Who We Are
Community Care Boston is a nonprofit incubator and community hub, fostering grassroots leadership, collaborative solutions, and sustainable impact.
Mission
To create spaces and support systems for community ideas to become community solutions.
Strategy
We invest in communities by providing ongoing operational support to community groups, nurturing emerging leaders, and fostering innovative interventions to address social challenges. Through two mutually reinforcing programs - the Community Care Collaborative and the Community Care Fellowship - we provide the resources, guidance, and infrastructure needed to create sustainable community-driven social change.
Community Care Collaborative
The Community Care Collaborative supports grassroots groups and organizations through the provision of administrative services, technical assistance, fiduciary oversight, human resources, legal guidance, insurance, and more. By handling the operational backbone, we enable community groups to focus on creating meaningful change. This model is often referred to as a 'fiscal sponsorship' model, but we see it as a true community partnership model. Our objective is to ensure that each partner succeeds on its own terms, while collectively strengthening the greater Boston community. We provide operational support through our administrative team, combined with whole-systems capacity building supported by the CEO and the Community Care Fellowship.
Our 2025-2026 Partners!
The mission of Tree of Life / Arbol de Vida is to work together to represent the community, to empower the residents and to engage service providers to promote the health and well-being of all Jamaica Plain / Egleston Square residents. Our focus areas are family support, public health and services for older adults.
SSYC runs after-school programming in BHA’s South Street Development for 1st-6th graders and teenagers. “We are passionate about youth leadership development and resiliency. We believe in each young person and strive to cultivate their sense of leadership. This is a place where youth feel supported to reach their: academic, social and emotional goals as they move from childhood into adulthood.”
The Sunrise Times
Committed to preserving and enhancing the natural beauty and ecological health of Jamaica Pond Park while fostering a welcoming and inclusive space for all. We work to protect this vital urban green space through community-driven stewardship promoting equitable access and providing environmental education . By nurturing connections between people and nature we strengthen social bonds and empower collective care for a shared natural treasure.
Guided by Olmsted's timeless principles of landscape architecture and social cohesion, we endeavor to create and nurture spaces that inspire, heal, and uplift. By embracing thoughtful planning, sustainable design, and an unwavering commitment to inclusivity, The Olmsted Way envisions a future where vibrant communities flourish, public health is prioritized, and the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted continues to shape a more resilient, connected, and beautiful world for generations to come.
HEART stands for Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Teams. Cambridge HEART envisions interconnected local communities that practice care, healing, transformative accountability, self-determination, and that are free of carceral systems. Centering marginalized people, Cambridge HEART builds local capacity to disrupt cycles of harm by responding to crises, conducting research, and facilitating community cohesion. HEART is working to establish itself as its own nonprofit.
The Black Response was started by a group of black Cambridge residents who felt that the interests of black Cambridge residents weren't adequately represented by the City Council. The Black Response seeks to uplift black and brown communities by redirecting funding from the police department and investing that money into community-grounded solutions for public safety.
In partnership with the SJPHS, the Health Promotion Center provides personal, quality health care with respect and compassion to our diverse community through the lens of Health Equity and Social Justice.
In partnership with Brigham and the Boston Public Health Commission, JPNTT offers services for individuals, families, and communities affected by violence.
In partnership with Brigham and the Boston Public Health Commission, JPNTT offers services for individuals, families, and communities affected by violence.
As one of the first park systems created in the United States, Boston’s Olmsted Park System served as a model for metropolitan open space planning initiatives elsewhere. The nine distinct parks, later coined the “Emerald Necklace,” span seven miles from the historic center of Boston through various neighborhoods, connecting the city with nature and offering a wide range of experiences from sports areas to a zoo to garden walks. Not only does the Olmsted Park System provide various recreational outlets, but it also stands as a physical example of 19th century ideals on nature and conservation. Boston Common, Boston Public Garden, and Arnold Arboretum, all parks within the Olmsted Park System, are also included in this travel itinerary for their own contribution to Massachusetts conservation.
This program of the SJPHC brings together youth and faculty-in-training to expose, discuss, and address structural racism and inequities, with a particular focus on health. It is designed to be a tool for lifelong engagement in the work of racial justice and liberation.
The Sunrise Times is a publication compiled by the global citizens of Community service care Inc. that keeps you in the loop of events, stories, and special happenings with our programs and more!
In partnership with the SJPHS, the Health Promotion Center provides personal, quality health care with respect and compassion to our diverse community through the lens of Health Equity and Social Justice.
Community Care Fellowship
The Community Care Fellowship supports graduate students and emerging professionals through the provision of affordable housing options paired with structured volunteer placements. Fellows live together in a supportive interdisciplinary environment while contributing their talents to grassroots initiatives across Boston. Through this model, they gain hands-on leadership experience in social justice, public health, education, and community development, while also strengthening local organizations. By combining housing stability with meaningful service, the Fellowship cultivates the next generation of changemakers who will carry forward the legacy of community-based care.
Introducing the 2025-2026
Community Care Fellows!
Oza Nunnally
My name is Oza, and I am a first-year fellow with the Community Care Fellowship. I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Community Development. My volunteer site is with Community Care Boston, and I am eager to contribute to the organization and support the local grassroots organizations and initiatives. As a fellow, my first project is to create short bios for the fellowship participants. With that in mind, I would like to introduce you to the Community Care Fellowship 2025-2026 fellow cohort!
Virginia Lathrop
My name is Virginia Lathrop, and I’ve been a Community Care Fellow since 2023. During my time as a volunteer, I’ve worked with The Olmsted Way and Friends of Jamaica Pond, serving as a social media and event coordinator. I’m a proud JP resident and am passionate about our public parks, so it’s been great to get involved with groups dedicated to building community around local outdoor spaces. I have great memories of the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade and, as part of my volunteer work with Friends of Jamaica Pond, I helped coordinate a community lantern-making workshop and it was amazing to be with everyone this year at the Lantern Parade!
Alba Franco
My name is Alba Franco, and this is my first year as a fellow with Community Care Boston. I am a PhD student studying Language and Literacy. I am volunteering with Tree of Life and look forward to connecting with the community that I hope to support during my service. One fall activity I am particularly excited about is apple picking, along with rewatching Gilmore Girls!
Gabrielle Mathus
My name is Gabrielle Mathus, and this is my first year as a fellow with Community Care Fellowship. I am a master’s student studying mental health counseling and behavioral medicine. I am volunteering with Cambridge HEART, and I look forward to the opportunity to give back to my new community in Boston and its surrounding areas, while also building a community of my own within Community Care Boston. Through these wonderful programs, I can apply my research skills to support community members and increase access to resources. I’m excited to see the leaves change as fall approaches and to showcase my extravagant Halloween costumes!
Ikatari Swope
Greetings, everyone! My name is Ikatari Swope, and I am a first-year Community Care Fellow. I’m currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Health with a focus on epidemiology and biostatistics, as well as maternal and child health. I am especially excited to volunteer at my site with Cambridge HEART, where I look forward to learning more about the history of Cambridge and connecting with the community. Coming from Michigan, I hope to build meaningful relationships and contribute to Cambridge’s growth—hopefully making it feel like a second home. With my experience in research, advocacy, and community engagement, combined with my background in science and psychology, I am eager to share my skills while also learning from others. My favorite fall festivities are pumpkin picking & going to a farm for fresh apple cider and donuts.
Jack Lincecum
My name is Jack Lincecum, and I am in my final year of undergraduate studying Molecular Biology. In addition to my studies, I am also a part-time EMT and occasionally pick up work as an auto mechanic. Through the Community Care Fellowship, I am volunteering with the South Street Youth Center, where I help with fundraising efforts. I enjoy supporting such a great program that empowers youth through leadership, as it reminds me of organizations I was part of as a child, which I believe have heavily contributed to my personal and professional success. I am into freshwater fishing, and the fall is when the fish come to the shallows to feed, so September to November is when I get some of my best catches!
Matt Leger
Hello there! My name is Matt Leger, and I’ve been a Community Care Fellow since 2018. I now serve as a house manager for Community Care Boston. What I’m looking forward to this year during my service is increasing awareness of Community Care Boston and the grassroots organizations we support through our events and initiatives to bring the community together. This fall, I will be traveling internationally to Spain and Portugal in November, and I’m excited to spend that time with my mom!
Josephine Sandoval
Greetings! My name is Josephine Sandoval. I’ve been a Community Care Fellow since 2016 and became the board treasurer in 2021. This year, I am serving as a house manager. What I’m looking forward to during my service this year is getting to know the fellows and supporting their work. I am in the field of traveling, where I work as an overseas adventure travel agent. My favorite fall festivities are apple picking and hay rides!
Waleed Esper
Hi there! My name is Waleed Esper. I’ve been a part of the Community Care Fellowship since 2022. My profession is in the health care field, and my volunteer site is with Community Care Boston, where I serve as an assistant housing manager. What I’m looking forward to the most during my service this year is building a community with all those involved in Community Care Boston. My favorite fall festivities are going to New Hampshire to see the fall foliage!