Your South Boston Newsletter Full of Good Information

Anna White, our new South Boston liaison, publishes a newsletter with local and City events. You can sign up (scroll down to stay connected) here.

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES CURBSIDE FOOD WASTE COLLECTION PROGRAM

Building on her commitment to make Boston a Green New Deal City, Mayor Michelle Wu and the Public Works Department announced that a curbside food waste collection program with rolling online enrollment is now available. Food waste collection will align with residents’ scheduled trash and recycling collection days. This program will reduce the City’s reliance on landfills and incinerators, and make it more convenient for Boston residents to dispose of their household food waste. The food waste, which will be collected through a partnership between Garbage to Garden and Save That Stuff, will be sent to Save that Stuff's composting site in West Bridgewater to be turned into compost that will be made available to Boston parks, gardens, and schools, and sent to Waste Management's CORe Facility in Charlestown where it will be made into clean energy. Learn more here.

City Announcements MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES CITY INITIATIVES FOR A SAFE, HEALTHY SUMMER Mayor Michelle Wu announced the City of Boston’s comprehensive plan for a safe and healthy summer for all Boston residents, communities, and neighborhoods. Mayor Wu announced several violence prevention and intervention initiatives, including the Community Ambassadors Program, “Adopt a Block” initiative, Operation Homefront, and new employment and job training opportunities. These programs fill critical gaps in service delivery, build new possibilities for Boston, and ensure the City fully supports our communities most directly impacted by violence with the safety, trust, and accessibility that residents deserve. This new, intensive approach addresses public safety through a lens of public health, equity, economic opportunity, and community trust. The initiatives announced today will also organize the wide variety of preexisting programs from the Mayor’s Office, Boston Public Schools (BPS), the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), the Human Services Cabinet, and the Boston Police Department (BPD) into a coordinated network of services to support Boston residents this summer. Learn more here. MORE THAN $800,000 AWARDED TO 120 LOCAL ARTISTS AND CREATIVE WORKERS THROUGH THE OPPORTUNITY FUND Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture announced 120 grants totaling $801,343 have been awarded to artists, teaching artists, cultural practitioners, and creative workers as part of the City’s Opportunity Fund program. This is the fifth year of the program, and the most funding that has been allocated to the program to date. Learn more here. MAYOR WU PROVIDES UPDATES ON CITY EFFORTS TO ADDRESS CRISES CENTERED AT MASS AND CASS Mayor Michelle Wu provided updates on the City of Boston’s next steps to address the intersection of unsheltered homelessness and substance use crises, centered in the area surrounding Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. The City of Boston has developed a comprehensive Warm Weather Plan to address immediate public safety and public health needs during the spring and summer months. Learn more here. CALL FOR FARMERS MARKET VOLUNTEERS The Mayor's Office of Food Justice is looking for volunteers to support Farmers Markets this summer. Spend time outside and working with amazing farmers and vendors! If you're interested, please submit this form: bit.ly/Volunteer-FM.  APPLICATION FOR POP-UP COOLING KITS The City of Boston, acting through Climate Ready Boston (CRB), is granting 30 Pop-up Cooling Kits (“cooling kits”) to community based organizations (CBOs) that have public events this summer with access to potable water. The cooling kits are mobile water misting tents designed for short-term use to easily set up and disassemble and provide immediate cooling. Each cooling kit includes a hose, misters, and a tent to set up at public outdoor events throughout the summer. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Please apply ASAP as kits are limited. Apply here.

Pride Month Kickoff at City Hall To kickoff the month, the City will be hosting an event on Wednesday, June 1, 5PM,  which will include the lighting up of Boston City Hall in the colors of the Pride Flag. There will also be a speaking program with remarks from the Mayor and  LGBTQ+ community members and live performances from local LGBTQ+ artists. This kickoff event will also serve to amplify other Pride events being held throughout the month. The City of Boston’s theme for this event will be “PRIDE: Past, Present, and Future!” Please register today at Pride Month Kickoff.  Public Meeting | Bus Network Redesign - Boston (Virtual) Thursday, June 2, 6PM The Bus Network Redesign is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make bold improvements to the bus network for the people who depend on it most. We’re proposing a better bus network and want to hear what you think. At this  meeting, MBTA staff will provide an in-depth presentation on the proposed network map and lead small group discussions. This meeting will focus on Boston. Register here.  SPARK Boston Pint with a Planner: Southie Edition Ever seen a new building going up in your neighborhood, and wondered "how did that get there?" Join us on Thursday, June 2, 6PM – 8PM at Roza Lyons, 709 East  Broadway, to meet the people behind the magic of Boston's biggest housing boom ever. Staff members of the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) will join the SPARK Boston Council in South Boston for the first (of hopefully many) mixers. Learn more about the BPDA's many functions as a quasi-government  agency in a low pressure environment with snacks and friends. Register here. Southie Family Fun Day You're invited to Southie Family Fun Day on Saturday June 4, 11AM - 4PM, hosted  by the South Boston MOMS Club. The event will be held at Marine Park.  Learn more here.  South Boston Famers Market The South Boston Famer’s Market will kick -off their season on Monday, June 6, 12PM-6PM in-front of the muni-lot on West Broadway. Donna Summer Disco Party Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment will host Celebration of Summer: Donna Summer Disco Party on Thursday, June 16 on Copley Square. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public and  will take place between 6PM and 9PM. This annual event celebrates the start of summer with the music of Donna Summer! Learn more here.  Your South Boston Liaison, Anna White Anna White moved to Boston from Albany, New York and has been a resident of the City for more than 20 years. She has a deep passion for civic engagement and brings to the role a wealth of public service and community engagement experience.  Learn more here.