Author Archives: letstalkadmin

  1. Reading Challenge 2021

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    Cambridge moms, dads and kids – Join us for a virtual reading challenge starting January 11, 2021! It’s easy & fun!

    How to participate:

    Read books with your child(ren)!

    Submit a post

    Let us know the title of the book and something you and your child enjoyed about it. Photos welcome! Choose how to submit your post:

    • Facebook – @LetsTalkCambMA
      • Submit on our Facebook page by writing a post.
    • Twitter – @LetsTalkCambMA
      • Mention us in your tweet using @LetsTalkCambMA.
    • Text Let’s Talk!
      • Text your response to 617-800-9154.
      • (standard text messaging rate apply)

    Participating in the Reading Challenge gives us permission to post and share responses on social media including responses sent via text message.

    Have a chance to win a prize!

    A submission enters you in a weekly raffle for a chance to win a swag pack and a pack of five books for your child (to be delivered after schools open). Extra posts welcomed! Max 1 entry per week counts in raffle.

    Have fun reading!

    Reading Challenge Flyer Jan 2021Download

    Dates:

    • Week 1: 1/11-1/17-Winner announced 1/18
    • Week 2: 1/18-1/24-Winner announced 1/25

    Questions? Email jbaily@challiance.org or text 617-800-9154.

    Sponsored by:

    Cambridge Dads, Center for Families and Let’s Talk!

  2. Early Literacy Series 2021

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    Have a child birth to 4 years? Need new ideas to do at home?

    Join other Cambridge dads and moms to get fun ideas for talking, reading, playing and telling stories during your everyday activities to support your child’s literacy development!

    dad and kid reading

     Early Literacy at Home Series:  Dads and Moms Make a Difference!

    Tuesdays January 26, February 2, 9, 23 from 8:00-9:15 pm on Zoom

    Free books!

    To register, contact Cynthia at cwoodward@cambridgema.gov or call 617-349-6385.

    Early Literacy Series flyerDownload

    Co-sponsored by Let’s Talk! and Center for Families.

    The Center for Families is funded by the City of Cambridge, the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grant from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC), Children’s Trust, Cambridge Public Schools, and the Cambridge Health Alliance. Let’s Talk/AFC is funded by the Cambridge Public Health Department and the CIty of Cambridge.

  3. Multi-lingual Parent Talk Groups

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    Join us for a conversation on Zoom for Cambridge parents with young children!

    It has been a challenging period for parents of young children. Many of us have been feeling very isolated. Please join us for a conversation on Zoom with other parents!

    • This is a space for parents to talk, connect and share challenges as well as ideas for taking care of ourselves.
    • Groups will be facilitated by staff from the Community Engagement Team and Let’s Talk/Agenda for Children.

    Parent Talks will be offered in different languages for various
    communities in Cambridge in November/December:

    • Haitian Creole |November 20| 5pm
    • Contact Danie Pelissier: dpelissier@cambridgema.gov or 857-247-4177
    • Bangla |November 21| 5pm
    • Contact Rabeya Akther: rakther@cambridgema.gov or 617-475-0787
    • Arabic |November 29 | 1pm
    • Contact Aida Shtaiwi: aidashtaiwi@gmail.com or 617-899-3158
    • Spanish | December 4 | 4pm
    • Contact Maria Chavez: mchavez@cambridgema.gov or 857-242-6025
    • Amharic | December 6 | 4pm
    • Contact Tizita Awlachew: tawlachew@cambridgema.gov or 857-919-2561
    • Nepali | December 6 | 4pm
    • Contact Shova Thapa: snthapa@challiance.org or 857-753-6322
    Parent Talk Flyer Nov DecDownload

  4. Early Literacy Bingo!

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    Cambridge families with children birth to 4 years – celebrate National Family Literacy Month this November by playing Early Literacy Bingo with your child. Talk, read, play, sing, tell stories and have fun together! Win a children’s book for getting 5 in a row!

    Print out a board or pick one up at the locations listed below.

    Early Literacy Bingo BoardDownload
    • Cambridge Public Library:
      • Central Square Library, 45 Pearl St., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Thursday 1-7:30 p.m.
      • Main Library, 449 Broadway, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 1-7:30 p.m., Friday, Saturday 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
      • O’Nell Branch Library, 70 Rindge Ave., Wednesday 1-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Friday 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
      • Valente Branch Library, 826 Cambridge St., Monday, Tuesday, Friday 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
    • Center for Families, 51 Inman Street, Monday-Thursday, 9-1:00, email centerforfamilies@cambridgema.gov to arrange pick up.
    • Fresh Pond Apartments, 362 Rindge Ave, Resident Services Coordinator’s office

    How To Play:

    • With your child, pick a square, and do the activity together
    • Mark the box with an “X” when finished
    • Mark 5 boxes in a row (top to bottom, left to right, or diagonally) to get Bingo!
    • Take a photo of the board
    • Send it in by text, email, or social media (see below) to win a children’s book by November 30, 2020.

    Want to do more? Complete the whole board, send in a photo, and win a 2nd children’s book and entry into a raffle for a $50 gift card.

    To win a prize, send a photo of your Bingo by November 30:

    • text: 617-800-9154 or email: jbaily@challiance.org
    • FB: LetsTalkCambMA or Twitter: @LetsTalkCambMA

    Sponsored by Let’s Talk/Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative, Center for Families, and Cambridge Public Library

  5. Parent Talk Groups

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    Join us for a conversation on Zoom for Cambridge parents with young children!

    It has been a challenging period for parents of young children. Many of us have been feeling very isolated. Please join us for a conversation on Zoom with other parents!

    • This is a space for parents to talk, connect and share challenges as well as ideas for taking care of ourselves.
    • Groups will be facilitated by staff from the Community Engagement Team and Let’s Talk/Agenda for Children.

    Parent Talks will be offered in different languages for various
    communities in Cambridge in October:

    • Haitian Creole |October 14| 5:45pm
      Contact Danie Pelissier: dpelissier@cambridgema.gov or 857-247-4177
    • Bangla | October 17 | 5pm
      Contact Rabeya Akther: rakther@cambridgema.gov or 617-475-0787
    • Spanish | October 23 | 4pm
      Contact Maria Chavez: mchavez@cambridgema.gov or 857-242-6025
    • Arabic | October 25 | 1pm
      Contact Aida Shtaiwi: aidashtaiwi@gmail.com or 617-899-3158
    • Amharic | October 25 | 4pm
      Contact Tizita Awlachew: tawlachew@cambridgema.gov
      or 857-919-2561
    Parent Talk Flyer October 2020Download

  8. Dads and Kids Craft Night

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    Let’s create a virtual sculpture garden together!

    Join us for a fun night creating sculptures with your kids and connecting with other dads and their kids.

    WHO: Cambridge Dads with children between 4 and 8 years-old
    WHEN: Thursday, August 20, 6:30pm – 7:45pm

    This event will be held on Zoom. Zoom link will be sent to participants
    after registering.

    No craft experience needed!
    Supplies provided!
    *We will coordinate supply pick up during registration*

    Registration required, contact John by:

    • Email:cambdads@cambridgema.gov
    • Call/Text: 857-209-4964
    Craft Night FlyerDownload

    Facilitated by: The Beautiful Stuff Project

    Sponsored by: Cambridge Dads, a program of Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative and Center for Families

  9. Talking About Race with Young Children: a series for white parents/caregivers

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    Thursdays, July 16, 23, 30, August 6, 2020, 8:00-9:30 p.m.

    For Cambridge families with children birth to 8 years old

    Want to talk to your kids about race?  Have questions?

    • Come join other parents in a 4-part virtual series, with a presentation and time for discussion each week.
    • Each session will include an activity to practice between sessions.
    • Facilitated by Melody Brazo. Sponsored by Center for Families and Let’s Talk/Agenda for Children.

    To sign up:  bit.ly/2BlIpzi

    • Limited spaces available. We will send a confirmation that you have a spot in the group.  Link for Zoom will be sent to you once you are confirmed.
    • Questions? Call or text: 617-800-9154, email jbaily@challiance.org

    The Center for Families is funded by the City of Cambridge, the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grant from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC), Children’s Trust, Cambridge Public Schools, and the Cambridge Health Alliance.  Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative is funded by Cambridge Public Health Department and the City of Cambridge.

  10. Summer StoryWalk Series 2020

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    A StoryWalk is a children’s book hung page by page around a park in Cambridge where families can read, walk, and talk together.

    StoryWalks will be up from July 1st to July 31, 2020 in the following parks:

    • Bergin Park, Haskell St & Pemberton St, One Hot Summer Day
    • Clement Morgan Park, 60 Columbia St, Sometimes We Do
    • Hurley Park, Hurley St, Wild About Books
    • Joan Lorentz Park, Broadway, in front of the Library, Whoever You Are
    • Kingsley Park, Fresh Pond, Turtle Splash
    • Old Morse Park (David Nunes Park), Putnam Ave, Do You Have a Hat?
    • Russell Field, Rindge Ave, Nuestro Autobus/The Bus for Us
    • Sennott Park, 305 Broadway, Feast for 10
    StoryWalk-Flyer-2020-FinalDownload

    Did you find one? Check it out and then take a photo and share it on Facebook and Twitter with #StoryWalkCamb.

    Questions? 617-800-9154.

    Cosponsored by Let’s Talk/Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative and Center for Families; programs of Cambridge Public Health Department and Department of Human Service Programs