MPDC, in partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital and the National Restaurant Association, is excited to open applications for the 4th cycle of Prep & Promise, our paid 12-week food service training program designed to prepare young adults for immediate employment in the food service industry.

Program Dates

February 4 – May 7, 2026

Program Highlights

Paid 12-week training using the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Ready curriculum

ServSafe Credential included

Sessions held Wednesdays & Thursdays, 2–4 PM at MPDC (184 Dudley St., Roxbury, MA); some sessions via Zoom

Hands-on training for roles in retail food service (Starbucks, Subway, Regina Pizza, and more), food prep, dishwashing, sanitation, and Food Service Assistant positions

Direct employment pathway with over 40 job openings across Boston Children’s Hospital locations in Boston, Waltham, Needham, Brighton, and additional satellite sites

Eligibility Requirements

We’re seeking applicants who are:

18–26 years old

Eager to work and able to demonstrate accountability

In possession of MA identification

Boston residents (proximity to Roxbury preferred)

Experienced in restaurant/food service/retail (helpful but not required)

Interested in working immediately after program completion

Available to work weekends

Open to part-time or full-time roles

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Here’s what we’ve achieved together this year:
Youth Empowerment: Over 150 youth earned nearly $600,000 in stipends, creating brighter futures.
30 earned valuable credentials like ServSafe certification.
16 participants secured permanent employment.
6 young adults completed their HiSET credential!

Educational Support: $57,000 in scholarships awarded to 18 college students.

Community Engagement: The Dewitt Center served over 1,400 individuals, including 430 youth, through events, food distributions, and year-round programming.

These numbers represent lives changed and futures transformed. Jasmine T., a 23-year-old program participant, beautifully shared:
“MPDC has shaped and emboldened the woman I am today. Every opportunity and inspiring person I met blessed me with the chance to reinvent, reconnect, and reaffirm myself and the importance of community.”

Looking ahead to 2025, we’re thrilled about launching impactful programs like February’s HBCU tour, allowing young people to explore opportunities and discover their potential.

Here’s how YOU can make a difference:
$2,500 funds a life-changing college tour for 4 high school students.
$1,000 provides a month of employment stipends for youth in our workforce program.
$500 delivers 300 pounds of fresh produce to 85 older adults.
$250 offers 8 MPDC residents access to first-time homebuyer classes.

Every gift changes lives and builds stronger communities.

Donate today to help us continue this critical work. Contributions of $1,000 or more qualify for the Massachusetts Community Investment Tax Credit, offering a 50% rebate!

https://www.madison-park.org/make-an-impact/give/

Together, we can ensure that everyone we serve not only survives but thrives. Thank you for believing in the power of community.

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Sparks!

A starry night in Nubian Square

MPDC’s Annual Fundraising Gala

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2024

6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Hibernian Hall Ballroom

184 Dudley Street

Roxbury, MA 02119

Tickets are on sale NOW! Purchase Tickets here.

See our 2024 Sponsorship Opportunities here.

Become a sponsor here.

Madison Park Development Corporation welcomes you to a festive, creative black-tie (*OPTIONAL*) gala at historic Hibernian Hall! Enjoy an evening of building community through meaningful awards, exciting performances, a delicious dinner, locally made beverages, and, of course, dancing!

**Please wear WHATEVER you’d like!**

The post SOLD OUT Sparks! 2024 – A starry night in Nubian Square – MPDC’s Annual Fundraising Gala appeared first on Madison Park Development Corporation.

MPDC’s OEP/HiSet classes are designed to support individuals seeking to earn their high school equivalency credentials. This comprehensive program provides a supportive and engaging learning environment that fosters academic growth and personal development. Whether you’re looking to advance your career, pursue higher education, or achieve a personal milestone, OEP/HiSET courses are here to guide you every step of the way.

Enroll now!

For more information about MPDC’s High School Equivalency Prep Classes, please contact Carlos Taveras, MPDC’s OEP Coordinator, at ctaveras@madison-park.org.

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MPDC, The Dewitt Center, and Hibernian Hall had a marvelous March! Read all about it in our latest newsletter here.

Don’t miss another newsletter! Sign up today to be added to our mailing list.

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MPDC’s 55th Anniversary mini-documentary is now live!

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Black Market and Madison Park Development Corporation team up to set a precedential model in Nubian Square that mitigates the displacement of Black Artisans, Artists, and Activists Photo credits: BLM Street Mural- Tiesha “Tizzy Tokyo” Pough BLM Street Mural Artists: “Mar”, “Square Dot” and Christopher Grant (Curation: Black Market) BLM Letter curation: I am Kreyol, Joelle Jean-Fontaine Instagram: @simplyoutstanding @thesarkingroup Black Market and Madison Park Development Corporation are excited to announce a unique partnership to purchase the building located at 2136 Washington Street with technical support from the City of Boston. The acquisition of this property is part of a broader vision of self-sufficiency for Roxbury, where local ownership directly blocks speculation and displacement and ensures future development that will focus on investments in businesses, art, and culture in our community. Property ownership represents a key strategy that results in sustainable economic development and builds equity that directly addresses the wealth gap in our community. Christopher and Kai Grant are long-time residents and local entrepreneurs who have been leading the charge of infusing cultural energy into their community in hopes that a new crop of Entrepreneurs will emerge from the City of Boston’s geographical center: Roxbury. The couple launched a business model, cooperative in nature, called Black Market in June 2017 with a mission to reignite the creative economy in Nubian Square. Since its launch, over 350 hundred aspiring micro-business Founders and over 40,000 Supporters have cycled through Black Market’s signature Marketplace and Public Art events in the Nubian Square commercial district. The couple’s main goal has been to provide a launchpad for Artisans, Artists, and Activists inside the City of Boston’s most struggling Main Streets defining Nubian Square as a destination. The 1700 sq. Ft. space has been the District’s hub for sharing ideas, cultural events, art creation, and exchange of goods driving the local ecosystem. It is considered by many to be a meeting ground and safe space for interactions that inspire the community to conjure up the big ideas that could potentially transform the surrounding Nubian Square neighborhoods and help close the $247,500 wealth gap. “We are both humbled and proud to partner with MPDC and set a precedential model in Nubian Square that mitigates the displacement of not only Black Market, but also for the extremely gifted Community of Black Artisans, Artists, and Activists its’ platform has served while fulfilling its’ mission to reignite Roxbury’s creative economy,” remarks Kai Grant, Owner + Chief Curator, BMN. “As we celebrate the 55th anniversary of our founding, it is incredibly meaningful to be fulfilling our mission through a unique relationship with an organization like Black Market. Chris and Kai’s ability to be the change they want to see directly honors the legacy of our founders’ vision for a community-owned and built by its residents,” Leslie Reid MPDC CEO reflects. This year, Madison Park Development Corporation (MPDC) marks 55 years since its founding. MPDC was born out of both an innovative vision for the future and necessity during an era in which the Roxbury community faced unprecedented challenges grounded in racial and economic injustices. As one of the very first community development corporations in the nation, MPDC has accomplished a great deal- building and preserving over 1300 units of high-quality, affordable housing; restoring Hibernian Hall, now a local leader in bringing arts and culture, particularly work from artists of color to Greater Boston audience; creating and growing our now robust Community Action department, which brings a diverse range of programs and resources to hundreds of residents and community members each year; and most recently, the creation of the Dewitt Center in the heart of Madison Park Village, which has quickly become the site of high quality, multigenerational programs, and a vibrant community gathering space. Learn more about Black Market at www.blackmarketnubian.com. Learn more about MPDC at www.madison-park.org.

Sankofa is an African word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. The literal translation of the word and the symbol is “it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind.” The symbol is based on a mythical bird with its feet firmly planted forward with its head turned backward. Thus, the Akan believe the past serves as a guide for planning the future. To the Akan, it is this wisdom in learning from the past which ensures a strong future. The Akans believe that there must be movement and new learning as time passes. As this forward march proceeds, the knowledge of the past must never be forgotten.

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