In the basement of All Saints Parish in Brookline, the quiet of the church is interrupted by the giggles and squeals of young children solving puzzles, reading books and in a few cases, missing their mothers. The church at the intersection of Dean Road and Beacon Street houses Corner Co-Op Nursery, a play-based early education… Continue reading Parents welcome: Inside the Corner Co-op, a 52-year-old Brookline preschool
Category: Nonprofits
Brookline.News wins national ‘INNovator Award’ for storytelling event
We’re taking a moment to share some news about ourselves: Brookline.News received an “INNovator Award” last week for the Brookline Stories Live event that took place in May. The Institute for Nonprofit News, a national consortium of 450 nonprofit journalism organizations, announced this honor on Sept. 18 at its conference in Atlanta, Ga. Brookline.News was… Continue reading Brookline.News wins national ‘INNovator Award’ for storytelling event
In new animated film, Alex Salsberg highlights multigenerational friendships in Brookline
When 70-year-old Diane Klein met 23-year-old Caroline Dugan, they “just clicked” as friends, according to Klein. “The generational gap didn’t seem to matter at all,” Klein said, noting that she now has a relationship with Dugan’s fiancé as well as her mom, who lives in California. “It’s kind of brought me a new family, which… Continue reading In new animated film, Alex Salsberg highlights multigenerational friendships in Brookline
Steps to Success, offering opportunities for low-income students in Brookline, looks to widen its reach
Some days, Steps to Success’ programming means a boat excursion in Boston Harbor. Other days it means homework help, or a career skills workshop. In any form it takes, its goal is to close the “opportunity gap” between low-income students and their peers in Brookline. The nonprofit, which has been around for 20 years, has… Continue reading Steps to Success, offering opportunities for low-income students in Brookline, looks to widen its reach
Brookline library unveils new automated sorter
The Public Library of Brookline unveiled an automated materials handling system last week, following library systems in Newton and Wellesley in installing the high-tech sorting apparatus. The automated materials handling system is a system of conveyor belts located in what was once the circulation room at the library’s Brookline Village branch. The belts are programmed… Continue reading Brookline library unveils new automated sorter
‘An irreplaceable jewel’: Ruthann Dobek plans to retire after four decades advocating for Brookline’s seniors
When Ruthann Dobek announced her retirement at a May meeting at Town Hall, she was greeted with a standing ovation. The 64-year-old Dobek has spent the past 41 years working and advocating for Brookline’s senior population, first as a social worker for the Council on Aging and for the past 22 years as director of… Continue reading ‘An irreplaceable jewel’: Ruthann Dobek plans to retire after four decades advocating for Brookline’s seniors
Teen center’s Youthscapers program gives local students sun, skills and a paycheck
On one of the hottest days of the summer, 15 teenagers drenched with sweat pushed wheelbarrows through Larz Anderson Park, helping to mulch a path. It was this year’s largest undertaking as part of the Brookline Teen Center’s Youthscapers program, an initiative which has been ongoing since 2016. The program gives the teenagers a chance… Continue reading Teen center’s Youthscapers program gives local students sun, skills and a paycheck
State House roundup: Approval for Pierce School geothermal, earmarks for Brookline
Among the flurry of bills passed by the end of the State House session this week were some notable pieces of legislation which will impact Brookline. Most timely was one filed by Brookline Representative Tommy Vitolo which will allow the town to install 80 geothermal wells, each 600 feet deep, to heat and cool the… Continue reading State House roundup: Approval for Pierce School geothermal, earmarks for Brookline
After four years of renovations, JFK’s birthplace reopens with modern touches
The John F. Kennedy National Historic Site on Beals Street reopened in June for its first full season in four years, after an extended closure caused by renovations and the Covid-19 pandemic. The work, which included updating the visitor center and adding accessibility improvements like a wheelchair lift and accessible bathroom, was aimed at making… Continue reading After four years of renovations, JFK’s birthplace reopens with modern touches
Taking ‘baby steps’ to net-zero: Local groups aim to educate residents on electrifying their homes
In June 2022, local climate group Mothers Out Front convened for a regularly scheduled brunch to tackle a problem. Brookline had set a goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. But residents who wanted to phase out home appliances powered by fossil fuels were unsure of where to begin. A year later on Brookline… Continue reading Taking ‘baby steps’ to net-zero: Local groups aim to educate residents on electrifying their homes
News in brief: New housing portal, Maimonides selling building, meet the Brookliners riding PMC
The town has announced the launch of a new Housing Case Inquiry portal, which allows residents to contact the town about housing challenges in order to get help from the appropriate department. As part of the town’s new Housing Stability Office, which was created by Town Meeting in June 2023, the portal can help with… Continue reading News in brief: New housing portal, Maimonides selling building, meet the Brookliners riding PMC
News in brief: Town shrinks utility debt relief program; new hires start in town government; Brookline Center, BCF awarded grants
Town trims utility debt relief plan The town is shrinking its plans to provide relief from utility debt for residents, after a legal review that found the program would have violated state law. The original proposal, approved by the Select Board in April 2022, called for paying off about $614,000 in debt that approximately 1,000… Continue reading News in brief: Town shrinks utility debt relief program; new hires start in town government; Brookline Center, BCF awarded grants
Brookline Community Foundation sells its Webster Place office to real estate developer
The Brookline Community Foundation has sold its building at 40 Webster Place to a real estate developer. The $5.45 million sale recorded in the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds marks a major change for the prominent local nonprofit organization whose grants, according to its website, focus on supporting “local nonprofits, town agencies, and community efforts… Continue reading Brookline Community Foundation sells its Webster Place office to real estate developer
News in brief: Brookline Teen Center expands access for middle schoolers
The Brookline Teen Center will expand its availability for sixth through eighth graders starting on April 22, allowing middle schoolers to use BTC facilities Monday through Friday between 2:30 and 6 p.m. “Middle schoolers in Brookline need an inviting and inclusive place to go after dismissal that is designed for them, and that’s exactly why… Continue reading News in brief: Brookline Teen Center expands access for middle schoolers
Town committee recommends spending $7 million on Community Preservation Act projects
A town committee voted this week to recommend that the town spend more than $7 million in Community Preservation Act funds on 11 projects. The funds would be used to boost affordable housing, historic preservation and open space in Brookline. The vote capped a months-long process by the volunteer committee to sort through requests from… Continue reading Town committee recommends spending $7 million on Community Preservation Act projects
Team Brookline runners gear up for the Boston Marathon
Team Brookline is crossing its fingers for a sunny day. After several years of cold, rainy or overcast Boston Marathons, the 34 runners taking part in the race on behalf of charitable organizations in Brookline are hoping that the clouds stay away this time. Now in its 13th year since being formed by the town… Continue reading Team Brookline runners gear up for the Boston Marathon
Brookline nonprofits seek substitute funding to meet community need as ARPA money runs out
In 2021, the Brookline Select Board received approximately $43 million in federal funds to combat the economic fallout caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Three years later, community organizations like the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health and Brookline Food Pantry, which have benefited greatly from those funds, are preparing for that money to run out.… Continue reading Brookline nonprofits seek substitute funding to meet community need as ARPA money runs out
In its 25th year, Artbarn continues to cultivate childrens’ creativity through theater
A trail of rosy-cheeked elementary school students files into Temple Sinai, but not because they are attending the synagogue. Instead, their little toes tap, jump and snap to attention as choreographer Camille Capello begins their next dance lesson. The children belong to Artbarn, which isn’t actually a barn. It’s a community theater program for students… Continue reading In its 25th year, Artbarn continues to cultivate childrens’ creativity through theater
Brookline nonprofit continues ‘chaotic and quixotic’ mission connecting Israeli and Palestinian graduate students amid violence
Since the Israel-Hamas war began in October, eight pairs of health and computer science graduate students have found solace together in their labs at Israeli universities. Every day, the pairs, each including one Israeli and one Palestinian from the West Bank or Gaza, check in with each other, ask about each other’s well-being and about… Continue reading Brookline nonprofit continues ‘chaotic and quixotic’ mission connecting Israeli and Palestinian graduate students amid violence
In a challenging time for mental health treatment, the Brookline Center tries to chart a new course
Faced with soaring demand in the wake of the pandemic and a pool of providers that’s not growing nearly as quickly, the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health has launched a new initiative aimed at reimagining how it delivers services. The center, which sees nearly 1,500 patients a year and employs around 125 staff, has… Continue reading In a challenging time for mental health treatment, the Brookline Center tries to chart a new course