdom and encouragement from my family, and the love and support of my sons who sacrificed time with me and pitched in to support the vision for the Whittier building.”

    “I am grateful to have a loyal team of dedicated colleagues at Whittier. It is the Whittier team’s care and respect for patients that make Whittier a warm and welcoming place for everyone who comes through our doors. “  

    Williams lived in Sierra Leone and the UK before moving to Boston in 1984. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the London School of Accountancy, a Graduate Certificate in Administration and Management from the Harvard University Extension School and a MBA from Anna Maria College. She lives in Boston with three sons. 

    The mission of Whittier Street Health Center is to provide high quality, reliable and accessible primary health care and support services for diverse populations to promote wellness and eliminate health and social disparities. The health center also provides General Dentistry, HIV Services; Laboratory; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Pediatrics/Adolescent Health; LGBTQ Clinic, Eye Care, Counseling and Substance Abuse. Whittier also runs over 40 social service initiatives addressing everything from substance abuse, violence, trauma, food insecurity, to total person holistic wellbeing. Whittier Street Health Center is a 501c3 charitable organization.

    Media Contact:
    Jesse Migneault
    Phone: 617.989.3283
    Email: jesse.migneault@wshc.org

    Source: Whittier Street Health Center

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  • David Whitaker Lectures in Boston on Digital Marketing Strategies

    David Whitaker Lectures in Boston on Digital Marketing Strategies

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    Press Release
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    updated: Jun 21, 2018


    BOSTON, June 21, 2018 (Newswire.com)
    –
    At a recent lecture to website and mobile app developers, digital marketing strategist David Whitaker discussed his keys to success in navigating an ever-evolving digital landscape. “It is easy to become overwhelmed as a small business owner. While it may seem obvious that having some form of online presence will be valuable for their business, understanding the language and jargon necessary to compete in that digital environment can be overwhelming.” What is digital marketing and why is it such a critical component for a small business? What strategies should they be focusing on? These are the kinds of questions that business owners want to know more about and it’s important that digital marketing professionals be prepared to answer them.

    Mr. Whitaker started the discussion by focusing on what digital marketing is and what tools are necessary to compete in a technological space where small business owners might not be familiar. “Digital marketing is a term that incorporates business marketing along with the digital tools necessary to do this successfully in an online space: websites, mobile apps, email, search engines and social media. By having such tools at your disposal, small business owners are more likely to move their business forward and take advantage of the efficiencies of scale that the internet affords.” The second half of the lecture involved some solid places to start for any digital marketing professional working with small business owners.

    When you use videos in your digital marketing campaign, you’re adding a more approachable element to your business which is extremely effective for building brand awareness and building up a customer base.

    David Whitaker, Digital Strategist

    Start a blog. “Blogs are a great way to get those who might be interested in a product or service to learn more about the people behind it. Whether you’re sharing information about new products being launched or the people behind the scenes, blogs are a great way to enlighten and educate readers while building trust in a brand.”

    David Whitaker, a seasoned professional in the digital development arena, felt that video content for social media is a “game changer.” David explained how video is the fastest-growing segment of digital marketing and whether it involves posting pictures on Instagram or to a company’s Facebook page, people gravitate to video as a means of learning with a visual sense rather than having to read text all the time. “When you use videos in your digital marketing campaign, you’re adding a more approachable element to your business which is extremely effective for building brand awareness and building up a customer base.”

    Another great tool for a digital marketing professional is the mastery of the social media platform. David Whitaker explained that “while it is important to be on them all, mastering one is essential for small business owners.” David advised, “Whether it is Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter, try to start with the one platform that you feel your client’s customer base would use. Trying to manage a dozen different social media platforms can be overwhelming and leave you lacking in quality as a result of frustration. Best to start slowly and learn what works before taking on additional platforms.”

    There are many more digital marketing strategies to consider, but attempting to take on too much at a time can leave people feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Slow, steady progress is what is necessary to reap the rewards that the internet offers. “Slow you grow; fast you crash” is what David says. Small business owners are already wearing multiple hats and now having to learn all the ins and outs of the digital marketing world can be too much to handle, and this is why many small business owners will be turning to digital development professionals (like the website and mobile app developers attending the lecture) for their digital marketing needs.

    Media Contact:
    Mon Ethos Pro Consulting
    Phone: 855-451-5855
    Email: press@monethos.com

    Source: David Anthony Whitaker

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