Mercy Meals & More
Before the sun comes up every morning, volunteers at Mercy Meals & More are busy preparing pastries, cereal, coffee, and juice for up to 75 of their New Bedford neighbors. And while most of us are hitting the snooze button, they’re laying out a hot breakfast buffet with home fries and eggs — all of which is cleaned up and ready for the next day before normal working hours have even begun. Behind the scenes is Program Director David Motta, who rises at 4:00 a.m. to lead this all-volunteer crew in serving more than 22,000 meals a year, six days a week, to South Coast low-income and homeless men, women, and children. “They’re the best volunteers in the world,” David says, referring not only to those who prepare the food, but also the many others who donate items, serve on the board, and raise the $80,000 a year required to keep the hotcakes coming. David, a part-time employee, is the only paid staff member at Mercy Meals & More (MMM). The rest of the planning, organizing, cooking, and cleaning is managed by volunteers who collectively donate over 7,000 hours a year. “Several of us come from the same neighborhood,” says Board Treasurer and Secretary Chad Freitas. “Although the organization was founded through the Pilgrim United Church of Christ (PUCC), our current board was formed by recruiting friends and family. We’ve been working to recruit board members from other walks of life, but it’s a long, slow process. We’ve essentially been rebuilding the organization since 2020, with a focus on sustainability. Few of us have nonprofit experience, so we’ve been getting guidance from the Lenny Zakim Fund and others, and learning as we go.” Chad and his fellow board members have had to be quick learners in the face of recent challenges. Food and housing insecurity are at a high right now, and extreme rent hikes of $500 are not uncommon, leaving many MMM patrons in crisis, particularly some of those dependent upon disability or EBT/SNAP benefits. This past year, they had to replace an oven, griddle, freezer, refrigerator, dishwasher, and flooring in the downtown building they use which is owned by PUCC. And even a seemingly small setback, such as the recent egg shortage caused by avian flu, becomes dire when your meal plan calls for 90 dozen eggs a week. MMM has weathered it all while managing to extend their reach at the same time. In the past year, they saw a 37 percent increase in new donors, 24 percent increase in volunteer hours, and 33 percent increase in their budget. 2023 was the strongest year ever for donations in terms of dollars, number of donors, and number of donations. Chad credits the creative, can-do attitude of board members, who like to host themed fundraisers, such as their spring comedy show, and who continually seek out other opportunities, like volunteering at road races and other events that will donate money for each hour they work. The road races have proven to be a great way to get the word out in the community, too. Last year, at the Pilgrimman Triathlon, Chad and David met Kolby Emken, who was so enthusiastic about MMM’s mission that he decided to run for 12 hours in one day, asking friends to donate for each mile he ran. An astonishing 52 miles later, Kolby had raised over $5,300 to help MMM meet that year’s budget. “Each supporter and volunteer adds their own talents and inspiration to our team,” says David. “For example, longtime volunteer Angie Vargas has a knack for finding and befriending homeless people in encampments in the woods and around the city. Once she’s located them, she brings them clothes and plates of food. And of course she invites them to come to Mercy Meals & More for a hearty breakfast if they can — and many do.” Meanwhile, David is often out picking up donations, like the nine bags of sneakers recently donated from Dr. Doug Fogg, the retired general surgeon who has run MMM’s successful Sole Foot Clinic for more than a decade. The clinic is open each Thursday, and volunteer nursing students from UMass Dartmouth check patrons’ vital signs in addition to providing a warm foot bath and comprehensive foot care, plus an offer of fresh socks and a gently worn pair of shoes to take with them. “We meet the needs of this community — health care, food, and clothing — in a welcoming environment where people are treated with dignity and respect,” says Chad. “But we can’t do anything without our compassionate volunteers, who do everything. They’re the heart of the Mercy Meals & More mission.” Current needs at Mercy Meals & More include donations of food, supplies, books, and clothing as well as dedicated volunteers and general funds. MMM is also seeking collaborative South Coast-area organizations or programs, such as vaccination clinics, veterans’ services, and homeless service providers, who might want to partner to better serve the community. If you can help, please contact David Motta at david.motta@mercymealsandmore.com or (508) 264-8183.
OutstandingLife
Imagine seeing your name in lights amid a gleaming rainbow of colors welcoming you to a new neighborhood. Invitations are waiting in your mailbox, and new friends are eager to introduce themselves. That’s how it feels walking in the virtual door of OutstandingLife, an online community for LGBTQ+ older adults that offers get-togethers, support groups, seminars, workshops, events, and chat rooms. You can engage as much or as little as you like, whenever you like, in this safe and accessible space. You might attend an exercise class or online pride party or join an interest group focused on travel or cooking or a population-specific group like lesbians of color, transgender men, or Cape Cod residents. Perhaps you’d register for a course on history, legal issues, or taxes, share your work in an art or writing group, pop into an intergenerational social hour, or simply stay up late chatting. “It’s been fun to see friends I haven’t connected with in a long time, and also to get to know new people,” says member Maida Tilchen. “I did a Zoom for OSL myself when given the opportunity to talk about the two novels I’ve written. I’m also delighted to be asked to talk on the upcoming travel series. I love the vision for OutstandingLife, and I have been enjoying the progress. I tell everyone I can about it and I look forward to watching it grow. Thanks to everyone who is making it possible.” After a beta launch of five programs in 2022, OutstandingLife (OsL) introduced their virtual senior center in June 2023 on Mighty Networks, a free-to-join platform vetted for online safety, accessible via a phone app or any Internet browser. Since then, the community has grown to more than 380 people. Membership and all programs are offered free of charge, and there are abundant support options to help those who may face technological barriers. LGBTQ+ senior health is a primary focus for the group — both physical and mental — and inclusion and interaction are essential elements. “Many of our members have lived most of our lives being ‘othered’ by society,” says OsL Board Chair David Aronstein. “We grew up in the mid-20th century, when homophobia was intense and supported by law enforcement and medical professionals. Even today . . . even in Massachusetts . . . and even in the most welcoming senior centers, LGBTQ+ people have to worry about ostracism and privacy.” Program leaders primarily come from the LGBTQ+ community as well, and OsL looks for diverse intersectional identities to add breadth and depth to programs. The organization is committed to uplifting members impacted not only by homophobia and sexism but also systemic racism, transphobia, and income inequality. “When we compensate these program leaders for their time, we’re also increasing the economic empowerment of diverse communities,” David comments. Like David, OsL founder and board member Alice Fisher is a lifelong LGBT activist. In the early 2000s, the two worked together on Stonewall Communities, a Boston-based LGBTQ+ senior housing and advocacy group, and their commitment to OsL is an extension of that original vision. “For many years, we have been creating different ways for LGBTQ+ older adults to connect because we are so dispersed throughout the Commonwealth,” says Alice. “Finally the technology has caught up to our vision.” Although the OutstandingLife forum has no geographic boundaries, OsL’s five board members all have extensive professional résumés in Massachusetts and help advocate for the local LGBTQ+ aging community, presenting issues to the Boston Mayor’s Office, City Council, and the Massachusetts Legislature. “It’s an equity issue,” explains David. “Brick-and-mortar senior centers are funded through state and city budgets, so we worked hard for the earmark in the state budget that provides online community services that would be out-of-reach for many LGBTQ+ older adults.” Thanks to a new three-year Community Health & Healthy Aging Funds grant, OsL is now partnering with some of those brick-and-mortar centers to develop programming with senior centers and Massachusetts Councils on Aging (CoAs), starting with gateway cities and Cape Cod. The partnership allows both OsL and the CoAs to extend their reach and combat social isolation for LGBTQ+ seniors who might not otherwise have a way to engage. “I’m kind of a yenta of organizations,” David jokes, “and I always believe that by bringing groups together, one plus one ends up equaling more than two. OsL also partners with more than two dozen organizations on programming and cross-promotion, including AARP, GLAD, Little Brothers/Friends of the Elderly, and Trans Community of New England.” This past spring, OsL was awarded 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. “Now we’re working on building our infrastructure, expanding offerings, and increasing membership, engagement, and interaction,” David says. “This is an environment that fosters joy and independence, and we want all members to flourish and feel empowered and engaged.” OutstandingLife is currently seeking new board members and volunteer program hosts and moderators, and always welcomes new members, new community partners, and financial donations. If you would like to get involved, please write to info@outstandinglife.org or fill out the online contact form.
Love Life Now Foundation
Lovern Gordon is the most captivating woman in the ballroom at high-end fundraising events around Greater Boston. Eloquent, wise, and charismatic in a dazzling evening gown, she holds her audience rapt, whether she’s speaking from the podium or among a crowd of friends. Either way, she’s speaking from her heart and the depth of her experience. And though her audiences span the country and all walks of life, her message is always the same: Violence in a relationship is never okay. “Domestic violence is a worldwide epidemic that can affect anybody,” Lovern explains. “One in every three teens, one in every seven men, one in every four women. It happens everywhere, but there is help everywhere. People need to know they’re never alone.” Spreading that message far and wide is Lovern’s mission through the nonprofit she founded in 2011, Love Life Now Foundation (LLN), which focuses on global awareness and education, and through her work as an author and international speaker. On the startling cover of her award-winning book, The Legacy He Left Me, we see a familiar Lovern in a brilliant ball gown, but she is nearly unrecognizable under the bruises on one side of her face. “As a child witness, I never thought I would become a victim, knowing what I knew,” she explains, “but children from abusive homes often end up as victims again or as abusers themselves.” Lovern grew up on the Caribbean island of Trinidad with a father who concealed his abusive nature behind a well-educated and charming demeanor and a mother who was powerless to protect herself and her five children. After attending high school in the U.S. then moving to Boston permanently during her college years, Lovern felt fully in control of her future, but found herself at the age of 21 in a relationship with a controlling, abusive older man. “I know everyone thinks, Why didn’t you just leave?” she says, “But with emotional, physical, and financial entanglements, it’s never quite that simple. And when you don’t know how to get help, sometimes the devil you know actually seems the safer option.” It took two years, but Lovern managed to escape her abuser and forge a new life. A couple of years later, the seed for LLN was planted when a group of friends dared her to enter a Boston-based beauty pageant. Much to everyone’s surprise, she won, then proceeded to win nationals as well. After back-to-back wins, she needed a platform, and domestic violence (DV) was the obvious choice. Once she started speaking out about it, she couldn’t stop. Now, 13 years later, LLN provides resources to roughly 800 people a year. Although LLN is not a shelter or a domestic violence agency, they do offer immediate assistance when sent referrals from those organizations. “Our Get Safe Fund serves over 100 people a year,” Lovern explains. “We’ve become known in part for helping cover the cost of emergency hotel stays when there are no shelter beds available, but the fund assists with any one-time, DV-related expense, whether it’s paying a bill or purchasing a bus or plane ticket to safety.” The many initiatives and events Lovern and her team organize for LLN serve the dual purpose of raising funds for the cause and helping broadcast the message. From assembling brown bag lunches and care packages for homeless DV survivors to walking a mile in survivor’s shoes (often literally in high heels) at their annual 3K Heel-A-Thon Walk, LLN seeks to make the conversation accessible to people in a variety of ways. Perhaps the most anticipated event of the year sends survivors “strutting their truth” down the runway at the annual Empowerment Fashion Show, inspiring others to begin finding their voices and to know that DV does not define their futures. “It doesn’t take a heavy lift to be part of the solution,” Lovern comments. “Mid-September to mid-October is our annual Bedding Drive, and something as simple as donating a twin sheet set and pillow, means the world to a survivor who may have left everything when escaping an abusive situation. Those personal items let them know they can rest easier as they transition to the next leg of their journey.” For those who haven’t lived through the experience themselves, Lovern shares unvarnished details of her own story through her book to illustrate the impossible choices made by “sur-THRIVERS.” “I thought LLN was enough,” she recalls, “but then the pandemic gave me the opportunity to write, after being approached by a publisher.” She finished the memoir in three months and has been promoting the book, along with LLN, via a nationwide book tour since its release in the summer of 2021. This year, Lovern has received help navigating her busy life as a wife, mother, keynote speaker, workshop leader, and the only full-time employee of LLN, thanks to the executive coach and colleagues she’s working with as part of The Lenny Zakim Fund 2024 Transformational Leadership Cohort. “It’s all about using my voice to get other people to use their voices,” she says. In one of the most powerful moments of the year, the men in attendance at LLN’s annual White Ribbon Night Gala are asked to use their voices to become allies around the issue. The intensity is palpable as the women in the room witness their partners and other men become up-STANDERS by raising their right hands as they pledge “to never commit, excuse, or stay silent about sexual harassment, sexual assault, or domestic violence against others.” “This issue breeds in silence,” Lovern says. “From the moment you begin to use your voice, things begin to shift.” Current needs at Love Life Now Foundation include event volunteers, social media ambassadors, and donation drive hosts. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so please help spread the word and if you would like to get involved, or know anyone who needs assistance, please get in touch at 888-LLN-9876 (call or text) or info@lovelifenow.org.
NUBE
Neighbors United for a Better East Boston In 2011, two weeks after arriving in East Boston from El Salvador, Enilda “Eny” Lovo met Gloribell Mota. “My cousin introduced me to Gloribell, and I learned that she had been the first Latina to run for state rep—in 2007,” Eny recounts. “Although she lost that race, we believe she won, because for the first time the Latino community came out to vote. They had 800 more voters than ever before, and the momentum kept going afterwards. It inspired the idea of NUBE, an organization that would mobilize the Latino/immigrant community to get out and vote in local elections.” NUBE — Neighbors United for a Better East Boston — immediately became a big part of Eny’s new life in Massachusetts. Like her fellow volunteers, she was dedicated to helping build a prosperous community where neighbors supported and encouraged each other. After two years, Gloribell rewarded Eny’s dedication with a paid position at 10 hours a week. But by 2015, Gloribell felt she needed some time off, and soon after she left, NUBE folded. Neighbors continued to request the civic programs they’d become accustomed to, however, and over a two-year period, active members fought to launch the organization again. “We started with new programs, mission, and vision, in 2017,” recalls Eny. “Gloribell came back, and in 2019, she told me it was time for new leaders to step up. She offered me a full-time position, and in 2022, I became executive director and lead coordinator.” “I was nervous at first,” Eny continues, “but now I’ve received coaching for a year in the Transformational Leadership Cohort program through The Lenny Zakim Fund, so I’ve learned and developed my skills as a director and organizer.” Currently NUBE has more than 40 active volunteers and 5,000 members. From 100 to 200 participants attend most of their events, and 600 people came out for a recent non-citizen voting simulation. Their mission of using civic engagement to shift political power is getting clear results. “In 2010, NUBE started with 6% of the Latino community going out to vote and today in 2023 we are at 58% of our Latinx Community,” Eny says. NUBE has also celebrated some major milestones, such as the 2023 purchase of their Community Movement Building in partnership with Ayni Institute Inc., and some substantial legislative successes, including the 2022 passing of the Fair Share Amendment Act, a 4% surtax on income above $1 million to invest in education and road and bridge improvements. Also in 2022, the passing of the Work and Family Mobility Act allowed Massachusetts driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status. This achievement was very personal for Eny, who went on a hunger strike for five days with 16 other people to bring attention to the issue. Municipal or state IDs for undocumented persons is still a top issue for NUBE, which holds an annual Membership Assembly to vote on each year’s top three priorities. Noncitizen voting and rent stabilization are the other two top priorities this year. “In 2022, we had 19,000 Latinx voters,” Eny explains. “A year later, we only have 17,000—a roughly 10% drop. Our numbers are going down as rents go up. Sometimes the rent increases are as much as $500 a month, which leads to displacement.” Though East Boston is known for its Latin population, NUBE’s outreach embraces a wide range of interests. Throughout the year, they use public forums, educational materials, movie nights, and other efforts to build community around key events such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month, International Women’s Day, Earth Day, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Eny explains that all of NUBE’s efforts center around four core circles of action: The Abundant Leaders Program (Lideres Abundantes) is one of NUBE’s cornerstone projects, training and encouraging two or three members a year so they might lead the community in the future. “One of the members of our program was a shy 16-year-old who barely spoke at all. We sent him to youth organizing training, and now he’s 18 and just incredible,” Eny says. “He knocks on doors and talks to everyone and engages with the elder community and helps them get to the polls to vote. At a recent civic forum, Representative Ayanna Pressley commented on how impressed she was with NUBE youth and their activism. With passionate young organizers like him coming up in the community, I’m confident NUBE will continue to have a strong impact when my time comes to hand over the reins to a new leader, just like Gloribell did with me.” Current needs at NUBE include funding/donations and volunteers who can assist with communications and technical planning and projects, including basic database management for Lead Weaver. If you’d like to get involved, please write to info@nubeastboston.org or call 857-326-9775.
RICEMA
Refugees & Immigrants Cultural Empowerment Massachusetts “If you were to have all the money in the world, what would you be doing?” Boa Newgate asked his colleague Holly Ashton one evening after a long day of work at restaurant jobs, followed by serving as co-executive directors for RICEMA. “This,” Holly replied. “The same thing I’m doing now.” Holly, Boa, and two other friends, Hai Nguyen and Aisha Yusuf, all shared a dream of creating a community center in Worcester with free access to cultural arts, expression, and education — a safe place where immigrants would feel empowered to showcase their talents and create a stronger cultural environment for the next generation. No one who has experienced the organization’s 10 arts and education programs, magnificent annual festivals, or global outreach efforts can believe that RICEMA began less than two years ago, in March 2023. “All of us had been involved in the nonprofit sector, so we just started asking around in our network to find a space we could use,” explains Holly. By January 2024, they had achieved 501(c)(3) status, and a month later, they had their first grant ever, from The Lenny Zakim Fund, which helped them relocate from a garage to a better space for their cultural center. “It’s a very small space, but we make it work for all the different groups and teams,” Boa says. “Lion Dancing on Wednesdays and Sundays, Rice Angel dance team on Thursdays, Boxing on Fridays . . .” Holly and Boa joke about the “before and after” pictures of how quickly their programs ramped up. “We had about 12 people in the first ESL class we offered,” Holly recounts. “Now we average 200 a month and sometimes have upwards of 500 students per month. Each class is two hours, and occasionally people have had to stand that whole time because we ran out of chairs. Word spread quickly through friends and family and through our partner, the Worcester Public Library, where classes are held.” Although English classes were already available in Worcester, RICEMA’s drop-in style (no enrollment required) and creative approach are part of what makes the classes so popular. “It’s different from traditional ESL teaching,” says Holly, who had taught ESL for five years prior. “We incorporate the participants’ native languages (nine so far) to help them understand more quickly. I compare English concepts to things in their languages. And we practice real-life scenarios like riding on the bus, ordering at a restaurant, or shopping for groceries, with students in the roles of both customer and clerk or server. One student thanked me for the job he got at Walmart because the class had taught him how to help customers in English.” Another ESL student who had never been able to learn to read or write in his native country became literate enough in English after three months of classes to pass his U.S. citizenship test. At least 40 students have become citizens with help from RICEMA’s Citizenship/ Naturalization program. Sometimes the programs bring families together in ways no one expects. Eleven-year-old Tenzin was instantly captivated by traditional lion dancing and the movements each person inside the lion costume contributes to make it come alive. “Tenzin has autism and his family reported that he had more improvements in confidence and sociability after joining our Lion Dance team than he had with services his school provided,” explains Holly. “Now his family drives two hours roundtrip twice a week to work with the Lion Dance team. They can’t believe his progress.” All of RICEMA’s dance troupes, from fan dancing to break dancing, get to perform for the public at their Lunar New Year Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and other events. “We put Worcester on the map every time we host an event,” Boa says. “People come from Connecticut, New York — all over — to participate in cultural traditions they may not have a way to preserve in their own neighborhoods. They miss their traditions and are so happy to get dressed up and share their food, music, and arts.” “There’s something really special, too,” Holly adds, “about having a center where people can share their heritage with others from different backgrounds. Felix, for example, is the volunteer who leads our Rice Angels dance team, and he had no cultural connection to any of the dances to start with. He simply saw the need for a dance program and pitched the idea to us. He put so much effort into studying the music and choreography. He’s transformed our dance program and transformed himself into an exemplary leader in the process.” Felix is also a member of the Eternals Lion Dance team, which is often the first program youth join at RICEMA. “We tend to see a big increase in teamwork and leadership skills within a few months of new members joining the team,” Holly comments. “Students gain confidence, too, by performing at high-profile events like Worcester Railers games and for Mayor Michelle Wu at Têt in Boston. Over the last year alone, the Lion Dance team has performed for over 40,000 audience members at 35 events.” “What I’m most proud of,” Boa adds, “is that all of these programs are led by volunteers from the community. This entire thing has been molded, supported, and continually expanded by committed volunteers.” Boa and Holly are themselves volunteers. “We juggle multiple jobs and we’re building this organization up until we can all do something we love full-time,” Boa says. “LZF was the first foundation to believe in us and get that momentum started, and we’re so grateful.” Current needs at RICEMA include funding/donations and volunteers, especially those who can help with training in accounting and Quickbooks. If you’d like to get involved, please use the RICEMA contact page or write to Holly Ashton at hollya@ricema.org.
