letstalkadmin, Author at Let's Talk

Author Archives: letstalkadmin

Parent Workshops-Early Literacy Development
January 13, 2016 3:29 pm Comments Off on Parent Workshops-Early Literacy Development
Join us for a four-part series for Cambridge parents:

Early Literacy Development: Dads and Moms Make a Difference!

Learn concrete strategies to support your child’s language and literacy development (birth to four years).

Share your successes and challenges with other Dads and Moms.

Topics include talking, reading, managing screen time and storytelling. Free books and giveaways!

Flyer: Early Literacy Development Series winter 2016

Wednesdays, February 3, February 10, February 24 and March 2

6:30-8:30 pm, Center for Families, Peabody School, 70 Rindge Ave.

Facilitated by Jen Baily, Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative.

To register contact Christine at 617-349-3003 or cdoucet@cambridgema.gov.

Limited child care available upon request. Light snacks served.

Co-sponsored by Let’s Talk! and Center for Families.
LGBT Resources for Families, Seniors, and Youths
December 18, 2015 7:14 pm Comments Off on LGBT Resources for Families, Seniors, and Youths
The Community Engagement Team (CET) and the Cambridge GLBT Commission cosponsored an informative and lively networking event on December 17, 2015 entitled “ENGAGING FAMILIES: LEARNING FROM AND WELCOMING LGBTQ PEOPLE”. Two resource sheets were shared:

LGBT Resources for Families, Seniors, and Youths

PFLAG Terminology

Please share these resources with others!
Winter Playgroups – Register Now!
December 8, 2015 7:48 pm Comments Off on Winter Playgroups – Register Now!

Registration is now open for the winter session of Cambridge Community Playgroups. Playgroups meet weekly for 8 weeks starting in mid January. Children and their moms, dads or caregivers attend and get to play and learn together through songs, books, and fun activities.

Playgroups are held in different locations around the city. There are four groups for children 2-5 years and two Tiny Tots groups for children 15-23 months. Details about the times and locations of groups are on the registration form.

To sign up, fill out the registration form below and return it by Wednesday, December 16, 2015.

Winter 2015 Community Playgroup Registration Form

By mail: Center for Families, c/o DHSP, 51 Inman St., Cambridge, MA, 02139 In person: Give it to anyone at the Center for Families (70 Rindge Ave.) or the Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative (119 Windsor St., ground floor). You will hear from us by January 8th to know if you are in a group or on the waitlist.

Questions? Contact Priscila at 617-665-3825 or pdecalvache@challiance.org.

Playgroups are sponsored by the Center for Families and the Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative.
Cambridge Dads: In Their Own Words
3:10 pm Comments Off on Cambridge Dads: In Their Own Words

This fall, more than 50 Cambridge dads submitted original writing submissions (including essays, poems, and reflections) answering the question, “What does fatherhood mean to you?”

On the evening of Thursday, December 3^rd, Cambridge dads and their families, and community partners gathered at City Hall to attend “Celebrating fatherhood: Cambridge dads in their own words,” a reception to honor and support the many dads who shared their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

The reception included greetings from David Maher, Mayor of Cambridge and Richard Rossi, Cambridge City Manager, as well as readings from six of the fathers and a poster gallery featuring all of the stories. To read the stories, visit bit.ly/dadswords. You can also view the poster gallery at Cambridge City Hall (795 Massachusetts Ave.) until December 18^th.

This event is part of a larger effort by the Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative and the Center for Families to support fathers in Cambridge.
Family Literacy Fun Day 2015
October 26, 2015 3:02 pm Comments Off on Family Literacy Fun Day 2015

Join us on Saturday, November 7th for the 19th Annual Cambridge Family Literacy Fun Day, which kicks off National Family Literacy Month (November).

This free event will take place at Cambridge City Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and is open to all Cambridge families with children in pre-K through grade 3.

The event includes children’s activities, free books, Bonaparte the Magician (shows at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m.), sing-a-long, face painting, and more! For more information, call 617-349-6492.

This event is sponsored by the Cambridge Family Literacy Collaborative, which includes Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative, Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge Public Schools – Title 1 Program, Center for Families, and City of Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs.

FLFD flyer
Parent Workshops-Early Literacy Development
September 17, 2015 4:35 pm Comments Off on Parent Workshops-Early Literacy Development
Join us for a three-part series – Early Literacy Development: Dads and Moms Make a Difference!

Learn concrete strategies to support your child’s language and literacy development (birth to four years).

Share your successes and challenges with other Dads and Moms.

Topics include talking, reading, and managing screen time. Free books and giveaways!

Tuesdays, October 6, October 20 and November 3

6:15-8:00pm, Windsor Street Health Center, 119 Windsor Street, 2nd floor

Facilitated by Jen Baily, Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative.

Limited child care available upon request. Light snacks served.

To register contact Christine at 617-349-3003 or cdoucet@cambridgema.gov.

Co-sponsored by Let’s Talk! and Center for Families. Info: Early Literacy Development Series fall2015
Fall Playgroups – Register Now!
September 9, 2015 3:21 pm Comments Off on Fall Playgroups – Register Now!

Registration is now open for the fall session of Cambridge Community Playgroups. Playgroups meet weekly for 8 weeks starting in early October. Children and their moms, dads or caregivers attend and get to play and learn together through songs, books, and fun activities.

Playgroups are held in different locations around the city. There are four groups for children 2-5 years and two Tiny Tots groups for children 15-23 months. Details about the times and locations of groups are on the registration form.

To sign up, fill out the registration form below and return it by Friday September 25, 2015.

Fall 2015 Community Playgroup Registration Form

By mail: Center for Families, c/o DHSP, 51 Inman St., Cambridge, MA, 02139 In person: Give it to anyone at the Center for Families (70 Rindge Ave.) or the Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative (119 Windsor St., ground floor). You will hear from us by October 2nd to know if you are in a group or on the waitlist.

Questions? Contact Priscila at 617-665-3825 or pdecalvache@challiance.org.

Playgroups are sponsored by the Center for Families and the Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative.
September Festivals
September 2, 2015 4:24 pm Comments Off on September Festivals
September is a busy month in Cambridge with a number of fun fall festivals to attend!

*First Holiness Church Back to School Festival, September 5th from 12-3 p.m., Sennott Park. Info: BTS 2015 FT BTS 2015 BK

*The Port Pride Day, September 12th from 12-5 p.m., Clement Morgan Park. Info: Port Pride Day 2015

*Danehy Park Family Day, September 19th from 11-4 p.m., Danehy Park. Info: Danehy Day

Enjoy!!
Cambridge dads: in their own words
July 21, 2015 8:09 pm Comments Off on Cambridge dads: in their own words
What does fatherhood mean to you?

We are now seeking original writing submissions of any kind and length (including essays, poems, rap-lyrics, reflections, etc.) from Cambridge dads to be collected and displayed at a prominent city location. The public will get a glimpse into what being a dad truly means to the men who live it.

Deadline: Monday, August 31, 5 p.m.

One lucky dad will have his entry selected by Scout Cambridge Magazine to be featured in an upcoming issue!

Need help getting started? We have two free drop-in sessions to help you get started or to work on your piece….come on by!

Wednesday, July 29th, 6-8 p.m., Agenda for Children, 119 Windsor Street, Ground Floor

Monday, August 17th, 6-8 p.m., Center for Families, Back of the Peabody School, 70 Rindge Ave., Door #10

To enter, email submissions to Luis at lvasquez@cambridgema.gov with the subject “Fatherhood,” and include registration info: full name; age (optional); phone #; age of child(ren). You can also drop your submission off at the Agenda for Children or Center for Families (addresses above) during normal business hours.

Sponsored by Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative and the Center for Families.

Note: By participating in “Cambridge Dads: In Their Own Words,” I am consenting to the release of my written piece and/or photo/artwork to be used for all purposes surrounding promotion, execution, and physical display of the project by the Center for Families and Agenda for Children.
Cambridge Book Bike!
June 26, 2015 2:35 pm Comments Off on Cambridge Book Bike!

Let’s Move, Let’s Eat, Let’s Read!

Cambridge Book Bike is ready for it’s second year! With the addition of a second bike (thanks Kids Council!) the Book Bike will be at 5 parks from June 29th to August 14th, 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. Children of all ages can pick a book, do a craft and hear stories read aloud.

Mondays: Greene-Rose Heritage Park (Harvard St.)
Wednesdays: Hoyt Field (Gilmore St.)
Thursdays: Danehy Park (Sherman St.)
Fridays: Gold Star Mothers Park (Gore St.)-starts July 10
Fridays: Russell Field (Rindge Ave)-starts July 10

Book Bike Schedule

To stay up-to-date on schedule changes or rainouts, follow us on Facebook, or Twitter.

The goal of the Book Bike is to give all children access to books to build their home library for enjoyment and learning in the summer to help prevent “summer slide”. Meeting families in the park for stories and activities, the Book Bike models that reading is fun! The program provide a wide variety of titles, topics and languages so children can find a book they want to read. Research has shown that children read more when they select the book. For more information:

Why we should let kids choose their own summer reading books

Why Do Poor Students Lag Behind Rich Students in Reading Development

The Book Bike supports healthy bodies and healthy minds by visiting many of the Cambridge parks that participate in the Summer Food Program, which provides free lunches to children under 18. Free lunch is available at all the Book Bike parks except for Russell Field. Summer Food Schedule: Summer Meals Program

Book Bike partners include: Liz Phipps-Soeiro, Elementary School Librarian, Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative, Center for Families, and Cambridge Public Library. For more information check out the Book Bike website or contact Jen Baily, AFC Literacy Coordinator, jbaily@challiance.org, 617-665-3812