Located inside the Gorin Building, Young Audeinces is the largest arts and education network in the country, with a total of 31 chapters. This location is the state headquarters. The organization is an advocate for encouraging creative thinking among grade school children. The core belief is that by integrating arts education into the school curriculum, the seeds of a lifelong relationship are planted.
The American Legion is originally based out of Indianapolis and was founded in 1919. Since then, it's grown to over 3 million members in approximately 14,000 posts throughout the world. The organization is chartered by Congress and handles all lobbying relating to veteran-related issues including benefits, pensions and the VA Hospital system. Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Ford, Carter and Bush (both) have all been Legion members. This location doubles as the home of VFW Post 6800, which meets every second Saturday at 10 am. The VFW has a separate website: www.vfw6800.org and officially became chartered on April 8, 1946. There is a function room on the premises.
Located at 10 Tyler Street, Artisan's Asylum is a community driven, nonprofit artists workshop. Committed to "removing barriers to making things," the Asylum solicits skilled local artisans to teach classes and open studio hours are common. Courses cover a wide range of subjects from automotive wiring to silk-screening and sewing. It also maintains a fabulously detailed and illustrated website with the newest schedules and most recent photos.
Originally built as a YMCA in 1904, this building has character to spare. The adult program list is extensive and includes activities such as swimming lessons, yoga, karate and an array of dance classes. Senior citizens can loosen up with water aerobics courses, many of which are free to members. Memberships are reasonably priced for individuals and families. Other programs include a pre-school, child care, outreach and youth day camp.
This expansive park is marked by swanky modernist signage and plenty of open space. The typical kid-friendly playground monstrosities are surprisingly absent and are replaced by artistically abstract equipment meant for esoteric bouncing. Also highlighted, an army of benches and a vast expanse of dog-friendly grass, ready to be used for a rousing game of catch or pickup soccer.
The Somerville Community Corporation focuses on maintaining the affordability of housing in Somerville by building low-cost housing and preserving Somerville's historic building for residential use. Founded in 1969, the SCC also offers financial education and counseling to allow residents to make the best choice for their housing needs. SCC also assists in community organizing and supporting Somerville's immigrant communities.
The Somerville City Club is a private social club located on the outskirts of Boston; potential members must apply and be voted by two sponsors who are in good standing. The City Club also offers its facility to the public for social gatherings, corporate events, business seminars, weddings and showers. Its main function hall accommodates up to 170 people, while its smaller function hall can accommodate up to 50 people. Catering services are available.
The Center for Arabic Culture is a non-profit organization that focuses on celebrating Arabic language, culture, art, history and Arab-American cultural experiences. Programs include visual arts, performance arts, teaching Arabic and scholarly activities. CAC also promotes local events involving Arab culture such as lectures, music, dancing and festivals.
Founded in 1970, this nonprofit organization provides heath and human resources for Portuguese speakers all across eastern Massachusetts. The Alliance strives to break down linguistic and cultural barriers between Portuguese speakers and health care, education and fiscal opportunities. This Somerville office is just one of several set up across the state, and the bilingual employees here hail from Portuguese-speaking countries including Brazil, Cape Verde and Portugal. The Alliance works with issues ranging from HIV to drunk driver awareness to breast cancer screening. Be aware that this office is only open part-time during the evening by appointment only.
Founded in 1992, International Press is an academically oriented publishing company that produces 15 journals in various fields of academic mathematics research, including a prestigious journal of mathematical physics. IP recently partnered with the American Mathematical Society to jointly publish, market and distribute lines of academic books. IP is also cultivating a partnership with Higher Education Press of China, the leading academic book company throughout China.
BJCC is the first Japanese language church formed in the region. Pastor Ken Milhous grew up in Japan and is bilingual. In addition to worship services, BJCC offers Bible study classes and workshops that promote the use and understanding of English. The church is located between Union and Porter Squares on Somerville Avenue.
Dare is a non-profit social services program, with six regional offices throughout Massachusetts and one in Connecticut. Dare provides intensive foster care for children that have been entrusted to them by the state after being separated from their biological parents due to abuse or neglect.
Additionally, Dare offfers an Intellectual Disabilities program and a Newburyport location—in which it houses pregnant and parenting teen girls. The Somerville office is the administrative headquarters.
Founded in 1911, St. Benedict has been a Somerville institution for a century. Located on a quiet side street, just off of Broadway, St. Benedict also owns the school across the street. It maintains a congregation of 900, a spectacular feat for a building of this size. It gives Mass in English and Spanish. The Sunday night Spanish Mass is also broadcast live on the internet.
The Community Action Agency of Somerville, or CAAS, works to fight poverty through its Advocacy and Head Start programs. CAAS provides services ranging from eviction prevention and tenant rights and gender discrimination counseling to medical-legal advocacy, public benefit access and case management. CAAS also serves over 350 children in Cambridge and Somerville, ages three to five, and their families, with its Head Start Program, offering health, education, nutritional and social services.