Inspired by the documentary film ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE, Cultivating Community Connections Grantmakers (CCCG), a coalition of eight community organizations*, has awarded $19,000 in grants to four social service organizations in Greater Boston to help ease social isolation and build community through innovative new programs focused on serving vulnerable groups.
The four recipients and programs funded:
Boston Missionary Baptist Community Center– Senior Social Connections Program to create community support among older adults who are Haitian immigrants. Bridgewater Senior Center- Activating Connections Together – an Intergenerational Expressive Arts program in Bridgewater. Cape Verdean Association of Boston- Project VidAlimento, a comprehensive nutrition andelder engagement program designed to improve the well-being of adults 55 and older.
Bridgewater Senior Center– Activating Connections Together – an Intergenerational Expressive Arts program in Bridgewater.
Cape Verdean Association of Boston– Project VidAlimento, a comprehensive nutrition and elder engagement program designed to improve the well-being of adults 55 and older.
Music with Heart – The expansion of Music with Heart’s participatory singing and music programs for individuals who are socially isolated.
As part of a celebration of the grant awardees, Music with Heart performed at the Brookline Senior Center in November 2022, to rave reviews.
“We’re thrilled that these nonprofits will receive some financial assistance to help them impact vulnerable populations. Their work makes a difference in the lives of isolated adults” said Ruthann Dobek, Co-Chair.
CONTACTS / CCCG Co-Chairs:
Candace Cramer, CEO, Goddard House
ccramer@goddardhouse.org
Ruthann Dobek, Director, Brookline
Senior Center
rdobek@brooklineseniorcenter.org
About Cultivating Community Connections Grantmakers (CCCG)
In December 2021, the eight CCC organizations* hosted the first ever screening of the new Stu Maddux and Joe Applebaum documentary film about social isolation, ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE (ATLP Trailer), at Brookline’s Coolidge Corner Theatre. More than 500 people attended, noting that the film was a call to action to address the growing issues of social isolation and loneliness happening in our community and around the world.
As a result of the generosity of the event sponsors and individual donors, a portion of the event proceeds was set aside to fund one-time grants to help seed new and enhanced initiatives in Greater Boston to ease social isolation and loneliness. Co-Chair Candace Cramer noted: “Our committee received many compelling grant proposals, so the decision was very difficult. The four award winners are addressing social isolation and loneliness in unique ways and we look
forward to following their progress.“
For information on how to access the ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE documentary for your community, please contact The Clowder Group (https://www.allthelonelypeoplefilm.com/)
*2Life Communities, Atkin Associates, Brookline Senior Center, FriendshipWorks, Goddard House, Good Shepherd Community Care, Hebrew Senior Life, LGBTQIA + Aging Project.