Mayor Wu and a host of city officials welcomed Mattapan neighbors to the annual Mayor’s Neighborhood Coffee Hour in Hunt-Almont Park last Thursday (June 8).

Dunkin’ coffee was served, and potted plants were available to senior citizens for the taking.

Wu said she wanted the park to be an example of what kind of city Boston will be. “We want to have a city that is the greenest in the nation and…have a city that is the greatest in the nation for families and generations of families staying together,” she said.

The announcements included the fact that 290 young people from Mattapan have secured summer jobs with the city to date, with 234 of them aged 14-18. They will work in city departments, and in the community at places like Harlem Lacrosse and Immigrant Family Service Institute (IFSI).

City Hall officials also announced there would be a city-run drop-in camp at Almont Park this summer starting after the July 4 holiday. The camp will have programming and activities and will be a walk-in program – meaning no registration and young people ages 7-14 can come all day or just stay for an hour.

City Councillors Ricardo Arroyo and Ruthzee Louijeune, and state Rep. Brandy Fluker Oakley noted that the Mattahunt Community Center will soon be named for the Kincade family – which also was instrumental in reviving Almont Park some years ago.

State Rep. Brandy Fluker Oakley, Symone Crawford, Councillor Ruthzee Louijeune, Kenya Beamon, Ruth Georges, and GMNC Chair Fatima Ali Salaam.

Mattapan Patriots Pop Warner coaches and board members. From left, President Mick Brunache, Donald Caisey, Derek Green, Tyrone Alcorn, Vice President Lyle Jackson, Secretary Sonie Joseph, and Coach Born.

Mattapan friends Joyce Durst, Eileen Peterson of Mothers for Justice and Equality, and Hazel Bynoe.

District 5 Council candidate Enrique Pepen, with Barbara Crichlow, Anna Coleman, and Edna Hall.
Seth Daniel photos