Mattapan VIP Coalition
VIP Coalitions seek to empower, inform, and strengthen their neighborhoods.
The Mattapan VIP Coalition meetings consist of:
- Community Residents and Partners
- VIP Coordinators
- Block Captains
- Community Police Officers
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Mattapan Teen Center (Boys and Girls Club) - 10 Hazleton St., Mattapan MA 02126
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Mattapan VIP Coordinator - Beth Pontes, Mattapan Teen Center
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617-533-9050
What we do
VIP Coalitions seek to empower, inform, and strengthen their neighborhoods. Coalitions mobilize neighborhoods to respond to events of neighborhood violence. The topics of discussion during these meetings are:
- Youth after school, summer, and employment opportunities
- Community disorders such as abandoning cars and lighting issues
- Health and wellness services
- Public safety
- Neighborhood responses to violence
Violence Prevention Campaign
"Our Mattapan. Many Pasts. One Future." violence prevention campaign is a product of:
- The BPHC
- U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
- The Mattapan Community Health Center
- Boston Police Department
- Boston Centers for Youth and Families
A group of residents and community members involved in the Mattapan VIP Coalition worked to create the campaign concept. Several focus groups with teens and Mattapan residents informed the campaigns’ concept. Residents shared thoughts on building a stronger community by discouraging gun violence and breaking the stereotypes that define the neighborhood. The personal stories featured in "Our Mattapan" illustrate the true impact of violence on a community. It encourages more people to get involved in violence prevention work.
For more information about this campaign and how you can get involved in the Mattapan VIP coalition please contact Debby Rios, Mattapan VIP Coordinator at 617-322-8034.
How you can help
Help prevent violence and improve your neighborhood by following these helpful tips:
- Know your neighbors. Neighbors that know each other look out for each other. They have a sense of when something looks out of the ordinary. This helps increase safety in your neighborhood.
- Help connect young people in your neighborhood to resources. Many studies found that after-school programs keep young people safe. They help steer youth away from unsafe behaviors.
- Beautify your neighborhood. Having a clean neighborhood can actually have an impact on preventing crime. It helps reduce the perception of a neglected neighborhood. It also raises the perception that crime is unacceptable in the neighborhood.
- Call the Mayor’s 24 Hour Constituent Service at 617-635-4500. The Mayor’s 24 Hour Constituent line helps address a wide array of issues in your neighborhood. Issues include but are not limited to potholes, street light outages, snow removal, trash removal, and problem properties.
- Call for help. If you know anything about a crime or potential crime call the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or text the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). Your tip is 100% anonymous.
- Get mobilized, and get connected with your local coalitions. There are many ways you can get involved in your community and connect with resources. Community mobilization enhances your ability to have influence and control over your environment.
Get involved
Please contact your local VIP Coordinator to find out how you can get involved and get connected.
- Beth Pontes, Mattapan VIP Coordinator 617-533-9050
- Kynndal Martin, Interim Bowdoin Geneva VIP Coordinator 617-754-0161
- Gloria West, Grove Hall VIP Coordinator 617-238-7816
- Wilbur Smart, Orchard Gardens/Madison Park Village VIP Coordinator 617-849-6239
- Jose Cardoso, Upham’s Corner VIP Coordinator 617-287-8349
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Mattapan Teen Center (Boys and Girls Club) - 10 Hazleton St., Mattapan MA 02126
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Mattapan VIP Coordinator - Beth Pontes, Mattapan Teen Center
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617-533-9050
