This non-profit organization is one of the oldest athletic clubs in the U.S. and is well-known for organizing the world-famous annual Boston Marathon. With the help of local sponsors like John Hancock Financial Services, the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) provides community programming for the city of Boston. It teams up with area schools and other non-profits to encourage public fitness and promote healthy lifestyles. Other BAA events include the Boston Half-Marathon, the Jimmy Fund Walk and the annual Mayor's Cup Race.
Grant A.M.E. Church meets in an impressive building on Washington Street, close to the Roxbury border. Rev. Ellis Washington leads Sunday services at 11am and Sunday School is held at 9:30am. Prayer meeting and Bible class are held every Tuesday at 6:30pm and 7pm.
A standard for highlighting the city's social scene and cultural trends, this glossy lifestyle magazine has everything from the newest clubs, restaurant reviews, shopping deals, celebrity interviews, local events, photos and more. Look for features like a cover story on actress and Boston University graduate Kim Raver, or check out a review of the G2O spa that moved to Newbury Street. The articles, columns, blogs and more are sure to entertain and inspire. The bi-weekly publication can be found on newsstands across the city, or delivered to your front door for an annual subscription of $14.95 a year.
Emmanuel Gospel Center is a Christian ministry serving urban churches and communities in the Boston area. The center works to enable churches to better support and care for the spiritual and physical needs of all people, especially those who have suffered setbacks such as homelessness or addiction. Emmanuel Gospel Center helps churches develop programs for urban youth and creates venues for collaboration among youth leaders and pastors. The center is also home to the South End Neighborhood Church.
One of the South End's most diverse and well-used parks, Peters Park offers basketball, tennis and handball courts, a baseball diamond, two dog parks and a playground, all surrounded by grassy fields, gardens and a dramatic outdoor sculpture.
The park's two off-leash dog runs have become a destination for South End dog walkers and owners. Both are gated and have access to running water and shaded benches. For toddlers, the park's tot lot features slides, swings and a jungle gym atop a soft surface. The athletic fields and courts at Peters Park are used by many neighborhood sporting groups including South End Baseball.
Public art also has a presence at Peters Park: A colorful mural is painted on the tennis court wall and a newly constructed sculpture entitled "Landwave" separates the baseball field from Washington Street.
There's a lot more than books at the South End Branch Library. The building is a great community resource with computers and other tools, and also offers programs for children and adults. The library's collection includes books and documents pertaining to local history, as well a large collection of adult fiction and scholarly reading. Popular newspapers and magazines are available, as are music CDs, DVDs and audiobooks. The children's section includes a large collection of picture and story books.
The library offers free Wi-Fi for those with laptop computers, and free access (with library card) to a bank of desktop computers. Printers are also available.
The South End Branch Library offers many programs throughout the year, including recurring weekly story hours for children, film programs and a monthly adult book club. English classes are offered to adults on a weekly basis. Seasonal programming includes craft, music and literary programs, and a Summer Reading Club for children. During summer months, visitors can enjoy the adjacent Library Park, with bench seating and Wi-Fi access.
