Vital Village Network

Meet 2026 STRIVE Learning Community Fellow Alba Bizhoti, from Catholic Charities Laboure Center. More about Alba from her bio -

"My path to early childhood education was not a traditional one, but my passion for human development and learning has always guided my work. Raised in a household shaped by parents and teachers who grew up in Albania, I bring a unique cultural perspective to my classroom — one that deepens my empathy for the diverse worlds my students come from. I approach each day with curiosity and humility, grounded in the belief that every child deserves to feel safe, seen, and free to find joy in learning."

To learn more about Alba and her work, you can find her on social media

"You never completely have your rights, one person, until you all have your rights." — Marsha P. Johnson

Happy Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈 We are proud to be in beloved community with every member of our village. We continue, together, in the fight for liberation, so that every child may grow up in a world where they are safe, accepted, and affirmed.

Have you registered for the June Network Connection meeting? Join us to celebrate the 2026 graduates of the Community Leadership and Advocacy Certificate Program! Here keynote talks, learn about the 2026 graduates, and stick around for a networking reception with community organizations, alumni, family, and friends.

Monday, June 8th at 5:30 pm in-person or 6:00 pm on Zoom

In-person location: 820 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118 / BMC-FGH Building

🔗 https://cutt.ly/JuneNCM2026
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Únase a nosotros para celebrar a los Graduados del Programa de Certificado de Liderazgo y Abogacía Comunitaria del 2026, una orgullosa colaboración entre Vital Village Networks y El Politécnico Urbano de Boston (Urban College of Boston). Juntos, honraremos la dedicación, la pasión y el impacto de nuestros graduados del 2026, con comentarios de apertura, presentaciones de certificados, presentaciones de G.R.A.S.P. y una recepción de networking con organizaciones comunitarias, alumnos de años anteriores, familiares y amigos.

Lunes, 8 de junio a las 5:30 pm presenciales o a las 6:00 pm por Zoom.

Ubicación presencial: 820 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118 / Edificio BMC-FGH

🔗 https://cutt.ly/JuneNCM2026
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Vini jwenn ak nou pou nou selebre gradye 2026 yo nan Pwogram Sètifika Lidèchip ak Defans Kominotè ya, yon kolaborasyon fyè ant Vital Village Networks ak Urban College of Boston. Ansanm, nou pral onore devouman, pasyon ak enpak gradye 2026 nou yo, avèk diskou prensipal, prezantasyon sètifika, prezantasyon G.R.A.S.P. ak yon resepsyon pou konekte ak òganizasyon kominotè yo, ansyen elèv yo, fanmi ak zanmi yo.

Lendi 8 jen a 5:30 pm an pèsòn oswa 6:00 pm sou Zoom

An pèsòn: 820 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118 / BMC-FGH Building
🔗 https://cutt.ly/JuneNCM2026

Join us this Saturday, May 30th for the 2026 VVN Mental Health Resource Fair! 11 am - 3 pm at 1544 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA.

The 2026 Mental Health Resource Fair invites you to explore the "Social Influencers of Mental Health" alongside providers, neighbors, and advocates who are working to build a more inclusive model of well-being for all.

This opportunity has been thoughtfully organized by the VVN Mental Health Committee, as a part of their annual May Mental Health Month Campaign. Free food provided by Fresh Food Generation - first come, first served.

Registration is encouraged to help us estimate attendance. Register using this link: https://cutt.ly/2026-Village-ResourceFair

Announcing the 2026 STRIVE Learning Community Fellowship Cohort! These inspiring early education leaders have spent the past five months learning about and developing community-driven and trauma-informed interventions for Boston Pre-K classrooms. Keep and eye out over the next few weeks to learn more about the 2026 STRIVE fellows and the work they are doing to advance trauma-informed early education systems in Boston, MA.
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¡Anunciando la cohorte de la Comunidad de Aprendizaje STRIVE del 2026! Estos inspiradores líderes de educación temprana han pasado los últimos cinco meses aprendiendo y desarrollando intervenciones impulsadas por la comunidad e informadas sobre el trauma para las aulas Preescolares de Boston. Manténgase atento durante las próximas semanas para aprender más sobre los becarios STRIVE del 2026 y el trabajo que están haciendo para avanzar los sistemas de educación temprana informados sobre trauma en Boston, MA.

Want to learn how to integrate joy, connection and creativity into your advocacy work? We invite you to join us for the upcoming workshop, Strategies for sustaining our work: Preventing burnout and integrating joy, on June 9 hosted by the Peer Learning Clusters! Register at https://cutt.ly/JUN2026_PLC

Join the Boston Breastfeeding Coalition virtually on May 28 from 12–1 PM ET for an important conversation during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month featuring Michelle Welch (CBS). Together, we’ll explore postpartum anxiety and depression, maternal wellbeing, and the importance of community support for moms and babies. Register at https://cutt.ly/BBC2026

Join us and spread the word for our next GROW.V.BABY Research Roundtable Seminar with Dr. Arvin Garg on Tuesday, June 23rd at 3pm ET on Zoom!

Together we will review the evolving evidence on social care integration in pediatric primary care, from screening-and-referral approaches to more embedded models of support. We will then discuss group primary care as a scalable platform for advancing relational, preventive, and systems-level social care.

🔗 Register at https://cutt.ly/GROWVBABY-June2026

The Lactation Education Resources (LER) Intensive Cohort is accepting applications! This comprehensive training includes 52+ hours of lactation education designed to prepare participants to support families throughout pregnancy, breastfeeding initiation, and the full course of lactation.

This six-week accelerated cohort, offered in Fall 2026, is designed for Scholars ready to commit 10–15 hours per week to focused learning and meaningful cohort engagement.
Learn more about the training, review the Fall cohort dates, and apply here:
🔗 https://cutt.ly/LER2026

Application decisions will be issued by mid July.
Questions? Contact [email protected].

Register today! Join us for our next session of the 2026 NOW Webinar Series, Resting in the Collective, featuring Dorothy Williams, Jovanna Archuleta, and Malkia Singleton Ofori-Agyekum. June 4 at 2pm ET. Register at https://cutt.ly/JUN2026_NOWWebinar