A group of Newton South seniors are working on a project for their sustainability class. Their mission is to find a way to repurpose and redistribute clothing to the Newton Community.

There will be a drop off bin for your unwanted and gently used clothes (no shoes, please). Anyone is welcome to drop off (students, families, and friends).

Wheeler Commons at Newton South at the following times:
April 8th,  9:00 – 9:40 am or 10:50 am to 2:50 pm
April 9th,  9:00 – 11:05 am or 1:00 – 1:55 pm

On April 12th, 1:15 –  3:00 pm there will be a clothing swap in Wheeler Commons where members of the community can select any clothing items they would like at no cost.

Join in on Newton’s newest family-friendly, brain-tickling extravaganza! Newton DI Creativity Day is for all kids in grades K-12. Participants will be placed into small groups that will work as a team to solve each exciting challenge.

Challenges span areas including structural engineering, science, math, performance and improv. Kids will have a blast while learning valuable teamwork, project management and STEAM-based skills.

Please CLICK HERE to register and spread the word! It’s going to be a blast!!!!

May 4th, 9:00 – 11:30 am or 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
250 Brookline Street, Newton

Considering running for public office? Or maybe helping someone run for office?

Interested in how local campaigns work?

The League of Women Voters of Newton invites candidates, potential candidates, campaign managers, campaign treasurers, and all interested citizens to a workshop that offers practical information and advice about political campaigns by a group of knowledgeable panelists:

• David Olson, Newton City Clerk, will give an overview of the local filing and state requirements.
• Marcia Johnson, former Ward 2 City Councilor, will discuss being a candidate and an elected official, while working and being a parent.
• Greg Reibman, President of the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber, a blogger at Village 14, and former editor with the TAB, Boston Herald and PBS World Channel will discuss effective press/media communications.

Bring your questions and concerns for the panel of experts! Contact the League of Women Voters of Newton at 617-383-4598 or info@lwvnewton.org with any questions.

Green Newton’s Schools Connections is a forum for parents, students, educators – with representatives from 10 schools – and the broader Newton community interested in promoting sustainability in the classrooms and beyond. Once a month, the group offers a setting for sharing experiences and ideas, as well as support in facing challenges in implementing green initiatives at their schools and in the Newton Public District.

Some of their initiatives include:

▪ Sharing of past and current efforts at individual schools

▪ Developing and sharing recycling signage for schools, in partnership with Newton Sustainable Materials Management department.

▪ Advocating for the hiring of a dedicated staff to plan and implement consistent recycling collection throughout the school district. ▪ Hosting discussions with stakeholders from the city government, committees, and elected officials.

▪ A survey about waste management in all of Newton public schools, in partnership with Newton Sustainable Materials Management department

▪ Evaluating the possibility of implementing a Food Recovery Program in Newton school cafeterias

▪ Supporting renewable energy in schools, including solar panels

For more information contact schoolconnections@greennewton.org or visit https://www.greennewton.org/initiative_category/schools/

April 11th,  3:45 – 5:00 pm
Druker Auditorium of the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street

Support Alexandra Levie as she runs the 2019 Boston Marathon for Understanding Our Differences! Newton-based charity Understanding Our Differences (UOD) has a runner in the 2019 Boston Marathon. Alexandra Levie of Gloucester is running to raise money for UOD in support of their mission and to help grow and update the program for the next generation.

UOD’s is a model, interactive disability awareness curriculum that teaches children to see the whole person and better understand the disability. The Understanding Our Differences program educates schools and communities and fosters respect and inclusion for people of all abilities.

The curriculum covers Blindness and Low Vision, Deafness and Hard of Hearing, Autism, Physical Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, and Chronic Medical Conditions including Allergic Conditions, Asthma, Diabetes, and Epilepsy.

Understanding Our Differences is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a national leader in disability awareness education, with unique expertise developed over its 40-year history.

Alex is a graduate of UMass Amherst and will complete her Masters in Public Health at Boston University in May. She believes in the mission of UOD and has volunteered at presentations of the UOD curriculum in Newton. She’s a busy young woman but training like a pro for Marathon Monday! Please support her at UOD with a donation at https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/alex-levie