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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Wealth Building Forum!

In honor of Black History Month, join us for an evening with Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, National Community Reinvestment Coalition’s Chief of Organizing, Policy, and Equity, to discuss how the racial wealth gap affects Roxbury and beyond with MPDC CEO Leslie Reid.

When: Tuesday, February 28th, 2023, from 6:30 pm — 8:30 pm
Where: On Zoom – Registration Required

Register by clicking here.

For more information about this event, please email Kelly Lydon at klydon@madison-park.org

We hope to see you there!

About Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, Chief, Organizing, Policy, and Equity 

Dedrick Asante-Muhammad joined NCRC in January 2019 as the Chief of Race, Wealth, and Community. Currently, he serves as Chief of Organizing, Policy and Equity.

During his tenure as Chief of Race, Wealth and Community he oversaw Fair Housing, Fair Lending, the Women’s Business Center of DC, the National Training Academy, the Housing Counseling Network, and started the Racial Economic Equity Department. As Chief of Organizing, Policy, and Equity, Dedrick oversees Racial Economic Equity, Organizing, Research, Policy, and Government Affairs.

Dedrick comes from Prosperity Now where he was a Senior Fellow and Founder of the Racial Wealth Divide Initiative. Before Prosperity Now, Dedrick worked for the NAACP, where he was the Senior Director of the Economics Department and Executive Director of the Financial Freedom Center. Dedrick has also worked for Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network and the Institute for Policy Studies.

Dedrick serves as chair of the Board for Beyond Savvy, an organization focused on financial empowerment for the justice impacted.  He also sits on a variety of advisory boards, including Advancing Black Strategies Initiative, National League of Cities Racial Wealth Divide Initiative, Financial Health Network’s PULSE, and Better Markets.

Learn more about his work and follow him on –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/racialwealthdivide/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgingtheracialwealthdivide/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DedrickM

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dedrick-asante-muhammad-9966525

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We were BACK IN BLACK!

We are profoundly grateful to everyone who made the evening a success. We exceeded our fundraising goal of $325,000, and everyone had a great time celebrating in person.

SEE PHOTOS HERE

SEE THE 2022 PROGRAM BOOK HERE

DONATE

Make your year-end gift to Madison Park!

It is not too late to support Madison Park’s daily work to make Roxbury strong. We count on your support to keep our programs running throughout the year.

If you make a gift of $1000 or more, you will be eligible for the Massachusetts Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) and receive a 50% tax credit on your state taxes. If you make a gift of $2,500, you will get $1,250 back at tax time! Make your donation here: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/E5Ar6Q?vid=vsqoy

If you have questions about donating or CITC, please contact Griffin Thomas at gthomas@madison-park.org or 617-849-6254.

MANY THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Equity Partner

Silicon Valley Bank

Winn Residential

Community Investor

Dellbrook | JKS

Eastern Bank Foundation

NEI General Contracting

Roxbury Amplifier

Trinity Financial

Cultural Influencer

BlueHub Capital

Boston Children’s Hospital

Klein-Hornig LLP

Peabody Properties

Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH)

Marsh McLennan

M&T Bank

Neighborhood Champion

Akiki Auto

Awaken Christian Church

Bank of America 

Campaign for Catholic Schools

CohnReznick 

Dana Farber Cancer Institute

DREAM Collaborative

Alison Gottlieb

Susan Haas

Hunneman Real Estate

ICON Architecture

Kaplan Construction

The Life Initiative

Marsh, Moriarty, Ontell & Golder

Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation

McPhail Associates

Peter Munkenbeck 

Northeastern University

Origin Property Group

RBC

Redstone Equity

Resonant

Ivelise Rivera

Esther Schlorholtz

Stull &Lee

Alicia Toney

VIVA Consulting

THANK YOU TO THIS YEAR’S PERFORMERS!

Cornell Coley

Kim Tavar

VLA DANCE

Alondra Bobadilla

The Fred Woodard Collective

THANK YOU TO THIS YEAR’S PARTICIPATING FOOD BUSINESSES!

EMBRACING PROMISE AWARD

Boston Children’s Hospital’s Office of Community Health

Over thirty years ago, Boston Children’s Hospital was one of the first academic medical centers in the country to expand the traditional missions of patient care, teaching, and research to embrace a fourth mission — community. Boston Children’s community mission is to improve the health and well-being of children and families in our local community. The Office of Community Health brings together hospital and community resources to address health disparities, improve health outcomes, and promote health equity. Our community efforts are focused on offering programs and partnering with others that offer support and services that benefit Boston’s children and families, specifically those most affected by the social determinants of health.

The Office of Community Health is led by Shari Nethersole, MD, Vice President for Community Health and Engagement. Dr. Nethersole is also a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital Primary Care Center. The expertise informs Boston Children’s community mission of two leadership groups, the Board Committee for Community Health and the Community Advisory Board. Both Boards have diverse representation from health care, education, government, and business sectors as well as grassroots organizations and provide the Office of Community Health with feedback from the communities reached through our programs and partnerships.

EDNA V. BYNOE NEIGHBORHOOD CHAMPION AWARD

Hugh Johnson

Village In Progress Block Captain and Haynes House resident

Hugh Johnson is a Village in Progress Block Captain and the recipient of the 2022 Edna V. Bynoe Neighborhood Champion Award. The oldest of eight children, Hugh was born at Boston Medical Center. His first home was on Auburn Street (now Dewitt Drive) in Roxbury. Hugh attended the William Bacon School and graduated from Boston English High School, still located in the Fenway. 

After graduating from high school, Hugh entered the U.S. Army and spent five years serving his country, including two tours of Vietnam. After returning to his beloved Boston, Hugh had a career rooted in public service, especially working with veterans and the incarcerated.  

Hugh enjoys helping keep the area around Madison Park Village safe, but he is not only active in Madison Park’s public safety efforts. He volunteers his time at the Smith House and Dewitt Center food distributions. He is also active in our civic engagement and health and wellness programs. He even got his grandson involved in our youth programs. 

Hugh is grateful to his mother, who inspired him to be involved in the community. Hugh says he “stands on the shoulders of others who saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself.” Hugh and his wife Cheryl live at Haynes House. They enjoy spending time with their six amazing grandchildren.

2022 COMMUNITY CATALYST AWARDS

Tito Jackson

CEO, Verdant Medical – Former Boston City Councilor and Mayoral Candidate

Yhinny Matos

MPDC Youth Workforce Development Manager

Yhinny Matos was born in the small southern town of Barahona in the Dominican Republic. A few years later, in 1979, she landed in Boston to receive medical care and never moved back. A daughter of immigrants, she didn’t see her father until about six years later when he moved to be with his family. Yhinny has two siblings, an older sister and a younger brother. She is also a mother to a 20-year-old aspiring pilot. Yhinny graduated from Bay State College, Emerson, and recently in 2021, obtained an MBA from Cambridge College.

Her main passion is in the performing arts, beginning her career as a folkloric dancer at six. Fast forward to age 13, when she joined BPS’s citywide dance company, All City Dance Company, where she was a principal dancer throughout high school. Upon graduating high school, she auditioned for Phunk Phenomenon, where she danced for three years. Transitioning to breakdancing, she became one of four “b-girls” performing nationwide with the notable Floorlords, where she danced for thirteen years. She then began her own dance company, United Roots. While running the dance company for seven years, she got performing arts/teaching contracts with Puma, Reebok, Staples, Gillette, and Converse. She was also on the radio as a co-host for Big City’s “ Way Back When” radio show.

Yhinny has always had a dedication to the arts and youth development. In her early 20s, she worked as an accountant for a travel firm for about two years, then transitioned to arts marketing at Artists for Humanity, where she was employed for over ten years. She then acquired several positions at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, where she left as Marketing and Program Manager after eight years. Now working as Youth Workforce Program Manager for MPDC, she oversees programming for youth ages 14-21 and the scholarship program.

Yhinny believes that arts combined with youth development are her true calling. Forever grateful to MPDC, Yhinny hopes to continue building and designing dynamic programming for Boston’s future.

Xiomara Alicea

Orchard Gardens Resident Service Coordinator

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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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CELEBRATING, HONORING, AND EMBRACING

each month of MPDC’s 55th year

February – Celebrating Black History Month, and Honoring Past, Present, and Future Leaders in Roxbury

March: Hibernian Hall

April: MPDC’s Green Team & Sustainability Initiatives

May: Youth Development

June: The Dewitt Center

July: Health Equity & Community Wellness

August: Community Support & Resident Engagement

September: Real Estate & Workforce Diversity & Development

October: Civic Engagement

November: MPDC’S 55th Anniversary Gala

December: Staff, Board, Resident, and Participant Appreciation

READ THE OFFICIAL 55th ANNIVERSARY PRESS RELEASE HERE

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020

(on Zoom!)

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Performances & Awards

7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

“At Home But Not Alone Dance Party” with DJ DEX

coming to you live from Hibernian Hall!

General Admission – $100

Includes Zoom link to virtual gala, optional 1:1 Zoom Consultation, and a curated gift package filled with items from local Black-Owned businesses, a $25 gift card to a Roxbury restaurant, & festive gala accessories

Seniors & Students – $25

Same perks as general admission!

Purchase tickets by Monday, November 9th to ensure that you receive your swag bag!

FREE Admission 

Includes Zoom link to virtual gala & optional 1:1 Zoom Consultation to ready your technology for the most enjoyable virtual gala experience

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Our program provides underserved in-school youth, ages 14-19, with career internships, job readiness skills, and educational enrichment. Our training program is intended to provide early workforce experience for young people who might not otherwise have this opportunity while supporting them with completing academics and college readiness. We also provide organized workshops and learning experiences to develop young people’s leadership skills.

Our unique summer youth employment program is designed to train all our youth in work readiness, life skills, personal development, finance and more to ensure a strong commitment from our youth on their journey to viable employment. Youth are required to attend weekly workshops at our center to assure they are kept engaged in professional training and development. In addition, our dedicated staff performs scheduled check-ins at employment sites as well. With over 50 employment sites, youth have a variety of choices that align with their desired career, creative, educational or recreational goals. Whether its health, sports, early childhood or arts, we have a job suitable for all youth!

Applications must be completed by Tuesday, March 31, 2020.  

APPLY TODAY!

Apply here

Questions regarding the summer youth employment program?  Contact Yhinny Matos / 617.849.6236

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