Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs

Thank you to the Patriots Foundation for your incredible sponsorship of Walker’s Annual Turkey Bowl! Walker was thrilled to host Pat Patriot and New England Patriots alum Eric Martin.

Walker would like to send a heartfelt thank you to our friends at NESN for being amazing volunteers at our annual Turkey Bowl! NESN made posters and brought the energy to the sidelines with their play-by-play talents and cheering.

? Our First $1 Million Gift! ? Targeted for Walker’s expanded focus on girls’ wellbeing, this historic gift will support a dedicated space where girls can connect, grow, and thrive. In this space, Walker will offer programs and services that promote girls' mental health and wellness, foster healthy relationships with peers and parents, and provide education and career support. This safe, caring environment will help girls feel valued and empowered to reach their full potential. This generous gift addresses a pressing community need, while establishing a lasting resource for generations of girls. ?? Together, we’re making a difference. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3CDFUaU #WalkerCares #GirlsServices #InvestInGirls #CommunityImpact

Annual Giving Thanks Turkey Bowl and Dinner! ?????? Today’s celebration was filled with fun, tradition, and community spirit! The children participated in our Annual Turkey Bowl, cheered on by NESN, former Patriot Eric Martin, Pat Patriot, and Walker staff and Board members. Our new therapy dog, Churro, joined the festivities and added extra joy to the day. After the game, Walker senior leaders and Board members continued the tradition of serving dinner to children and staff from our congregate care programs. This year, our talented kitchen team delighted everyone with a delicious Italian menu instead of the usual turkey dinner—it was a huge hit! We are grateful for the traditions and sense of togetherness that make our Walker community so special. ?? #GivingThanks #WalkerCares #TurkeyBowlFun

Join Walker in spreading cheer through a Walker Wishes Corporate Sponsorship! Your sponsorship helps to underwrite enriching winter and holiday-themed activities for children such as special meals, sledding and skating, movie nights, baking, crafts & more! Email Brianne Kizik, [email protected], to learn more today.

The Walker Wishes Holiday Toy Drive is coming soon! We still have individual, group, and corporate volunteer opportunities available for toy sorting and inventory on December 16th & 17th and limited spots for toy wrapping on 12/19. Email Brianne Kizik, [email protected], to reserve your slots now.

?? We’re Hiring! ?? Walker is looking for a Program Director for our Therapeutic After-School Program (TASP) in Watertown, MA, serving youth enrolled through the Department of Mental Health. If you’re a licensed, master’s-level clinician with experience in youth services and program leadership, apply today! ?? Apply here: https://bit.ly/3Ctnjhu #Hiring #YouthServices #MentalHealth #WalkerCares

Congratulations to all the 2024 Salute to Excellence award recipients recognized by the Association for Behavioral Healthcare (ABH) for their contributions to behavioral healthcare across Massachusetts! ?? Special congratulations to Walker’s own Vice President of Behavioral Health, Elise Naventi Reid, LICSW, for this well-deserved honor. Your dedication and impact truly make a difference! Thank you, ABH, for celebrating excellence in our field.

?? Walker’s Girls Huddle ?? October 29, 2024 | Roxbury, MA At Walker, we’re committed to creating safe, empowering spaces for girls and young women. Yesterday, we hosted the Girls Huddle, bringing together community leaders, educators, and advocates to explore how we can collaboratively develop a Girls Empowerment Zone in Boston, focused on wellbeing and support. The morning featured: - Networking and Breakfast: An opportunity for informal conversations over breakfast. - Welcome & Opening by Nikkida Tabron and Guest Insights from Shantell Jeter on her work with girls in Boston Public Schools. - Breakout Discussions: Participants engaged in small group discussions to identify actionable steps for creating safe spaces. - Keynote by Dan Cortez: Sharing insights from the Chelsea Hub model and its potential adaptation to meet the needs of Boston's youth. - Closing Remarks with clear next steps and opportunities for collaboration. Together, we gathered meaningful insights to advance this mission. Thank you to all who attended, engaged in discussions, and contributed to this initiative. Stay tuned for more updates as we build on the momentum from this inspiring event! #GirlsHuddle #Empowerment #WalkerCares #CommunityEngagement #Wellbeing #BostonYouth

Yesterday, we were honored to participate in Boston Children's Hospital's Office of Community Health Metro South West Community Health Initiative Annual Funded Partner Convening at Lasell University. As a funded partner, we joined our colleagues from QARI to reflect on our collaborative work and learn about the successes of our peer grantees. Events hosted by OCH consistently provide meaningful opportunities for reflection through creative exercises—like this one, where we created bouquets symbolizing our key takeaways and insights on our progress. Another highlight was the panel on trauma-informed approaches, moderated by Shantel Gooden, featuring experts Dr. Deidre Hussey, Dr. Emma Peterson, and Alison Miller. They shared impactful strategies for creating healing spaces, enhancing community support, and highlighting the importance of self-care for providers. Their collective insights were moving and motivating. #CommunityHealth #TraumaInformedCare #WalkerCares #MSWConvening #LasellUniversity #Networking #LearningTogether #HealthEquity #SelfCare