Vintage Birdhouses built by Boston Public School kids!

CrocodileTears follower Dana George contacted me regarding these lovely birdhouses her students created! Dana is a special education teach in Boston Public Schools. Part of her Geometry class included building these cool birdhouses with vintage books for the roof and vintage coins, keys, knobs, letters, numbers and a whole lot of love! 

If you would like to own one of these handmade beauties please make a donation of $35. 

Dana is trying to fund more projects in her classroom with donations collected from these unique birdhouses. 

Another exciting project they are working on is repairing vintage bicycles! So awesome :) 

Contact Dana here: 

Phone: 617.970.8494

Email: dgeorge@boston.k12.ma.us 

Be a Gem, Help Out!

(dressed to impress at our job fair)

I work for ROCA INC, a non profit in Chelsea and Springfield MA. I help young people learn how to go to work successfully  Work is something that many people take for granted - I've never had to take a pee test for a job or been disqualified because of my criminal background check. But, this is the reality that many of the young people I work with face. The jobs they obtain are entry level and usually a little over $8/h. The folks I work with are ecstatic for an entry level job paying $8/h! Work helps them stay out of jail, build self esteem, and provide for their families  The pride young people feel in obtaining a job and going to work is amazing and inspiring - however, there is a large population of young people who are living in this country illegally. Recent legislation will allow for young people who are illegal immigrants to apply for Social Security #’s, Drivers Licenses, etc. This is very important because it will allow for people to work legally in the country and seek help without fear of deportation if they are living in an unsafe environments. 

I want to help all of these kids get jobs! 

If you are interested in making a donation to help one of ROCA's participants take part in the Dream Act let me know.

It cost $465 per application - this is a fortune for our participants. Anything you can give would be uber appreciated! Please make the check out to Roca. You will get a receipt which you can apply as a charitable deduction on your 2012 federal income tax filings.

*Side note, My boss is matching donations (contact me for more info!!)

ROCA INC

101 Park Street

Chelsea MA 02150

Attention: Keyse/Jake/Dream Act

Some pictures from work

 Chef teaching cutting skills in our kitchen

 Participants applying for jobs in our Employment Lab (you might notice the cool framed ikea gems fabric, I was featured on designsponge for that! I also picked out the ikea chairs and had the wood shop build the counter desk and shelves)

 Serving community dinner (m-f, everything is cooked by the participants with Chef)

A successful placement! 

Help out!

I'm posting what D'hanna Perry said on FB - way more elegant than anything I could put together. Oh, and by the way...Aliza's drag name is Heywood Wakefield!!

"I'm sure many of you have heard of Aliza Shapiro - CEO of Truth Serum Productions. She is a stalwart of Boston's underground/queer performance scene; constantly working to bring quality performers, musicians, and cinema to the area. Due to an unexpected health crisis, she is in need of our support. Please visit Aliza's Brain Trust to donate & get up to date info on her recovery!!!"

give

this is amazing - i LOVE alexis bittar, he is amazinggggg, and so is this awesome donation he is making to the haitian people. i am so tempted to buy the large bauhaus ring (size 7) or the Klimt link earrings...mmm

Pie in the Sky

You like pie? I love pies! This is a sweet combination of goodness, you get to help people and your taste buds get a party.

Buy a buy from Christine Liu, local sweetheart of Citysearch Boston, and help local families bring food to their tables.

Community Servings is a GREAT organization that addresses a pressing social need with efficiency and compassion. By buying a pie or making a contribution today, you'll help Community Servings prepare and deliver hearty and comforting meals to men, women and children who struggle with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Community Servings' clients are some of our most vulnerable neighbors - and even more so in these shaky economic times. Many live alone. Others have children or grandchildren in their care. Most - over 90% - live below the poverty line. But you can make their lives better - and 92 cents of every dollar you contribute will go towards providing meals, not fundraising expenses.
As you sit down to your Thanksgiving celebration, I hope you take pride in knowing that you have made a positive difference in someone's life.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Happening Today!

It may say 28 Degrees outside - but inside it's more like 128!

Join Project 10 East tonight as we kick off 2009 in style with an evening of cocktails and complimentary hors d'oeuvres provided by 28 Degrees.

The event is free, but donations will be accepted. All proceeds support Project 10 East's work building and sustaining gay-straight alliances.

Thursday, February 26, 2009 from 6:30pm - 8:30pm
28 Degrees
One Appleton Street
Boston, MA

Project 10 East Inc. is a grassroots 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and sustaining safe spaces by offering support to GLBT youth, their peers, educators, and families within their schools. By developing an enduring relationship with the school community, Project 10 East helps shape the skills necessary for GLBT youth to have an unobstructed path towards success both academically and personally. Every day, Project 10 East works to secure the future of the GLBT community by investing in and promoting the growth of GLBT youth.