Agency Details:

East Boston Social Centers, Inc

The East Boston Social Centers (EBSC) is a 501 (c) (3) non profit multi-service agency, founded in 1918, serving culturally diverse families and individuals of all ages in East Boston and throughout Greater Boston. EBSC's programs are designed to meet people's educational, social and recreational needs and to build community and strengthen families.

Description:
Our core programs include full day and after school childcare for children ages 2 months through 14 years, programming for at-risk teens, summer full day Playschool child care, nutrition and recreational programming for seniors and support for families, parents and the community. These programs provide high-quality services to a culturally diverse and predominately low-income population.
Our childcare programs are fully licensed and accredited. They include 4 Early Learning Centers (Orient Heights, Central Square, and Jeffries Point, East Boston and Central Avenue, Chelsea) complete with infant and toddler care and preschool. The programs provide supportive educational environments for 145 children and support services for parents. Our School Age Childcare program provides after-school and full day programming for children ages 6-14 at two sites in East Boston (Central Square and Orient Heights). The program includes academic assistance, arts and crafts, prevention education, cultural activities, leadership training, field trips, life-skills lessons and recreational activities for 150 children. The program also offers a parent resource center, individual and family counseling and monthly parent dinners to reach the entire family.
Summer Playschool is an urban daycamp serving the 150 school age children and an additional 150 children. The program focuses on experiental learning with many field trips to the historical and cultural sites of Boston and hands-on learning lessons. Our childcare programs are fully licensed and accredited.
Our teen program, Boston Youth Network, is a free after-school program serving 40 at-risk teens. The program aims to provide young people with the academic and life skills necessary to escape poverty and become successful adults. The program provides tutoring, peer leadership training, prevention education workshops (on subjects ranging from teen pregnancy to HIV/AIDs to drug and alcohol abuse), cultural lessons, arts and crafts, dance, and cooking.
EBSC also offers nutritional and social-recreational programming for area seniors.
In addition to our programs, EBSC provides meeting space for self-help groups, community civic and advocacy groups, local church groups, and community members events.
EBSC offers bicultural and bilingual staff and parent resources in several languages. We have a welcoming mural Unity, created by our teens, gracing the facade of our central facility.
The agency reaches out to all members of the community, taking our role as a social center seriously.

History:
The history of the Social Centers dates to the 1880's when some of the settlement houses were formed to meet the needs of a new immigrant population. These agencies were pioneers in the fields of childcare, public health, and social work. Combining several predecessor agencies, the agency was formally incorporated in 1918. Over the years, the agency has continued in the tradition of program leadership in childcare, camping, and prevention programming, as well as forming new neighborhood centers and institutions such as United Way and the Zero to Eight Coalition.

Contact person: Marisa Di Pietro, Development Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (617) 569-9862

Address:

68 Central Square East Boston, MA 02128 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.ebsoc.org

Directions:

From North of Boston: Take I- 93 S. I-93 N becomes US-1 N. Take the RT-1A N exit, towards CALLAHAN TUNNEL/LOGAN AIRPORT/GOVERNMENT CTR. Proceed through the tunnel. Take the local exit on right towards EAST BOSTON immediately upon exiting the tunnel. Stay straight to go onto PORTER ST. Turn LEFT onto CHELSEA ST. Immediately after: Turn LEFT at traffic light onto PORTER ST. From South of Boston: Take I-93 N. I-93 N becomes US-1 N. Take the RT-1A N exit towards CALLAHAN TUNNEL/LOGAN AIRPORT/GOVERNMENT CTR. Proceed through the tunnel. Take the local exit on right towards EAST BOSTON immediately upon exiting the tunnel. Stay straight to go onto PORTER ST. Turn LEFT onto CHELSEA ST. Immediately after: Turn LEFT at traffic light onto PORTER ST. BY MBTA: Take the Blue Line to the Maverick Station (3 stops past government Center, towards Wonderland). Come up stairs or escalator and continue walking straight ahead after exiting the turnstile. To your left is a Store 24. Cross to that side of the street. Continue walking straight. You will see a Sovereign Bank and East Boston Savings Bank building, walk past that, staying on that street (Meridian St.). Along the way, you will pass numerous restaurants, the Post Office and a Gas Station. Walk up Meridian St. for approximately 5 minutes. Turn left onto Central Square (after a Nail Salon, the street is not marked). It will appear as if you are walking into a parking lot for Liberty Plaza (a large shopping complex), but just stay to your left and the Center will be right there. The Social Center building is right next to the McDonalds.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Blue line/ Maverick Station,   Walk distance (in minutes): 8   Nearest Bus Stop: 120, 116, 117/ stopping at Central Square, 1 minute walk For maps or information, please see http://www.mbta.com

Last updated on May 14, 2009