Melnea Cass Network—Committed to ending youth poverty and violence one neighborhood at a time.
The Melnea Cass Network is named in loving memory of the tireless South End/Lower Roxbury community and civil rights activist Melnea Cass (1896-1978).
MCN believes that youth can thrive and overcome the systemic problems of their environment if they have a network of social support that addresses physical, vocational, social and spiritual needs. The MCN is working to convene local leaders for shared learning and collaborative action towards that common purpose. MCN's mission is "ending youth poverty and violence one neighborhood at a time."
MCN is a growing collaboration between Emmanuel Gospel Center, Strategy Matters, Black Ministerial Alliance, Boston youth minister-at-large Rev. Mark Scott, and Vibrant Boston.
As a founding member of MCN, EGC’s Applied Research and Consulting team will continue to provide convening and infrastructure support.
The Boston Public Schools Engagement Toolkit resource includes data, opportunities for volunteers to engage, stories of church-school partnerships, a prayer guide, and more.
How do you start and sustain a successful partnership with a local public school? Here is a roadmap your church can explore as it discerns its level of involvement.
Symphony Church in Allston partnered with Jackson/Mann K-8 School in Allston for several years before the school closed. The church served as a critical partner during the pandemic.
From obstacles with virtual learning to parents losing jobs, the coronavirus pandemic has made life difficult for many children in Boston. Despite the challenges, Christian leaders at ministries offering after-school and summer programs say they are witnessing God’s goodness and grace toward the children and their families.
Youth in Lower Roxbury interview seniors in their community as part of a 2019 Youth Participatory Action Research project called “Learning from the Past to Build a Stronger Future.” Find out what they learned, and the strategic community actions they’re taking this year.
Teens in Lower Roxbury have felt the threat and impact of gun violence much of their lives. The youth of the Making Youth Voices Heard program want to do something about it. They're engaged in a youth participatory action research project to explore the causes and outcomes of gun violence in the Lenox-Camden neighborhood, as well as links to poverty, education, drug use, and employment.