Tag: ABCD

Fighting the Good Fight

“Poverty is the original pandemic,” says Sharon Scott-Chandler, who was named the first woman president and CEO of Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) last summer. “It’s an incredible motivator and reason to get up every morning, to know that you are part of that fight to get people access to the things they deserve.” … READ MORE


The State of Race: Embrace Changemakers Then & Now

ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler joined distinguished panelists including Imari Paris Jeffries, Executive Director of Embrace Boston; Tanisha M. Sullivan, President of NAACP Boston Branch; Jha Amazi, Principal of MASS Design Group and architect of Embrace; and Adrian Walker, The Boston Globe Columnist/Associate Editor, for GBH’s forum “The State of Race: Embrace Changemakers Then & Now” hosted in honor…

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It’s All About Community

Food insecurity will be forever eliminated if Nick Owen and Mercy Robinson have their dream come true. READ MORE


“Friendship:” A Tribute to John White

John White passed away last June at age 87 after an impressive career of over 50 years running ABCD’s East Boston APAC. Tune in to Soterios Zoulas’ “Friendship” — a television special dedicated to John White and his overwhelming impact on the East Boston community. WATCH NOW


More Mass. residents ask for help with rising fuel costs this winter

As the price of everything from rent to eggs goes up, community organizations say more people need help heating their homes this winter. According to state numbers, first time applicants for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a federal program that provides financial aid for fuel, increased by 76% in Massachusetts compared to this time last year. … Sharon Scott-Chandler, president and CEO…

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Mass. residents struggle with soaring utility rates this winter

When Garrett Schick received his electric bill after Christmas and saw a 73 percent increase from his last bill, he and his family made the tough decisionto return holiday gifts to make ends meet. … Other area residents have applied to energy assistance programs through organizations like Quincy Community Action Programs and Action for Boston Community Development. “We have already…

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Summer jobs for youth pay off

Study shows boost in graduation rates WHEN THE TOPIC of the achievement gap comes up, the conversation invariably veers to all the out-of-school factors facing low-income students and students of color that are correlated with poorer outcomes on academic performance, high school graduation, and other measures.  New research evidence among Boston high school students points to an out-of-school factor that can…

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People on the Move: Raeann Whalen

Action for Boston Community Development welcomes Raeann Whalen as Special Projects Director. Reporting to the CEO, she focuses on advancing the organization’s key strategic initiatives and priorities. Ms. Whalen was COO at Housing Families and has held senior positions with ReSurge International and UTEC. She has 15 years of nonprofit experience in operations, fundraising & development and cross-functional team management….

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Sharon Scott-Chandler says struggling families will lose a critical boost with the end of COVID SNAP benefits

BOSTON, MA – January 10, 2023 The state’s Department of Transitional Assistance says extra pandemic food assistance from the federal government is ending soon. Congress recently moved to phase out the SNAP benefits which amount to an extra $95 a month. GBH News interviewed ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler about the impact on struggling families. LISTEN NOW For more…

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Made for the job: Scott-Chandler takes reins at ABCD

The board of Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) in November named Sharon Scott-Chandler president and CEO of the anti-poverty agency. Scott-Chandler had for more than 10 years been executive vice president of the organization, which was founded in 1962 to combat poverty in Boston. A Mattapan native, Scott-Chandler went to school in Foxborough through the METCO program and graduated…

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