TEDx Beacon Street is an amazing free conference in Brookline - with speakers giving short…read morepresentations in the style of TED talks. I went to the Sunday morning session and it was great! I was there to cheer for the founders of November Project but the other session speakers were interesting too. The CEO of Perkins School for the Blind and a Weather Channel staffer were my other favorite speakers in that session. Next year, I hope to be able to attend multiple session. TEDx Beacon Street is definitely an event to add to your calendar.

I gave 2 starts because I believe in their mission but found the staff to be disorganized and…read moreunprofessional if not downright rude. I offered my time and services as a volunteer. I came to the center and interviewed with the volunteer manager. After the interview she left me with another volunteer so that I could tour the facility. And when I say she left me, I mean she LEFT me. Like didn't shake my hand (Actually, she never gave me a handshake at all which, again, I find unprofessional), offer any explanation as to what the next steps would be, walk me out, etc. I don't think she even said goodbye. She handed me off to the other volunteer, walked away, and that was the last I ever saw or heard from her again. After the tour both myself and the other volunteer were confused as to what to do next. I just stood there while the other volunteer went to the manager's office. She knocked twice but there was no response so, totally confused, I just left. Never heard back from the manager despite her initially telling me they needed consistent reliable volunteers. At the end of the interview I asked for reasonable accommodation for a disability and I wonder if that has something to do with her ghosting me. Either way I think it's an incredibly unprofessional way to represent the organization and a rude way to behave towards ANYONE who is offering to volunteer their time and energy. While I understand they are understaffed, there is no excuse to ignore basic protocol of professionalism. Ultimately I decided to volunteer elsewhere.

The Women's Center in Cambridge has lots of interesting free groups to attend. I have gone most…read morerecently to the Spanish/English conversation group and the singing class, and to a few others over the years. There is also yoga, sewing, beading, songwriting, healing through arts, discussion for survivors of child sexual abuse, women's narcotics anonymous, feminist book club, and lots more. Any woman can propose to set up and facilitate a group. The house, on Pleasant Street, indeed is a pleasant place to hang out, use the computer lab (there are plenty of computers) or the library, or prepare yourself a snack. You can meet other women from all walks of life. There is a small restful patio in back with a garden. And, what I particularly like, everything there is free! This is partly because most of the staff are volunteers. And it's only a few blocks from the Central Square MBTA station.

Last night I volunteered/attended the Champions for Change gala after seeing it listed as a last…read moreminute event in a YAVA newsletter. Wow.. what a night. As a volunteer I helped with set up, registration, the silent auction, and the after auction payment. I definitely stayed for 5 hours instead of the 1 hour I was originally scheduled for, but what's 4 extra hours when all I'd be doing at home is watching TV on the interwebs (and they pretty much checked with me to see if it was okay). Plus I got a free dinner that I didn't expect and of course, I got to work for an amazing organization. On top of the fact that everyone was really nice, the conversation and fast paced work helped the time go by quicker. During the dinner, I was able to hear two of the speakers. Janet Yassen, one of the co-founders of BARCC and Dory Cote, the first person to ever call the BARCC hotline. Janet and many of her friends (I think she said there were about 20 co-founders) started the group in 1973. They went to various orgs and police departments at the time and there were NO resources for rape victims. Sounds ridiculous, but thank goodness these women came along. Like I said above, the first call was from Dory Cote. Man, what an unbelievable story. A friend of hers had seen the hotline featured in the Boston Globe the day Dory was raped by a stranger in her Boston apartment. Dory called and on the other line was.. Janet. BARCC was there to support her and be with her.. even after her rapist was acquitted. Dory's amazing resilience and strength are incredibly awe inspiring. She now runs a healing center in Maine and she's just living life.. all thanks to BARCC's support when she needed it most. In addition to my exposure to the organization last night, I dealt with BARCC briefly in college as an orientation leader. People from BARCC visit college campuses in the area and give talks to everyone from resident assistants to just general college populations. I can't say enough about BARCC. Since 1973, 50,000+ calls have been answered and the center now serves women, men, and children. They're just a truly amazing organization.. but to keep their services free.. they need people to volunteer. I encourage you to check out their website and volunteer when you can. They have all kinds of positions.. full time.. yearly.. and one time commitments. A couple hours of your time.. could mean a lifetime of difference in someone else's. www.barcc.org PS - The phone number up there is the office.. their 24 hour a day hotline is: 800.841.8371

I volunteered for this organization. I find them to be very biased and their mission for…read moreorganization is not genuine at least to it's volunteers. When a family membered die, I did not get any condolences, instead they were concerned that I missed a shift. I would never work for like this organization EVER again!!!!

Admittedly, sometimes we need a fire under our asses to get up and do the things we want to do, be…read morethe people we want to be. OYFP is a match for all young profs that want to "do good" but are commitment 'tarded fools and/or don't want to get deep in the trenches. They host monthly events to benefit local charities by getting buzz going about these honorable endeavors. I recently attended a wine tasting event at an art gallery downtown and the crowd was smiling and supportive. Basically you pay a bit, get to drink and feel good about spending some scrilla knowing it's going to the right place. Plus their volunteer staff is a dynamic, awesome and gorgeous bunch!

It's because of On Your Feet Project that I've been able to:…read more Meet like minded people Meet NEW people Drink at their events around the city Learn how to make pasta and ravioli FROM SCRATCH(!) -- AWESOME Feel good about drinking and eating pasta and meeting people. Why? Why not? On Your Feet Project is a wonderful organziation that benefits local charites. What's not to like?

Like many great places in Boston, this community resource is fairly hidden. Located behind the…read morebuilding that houses the NEMC emergency room facility, the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center popped into my life just this past year. I've had a few auditions there and they allowed us to use one of their spaces for a performance. The program, formerly called the Quincy School Community Council, moved into its current digs in 2005. The center itself has adult education classes (ESL, job search skills, etc.), childcare, summer (ages 5 - 18) and after school programs, as well as some random Saturday classes (I've seen listings for craft, dance, etc). They help out more than 4,000 people each year with their programs. Dang. Of course they're always looking for volunteers. If you want to help out.. or even teach a class (I know there are some artsy Yelpers out there).. check out their website for more details.

This place is a gem!…read more I wandered in here after a satisfying Chinatown meal and ended up in a friendly conversation with the woman at the front desk. They provide essential services to mainly Chinese immigrants like child care and even offer yoga and bhangra dance. I didn't do any of their programs, but the place was in good order, the staff was friendly and if my grandmother lived in Boston I would most definitely recommend she visit to meet others and take music lessons, piano anyone? A quality establishment that provides a meaningful service to it's community = I am a fan.

International Order of Odd Fellows Kearsarge Lodge#217 in Swampscott on Elmwood Road is one of the…read morebest Odd Fellows Lodge for its activities. There are wonderful members that have such great knowledge in history & the local area. Lodge activites always include some of the best local foods at their meetings held evenings every 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the Month. This is a Philathorpic society that donates money to many worth causes in the local area. Sponsored membership is available.

The Foundry in Cambridge is a convenient walk from the Kendell Square MBTA station. it is located…read moreon a quieter road, and its mission is: The Foundry is an adaptive reuse project to build a self-sustaining center for creativity and collaboration for the Cambridge community. I attended an event at the Foundry after work, which started with food in a cocktail setting before moving into a presentation. The space was long and well decorated, which was fine for the attendees to chat among themselves as they snacked and sipped. But the space wasn't the most conducive with the stage at one end. I wonder if their sound system could have been hooked up to enable everyone to hear from even the further edge. The bathroom was shared, with little private toilet rooms surrounding public sinks. Too bad we ran out of paper towels.

Went to a fun fabric painting class and really enjoyed it! We will definitely be returning to check…read moreout more of their community events. This space is so cool, so happy it exists here In Cambridge

I love the Nonprofit Center!…read more It's T accessible - right near south station. In addition to being the office of over 40 nonprofits, it also has meeting space available for other nonprofits to use (you do not have to be a tenant). I've been to meeting here sponsored by Tech Networks of Boston, Women in Development (fundraising), The Communications Network, Public Relations Society of America, and Third Sector New England. The event space is great, but my one warning is to triple check the microphones with the nonprofit center events staff if you have speakers. About half the times I've been to events there, audio problems occurred, so I always sit in the front to be sure I can hear. I'm jealous of the employees of the nonprofits in this building! What a lovely place to work!

I work for a nonprofit that needed a venue for an event of 50-75 people, which was fast approaching…read morein about 6 weeks when I started my quest. I researched every venue I could find, over 55 in total. We couldn't afford to spend thousands of dollars, and time was running out - as were my options. Then I came across The NonProfit Center - after my initial inquiry I was contacted by Faisal and literally everything was smooth sailing from there! I took a look at the space and it was perfect, they were available the date I needed, and the price was right. Faisal answered all of my (many) questions and kept in touch to make sure there was nothing else I needed. Next time I will save myself the run-around and go here first - can't say enough good things, we had a wonderful experience!