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| Neighbor to Neighbor E-Newsletter |
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Greetings!
 Welcome to the new year. The year 2011 was filled with a lot of excitement, joy, celebration, and achievements from USES participants throughout the organization, and we expect nothing less in 2012. The new year is less than a month old, but so many of our programs and services have built momentum for the months ahead. Community classes have started and participants are back in our buildings, refreshed from their holiday breaks. Please stop by our buildings and help us celebrate the new year ahead. Sincerely, Kevin Lee Hepner
President & CEO
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Brewers Helping Neighbors: Have a drink for a great cause
 Brewers Helping Neighbors is less than a month away, and the excitement is palpable over here at the Harriet Tubman House.
For the third year, USES plans to transform the Harriet Tubman House into one of the hippest celebrations in the South End. The event is scheduled for February 2, 2012, from 6:30-9:30pm. The annual 'brewfest' is a much-anticipated event in the South End, drawing nearly 300 people living and working in and around Boston. With a packed lineup this year, there is a lot to be excited about. This year, the event will be emceed by Mix 104.1's DJ and radio personality, Kennedy Elsey, and guests will be entertained by the musical stylings of Los Three. The main draw continues to be the quality beer samples provided by six New England breweries, including Blue Hills Brewery, Clown Shoes Beer, Harpoon Brewing Company, Mayflower Brewery, Mercury Brewing Company, and Sam Adams Brewing Company. Food samplings will also be provided by Clerys, Darryl's Bar & Grill, Not Your Average Joe's, and New York Pizza.
If you still need a reason to go, just look to the words of USES President & CEO Kevin Lee Hepner:
"We have over 4,000 people walking through our doors each year, and not enough people know about the high-quality services and programs we provide for our neighbors, from the youngest to the oldest. This event is a great opportunity to connect and share the amazing work we do here at USES with people that live and work in our community."
Tickets are moving quickly. If you buy your ticket online today by visiting www.uses.org/bhn or by clicking the coupon at the bottom of this newsletters, you can receive a $5 discount with promo code BHN2012. Tickets are regularly priced at $40.
Note: Tickets will not be sold at the door and a valid 21+ ID is required for entry. BHN 2012 is sponsored by Stuff Magazine, Bay Windows, South End News, El Mundo Newspaper, and the Bay State Banner. |
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Program Spotlight: Juan Vasquez
 For the past couple of months, Juan Vasquez has been spending his mornings and afternoons in the Business Office of United South End Settlements as the Special Project Aide to the President & CEO after completing a couple courses in USES' Workforce Readiness program. Juan originally hails from El Salvador, and he immigrated to the United States in 2006. He currently resides in East Boston and spends his nights at another job at the New England Aquarium, but his passion lies in computers. "I want to end up being a computer technician," says Juan. A couple of years ago, Juan was taking an English learning course at the local SEIU when his teacher realized that he really enjoyed being on his computer, playing with it and learning about it. His teacher saw a flyer for a Computer Training for Employment class over at USES' Harriet Tubman House and recommended that Juan take a course.  | | Juan with USES staff members Leah Samura and Kevin Hepner |
At first, Juan was intimidated by the USES program because he was one of the youngest in the class and his English was not too great. However, soon enough, his fears faded away after spending time with his classmates - now his friends - and with the caring and compassionate teachers within USES' Workforce Readiness program. After taking advantage of a couple of programs that USES had to offer, Juan was so eager to stick around to increase his English proficiency and his computer skills that he volunteered to help Technology Education Instructor, Leah Samura, as a teaching aide in her classroom. "Juan is amazing. I don't know how I survived without him," says Leah. Wanting an opportunity to gain more computer skills, Juan applied for a paid internship at USES, getting a chance to practice his computer skills and gain valuable work experience on his way to becoming a computer technician. These days, Juan can be found easily navigating his way through complex computer programs with a constant smile on his face. The learning will not stop here for Juan. Once his internship is over, he has his eyes set on some other computer training classes at USES. Juan is well on his way to becoming a computer technician, and on his way there, he will always have the support and care of the USES staff to keep his hopes up and a smile on his face. "I've met so many great people here at USES. They are all so
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Juan at his internship with USES President & CEO, Kevin Hepner
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welcoming and this internship is a great opportunity for me. I really want to thank everyone here at this organization for all they have given me," says Juan. Thank you, Juan, for showing what can happen with great determination and a great attitude. |
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Step on Board planning underway
This year during our annual gala, we will be honoring the contributions to the South End/Lower Roxbury community made by Representative Byron Rushing, Frieda Garcia, and Paulette Ford. These individuals have shown an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of our neighbors in the South End, and it will be our pleasure to honor them on June 12, 2012.
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How will you be remembered: Leave a lasting legacy
Have you made provisions for United South End Settlements in your estate planning? Please contact Tom O'Toole, VP of Advancement, for more information about planned giving to USES. Tom may be reached directly at (617) 375-8125 or at totoole@uses.org.
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STAY CONNECTED
 
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SAVE THE DATE
February 2
Brewers Helping Neighbors
Harriet Tubman House
566 Columbus Avenue
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
February 10
Online Learning Readiness Graduation
Harriet Tubman House
566 Columbus Avenue
February 24
Computer Training for Employment Graduation
Harriet Tubman House
566 Columbus Avenue
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SPOTLIGHT ON:
ABOVE AND BEYOND CATERING
Mark Haley, owner of Above and Beyond Catering, has always wanted to be in the catering business. His passion for great food and impeccable service has never diminished, and more than 15 years later, he is still driven by that passion.
Simply put, Above and Beyond Catering loves making people happy. They still maintain a 'small caterer' approach. When you choose Above and Beyond Catering, you are choosing a team of professionals deeply committed to your happiness.
Above and Beyond Catering is a full-service Catering Company that specializes in offsite events. Please visit their website to learn more of what they can offer you or your company at www.aboveabc.com. 
How do you like being in the South End?
We love being located in the South End. We opened our shop here in 1996 in the Warehouse area between Albany and Harrison Avenue, where several small businesses operate. It is very neighborly amongst us all down here on the edge. Mark, our owner also has been very involved with the neighborhood through the South End Business Alliance and is about to finish a stint on the Albany Street Harrison Advisory Board to the BRA. The Advisory Board has helped steer the BRA in the right direction to help the business continue to have the opportunity to thrive, listening to their needs and keeping this part of the city competitive for job growth. Why did you move to the South End?
We moved here for the location and charm, and we have never left. Not only do we have several clients right in our neighborhood, but it is easy to jump right on the 93 and the Pike to get out to our suburban clients or down town. What has been your most memorable experience in the South End so far?
Being witness to the transformation of the neighborhood around us. From the time we moved in on Plympton Street to now, half the buildings on our block have been renovated or built. It used to be very sketchy on the edge by Albany Street, but now it is much safer with the Police Station moving over here from Berkeley Street. Washington Street had an amazing facelift too. To the point that if you had been gone from Boston for a couple of years and came back, it was unrecognizable. We love the South End and call it our home.
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The mission of the United South End Settlements is to build a strong community by improving the education, health, safety, and economic security of low-income individuals and families in Boston's historic South End/Lower Roxbury and to serve as a national model of successful neighborhood engagement.
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