Your donation will help improve the lives of Mattapan residents. Thank you for helping to change lives!
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TSNE MissionWorks, Inc
89 South Street, Suite 700
Boston, MA 02111
Black Lives, Green Spaces Campaign

2023 Black Lives, Green Spaces Virtual Conversation
Give to MFFC on Giving Tuesday
Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition (MFFC) is excited to launch our “Black Lives, Green Spaces” campaign to support a sustainable food system and green spaces for a healthier Mattapan! Our goal is to raise $3,500 to maintain the Edgewater Food Forest and Kennedy Community Garden to help us:
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grow fresh and healthy food (i.e. grape vines, strawberries, black walnuts, and more) that is free and accessible to the community.
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provide green and natural gathering spaces for residents to build community and be active.
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continue advocacy with the Department of Conservation for completion and maintenance of a walking path along Edgewater Drive.
HISTORY OF THE EDGEWATER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
In the Summer of 2016, the Edgewater Neighborhood Association (ENA) was formed to improve the built environment and green infrastructure along Edgewater Drive in Mattapan. A grant from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital allowed residents from 8 different streets to do more direct community organizing to address multiple vacant lots and a city wall built in the 1930s which barred the community from access to the Neponset River.
Community Members, State Representative Brandy Fluker Oakley, & Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Cut the Ribbon at the Opening of the Edgewater Food Forest in May, 2023. Courtesy Hope Kelley/Boston Food Forest Coalition
WHAT WE’VE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR
In a short amount of time, the ENA has already made great strides to transform several vacant lots into the Kennedy Community Garden and Playground, Edgewater Food Forest, and a walking path stewarded by the local community! In collaboration with the Boston Food Forest Coalition, the City of Boston Grassroots Program, and Restoring Roots Cooperative, the ENA built The Edgewater Food Forest located at 640 River St. The Food Forest, which officially opened in May 2023, is an edible park that grows mushrooms, strawberries, black walnuts and other edible plants that are all free for the community to pick and eat. The Forest also features a stage area and gathering space for community events.
In addition to the Food Forest, ENA has started work on a walking path along Edgewater Drive which the Department of Conservation and Reservation plans to fully construct starting in January of 2024.
Edgewater Food Forest, Mattapan. Image Courtesy of Hope Kelly, Boston Food Forest Coalition
WE NEED YOUR HELP
There is more work to be done to make sure that Mattapan, including existing residents and the influx of new migrant families have access to fresh fruits and vegetables and safe green spaces to be active. A history of systemic racism has created a food desert and disparities in access to green space. Mattapan has only ONE grocery store. And the current rates of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes are disproportionately greater than Boston’s overall rates. However, you can partner with MFFC through #BlackLivesGreenSpaces to ensure that we can advance our food and environmental justice work so that Mattapan can become one of the healthiest communities in the City of Boston!
GET INVOLVED & SOW SEEDS OF EQUITY
There are many ways you can get involved!
DONATE- Become a monthly donor or give a one time gift. Make a financial investment to support accessible green space and fresh healthy food to residents in Mattapan and neighboring communities.
PROVIDE IN KIND DONATIONS & SERVICES: Donate equipment and materials to MFFC to support our community garden, playground, food forest, and other programs.
PARTNER- Partner with MFFC to connect with potential funders, resources and information that would benefit our sustainability work.
VOLUNTEER- Volunteer your professional expertise to our food justice and green space initiatives.
For more information, contact development@mattapanfoodandfit.org

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why give?
MFFC provides programming and hosts events throughout the year to boost the physical and emotional well-being of Mattapan residents. MFFC's work to improve the physical environment is done in order to promote good health for all. All of MFFC's activities are free for residents of Mattapan because we believe money should not be a barrier to healthy living.
With farmer's markets, community fitness events, and advocating for more green and open spaces in the neighborhood, MFFC hopes to make their dream of a healthier and safer Mattapan community a reality. With the help of generous donations, MFFC hopes to be able to strengthen its reach and continue to provide health and wellness options for the people of Mattapan.
SOME OF OUR GOALS FOR 2023:
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Bringing more awareness to food assistance programs such as SNAP, WIC and normalizing the use of them
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Support community advocacy efforts on projects such as the Blue Hill Ave Transportation Action Plan and Cummins Highway
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Empower residents to take control of their eating habits no matter their budget in partnership with Boston Organization of Dietitians and Nutritionists of Color
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Continue our support to the Edgewater Neighborhood Association to build a walking path
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Continue our transportation advocacy efforts to obtain access to the Blue Hills via public transit
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Onboarding one full time Program Manager to serve our community
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Completing our strategic plan and discussing ways to meaningfully involve volunteers
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Onboarding a development consultant to help us diversify our revenue