Hello, folks! As I was out of town last week, I have a shorter update for you. I want to spend my time today talking about the Art & Spirituality Group, which I haven’t yet talked much about here. As I’m sure many of you know, Emmanuel Church runs and funds a weekly card-making group in the women’s unit of the Suffolk County House of Correction. I have had the privilege of helping lead the group every Monday. Continue reading
Monthly Archives: April 2026
Mapping Our Boundaries
Hello, Folks! We had a great week here at common art and Boston Warm. We had our fifth session of the Caretaker Art Group on Wednesday, which focused on defining and exploring boundaries. As the sessions go on, our time together just keeps getting better! Time spent together in sessions over the weeks has created safety and trust amongst the group, which allows members to be more honest and vulnerable in their sharing. Rather than immediately diving into more complex topics without a sense of safety having been developed, I’ve been intentional about ordering session themes and activities so that they build in their level of introspection as the weeks progress. Even with this in mind, I was nervous heading into last week’s session dealing with boundaries, because I knew it was a more sensitive topic for folks. Since this was the most psycho-education-heavy group session up to this point, I wanted to be intentional about making that information accessible and digestible. Continue reading
“The Death of Jesus”
Hello, Folks! I hope everyone’s Easter Weekend was filled with joy, peace, and the promise of new life amidst a time of strife. We had a wonderful Holy Week here at common art and Boston Warm. It was an honor to take part in the community’s meaningful Holy Week traditions!
We started common art with a short Holy Wednesday service, where we read the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet and then had a great discussion about the passage’s importance and modern-day relevance. We transitioned into a time of foot- and hand-washing, where pairs of members seated across from each other took turns washing the other member’s hands or feet. This was really powerful to both witness and take part in. Continue reading
Vida Dutton Scudder at Denison House
Pulpit statue of Vida Dutton Scudder by Ted Southwick
After the dedication of Emmanuel’s pulpit statue of Vida Dutton Scudder last month, we focus here on her relationship to Denison House, which was founded by the College Settlements Association in 1892. Managed by women, the house at 93 Tyler Street, a hub for social services and educational programs, welcomed emerging immigrant communities in Boston. The House’s first director was Emily Greene Balch (1867-1961), economist, sociologist, and winner of the 1946 Nobel Peace Prize. When Balch returned to teaching, Helena Dudley (1858-1932), labor and peace activist, and Vida Dutton Scudder (1861-1954), pacifist, educator, and Christian Socialist, became co-directors. Among her many notable achievements, Scudder helped to found the Episcopal Church Socialist League in 1911 and became chairperson of the Church League for Industrial Democracy (CLID). She was known for her conviction that philanthropy should be accompanied by social reform.
In the typescript “Early Days at Denison House,” Scudder reflected on its accomplishments over the forty-five years since its founding. Activities were full of joy: “Young college women were sharing the best that life had brought us”. While “labor troubles” and unemployment abounded early on, she asserted that “a zest for social reform glowed as steadily…as the welcoming fires” of the house. Scudder concluded this brief piece with:
Dubbed radical in many quarters, we went on our way undaunted; the early leaders of organized labor were our devoted and inspiring friends; a Federal Labor Movement meeting at the House and a study-circle concerned with economic problems to which sundry distinguished citizens belonged, are activities I like to remember….How conservative Boston reacted to our ardent centre of social thought and experiment is another story. There is no time to tell it here. But the young people connected with Denison House today are heirs of a fine tradition.*
–Mary Beth Clack, Mary Blocher, Cindy Coldren, Pat Krol, Liz Levin
*Records of Denison House, 1890-1984. Series I. HISTORY. “Early Days at Denison House” by Vida Scudder, 1937. (B-27, folder 1. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.) Digitized copy consulted.
Self Care
Happy Holy Week! Today is the day: Richie’s Easter play is upon us! I am so excited for the performance and feel honored to direct it alongside Richie once more before my time at Emmanuel is through. The main goal of the performance is to have fun, enhance connection, and spread joy, which I know will be achieved. Stay tuned for my performance recap next week! Continue reading
Identity Symbols
We had a busy-but-beautiful week here at common art and Boston Warm! On Wednesday, I led the first rehearsal for Richie’s Easter play, “The Death of Jesus”. We did a few read-throughs of the script. On the second read-through I encouraged the cast to try their lines in a different tone and see how it would feel. Richie’s plays often have a lot of sarcasm and humor, so I especially invited the cast to read their lines in more sassy/dramatic voices. This went really well as folks seemed to get a little more in-touch with their characters and the flow of the script. This upcoming week, we will have our second rehearsal, when we will stage the scenes and practice our stage presence! Continue reading