Since May 2020, Boston and Mission Hill has experienced nightly fireworks starting from 8 or 9 and going until 2 in the morning. Residents, as Community Scientists, have puled out their cellphones loaded with the NOISESCORE App to measure, map and respond to sound. The BU Community Noise Lab has analyze the current data and presented the report of firework sound levels and Resident reactions to the Sounds of Fireworks. The Mission Hill Health Movement encourages all residents of Mission Hill to download the NOISESCORE App and begin measuring the sounds (and fireworks!) around us.
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Mission Hill Health Movement Accomplishments 2019
It’s been a busy year! Here are just a few of the Mission Hill Health Movement’s Accomplishments in 2019 towards a healthier Hill.
Improve Health by Increasing the Availability and Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables
- Successful Farmers Markets at Roxbury Crossing and Brigham Circle (June-November)
- Served free summer lunches & snacks to 35 children and teens daily at Roxbury Farmers Markets
- Received $62,000 grant from the City of Boston for construction of Gore St Community Garden (June)
- Distributed 200 tomato plants free to residents to encourage growing our own food (May)
- Support Bodega Makeover Community Outreach Event in Roxbury (July)
Support Mission Hill Residents in Preventing and Managing Chronic Illness
- Held successful 9th Annual Health and Wellness Fair on September 21
- Feet First Walking Groups walked 3-5 miles every Thursday and Saturday Morning, with over 80 participants (Spring-Fall)
- Holding Line Dance Class, the 2nd Saturday of the month at Tobin Community Center with grant from the Mission Hill-Fenway Neighborhood Trust
- Supported Boston Self Help Center Power Wheelchair Soccer
Create a Resilient and Healthy Mission Hill Environment and Community
- Kicked off Noise Monitoring Project on Mission Hill with The Community Noise Lab at Boston University funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Organized Senior Homeowners and Tenants in Private Housing to identify and begin to address aging in community concerns
- Supported Senior Activities including Mission Hill Senior Prom
- Oriented 1st year Residents of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 1st year MPH Students from Harvard Chan and 1st year Harvard Medical and Dental Students to Mission Hill Community and our Health Concerns
- Participated in Halloween on the Hill: handed out Local MA Apples; and decorated a record 45 Pumpkins with children and parents
- Participated in Outreach Activities at Whittier Street Health Center (Dec) and Roxbury Tenants of Harvard (May)
Additional Accomplishments
- Participated in the Boston Community Health Needs Assessment/Community Health Implementation Plan process including recruiting residents to Mission Hill meeting.
- Distributed approx. $3,000 worth of Toys, Books and other items donated by Shriners Hospital to Mission Hill and Boston area children youth and Families Participated in Ten-Taxpayer Group organized by CCHERS to address hospital impact on communities
- Improved 1534 Tremont St by installing energy efficient lighting and improving HVAC system.
- Worked with Wentworth Students on restoration of deck at rear of 1534 Tremont St (August)
- Sponsored Boston Cyclist union at the Roxbury Crossing farmers market to perform free bike repairs, maintenance and tune-ups (Summer 2019)
- Wrote Report reviewing 7 years of BWH Mission Hill Community Activities Reports, 2010-2018 (Spring 2019)
Thank you to our Supporters and Collaborators
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Shriners Hospital for Burns
New England Baptist Hospital
Mass Eye and Ear Institute
Whittier St Health Center
Harvard T.F. Chan School of Public Health
Northeastern University
Wentworth Institute of Technology,
Thank you, Sandy Pascal!
Boston University
Community Noise Lab at Boston University
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Mission Hill Main Streets
MacArthur Farms
Gary’s Too Farmstand
BCYF Tobin Community Center
Mission Hill Legacy Project
InFocus Camera Club
Mission Hill Artists Collective
Partners in Mentoring/Family Intervention Team
Roxbury Tenants of Harvard
Kristen Mobilia
Laura Serapigilia, MCPHS
- LIFTED
Bodega Makeover
Maynard Clark
Roderick Kersey
The Food Project
Joshua Wolfsun
Mission Hill Fenway Neighborhood Trust
City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development
All of US Health Study
Lily’s Pasta
Mike’s Donuts
COGDesign & Jennifer Kimball
Laura Feddersen
Daniel Janowiec, WIT
Michael Ateek, Computers
Harvard University Day of Service
Boston Public Library, Parker Hill Branch
Friends of the Parker Hill Library
State Senator Sonia Chang Diaz
Representative Nika Elugardo
City Councilor-elect Kenzie Bok
Age Strong, Mission Hill!
Mission Hill Residents Discuss What They Need and Want to Age-Strong on Mission Hill.
In August, 20 older Mission Hill residents got together to discuss concerns, questions and plans for completing their lives on Mission Hill. Below are the notes from the discussion. The group decided to meet again on October 24 at 10 am to learn more about the following programs that help Seniors remain in their homes as they age:
- JP@Home;
- PACE at Uphams Corner Health Center; and
- City of Boston Senior Property Tax Programs.
Notes From August 16, 2019 Mission Hill Age Strong Meeting at the Mission Hill Health Movement
CONCERNS:
Household Maintenance including: yardwork; snow removal; getting the trash out; and referrals for building maintenance and repair work.
Grocery Shopping: getting to the store; shopping; getting home with the bags; and putting food away.
City Resources for Older Bostonians-(Age Strong Dept.)
- What are they?
- How Do you access them?
- Do you need to be income eligible?
Possible sources of information: City Hall;Library; Jamaica Plain Senior Center; ABCD
Admitting that we need help; What does this mean about us?
Loneliness & Safety (Falling Concerns too)
Need for One Time Services
Home Accommodations: what do we need; how to get them?
SCAMS- (some have already been victims!)
Transportation
Property Taxes
Long-term Senior and Low-income Tenants in private housing, How to keep them/afford them.
Estate Planning- Referrals to Affordable Attorneys
Access to Social Workers
Financial Administration Assistance/Monitoring
SOLUTIONS
Friendship Works
Workshop on SCAMS (AARP)
Urban Edge (Federal & State Tax Preparation)
Challenge Property Assessment to Lower Taxes
Tobin Community Center- Create Work Program for Teens to work with Seniors in their homes
MHHM: cooperate with Tobin on programing collaboratory
Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly
Fair Foods/Senior Meal Programs
Friends and Family
Neighborhood Groups
Building Materials Co-op: Tools on Loan/Service Referrals
Collecting and sharing contact info for electricians, plumbers, etc
Senior Shuttle-Shopping Trips
Local Colleges & Universities- RCC, NEU, BU, Wentworth, MassArt, Simmons
RTH Senior Programs/Maria Sanchez/High Rise @ Mission Main/ 75 St Alphonsus (Pool Use)
VILLAGE CONCEPT (explore)
Beacon Hill Village($700)/JP @ Home ($500)
PACE Program
Home Health Care
Home Modifications
NEXT STEPS
Request meetings: Beacon Hill Village, Ethos: JP2Home, PACE, FriendshipWorks
Mark a list of Resources
Next meeting, October 24 10 am.
Make a Plan for a Healthy School Year!
Make goals for a healthy school year with your parents or guardians! Here are 6:
1. Be a Healthy Eater!
· Start each School Day with a Healthy Breakfast
· Eat Fruits and Vegetables Every Day
· Only Eat Salty or Sweet Snacks Sometimes
2. Drink Healthy Beverages!
· Water and Milk are the Best Choices
· Not too much Juice, Soda and Sugary Drinks
3. Keeping Moving!
· Enjoy Playing with Your Friends.
· Walk Places
· Get Up and Move
4. Reduce Screen Time!
· Limit Time Watching TV, Using Computers, and Cell Phones & Tablets
5. Get Healthy Sleep!
· Make a Regular Bed Time
· Don’t Bring Your Cell Phone or Tablet into Bed
· Get Enough Sleep to Have Energy in the Morning
6. Have Your Medicine At School
· Have your parents follow the school’s directions.
7._____________________________________________ _______________________________________________
With Best Wishes for Your Best School Year Ever!
Mission Hill Health Movement
http://www.mhhm.org 617 427 6919
Mission Hill: Sound or Noise?
The Mission Hill Health Movement has joined with the Community Noise Lab at BU School of Public Health to do a 2 years study of noise and sound on Mission Hill with a grant funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The study will focus on two sound issues on Mission Hill
1. The sound impacts from emergency vehicles, MEDIVAC helicopters, and local hospital HVAC equipment; and
2. how rapid development in this neighborhood is transforming its sound levels.
Residents and businesses can participate in the study in a variety of ways including:
· Have sound monitoring equipment at their apartment or building;
· attend a sound walk or another sound event;
· participate in a study on the impact of sound on people; or
· create a Sound Portrait of your sound experience.
Noise monitoring on Mission Hill is scheduled to begin in June 2019. Get more information at www.mhhm.org or www.communitynoiselab.org.