SHERIFF CABRAL, DEPT RECEIVE APPRECIATION FOR UPHAM’S CORNER OFFICE REHAB
During their annual meeting, held inside Dorchester’s historic Strand Theater, the Upham’s Corner Main Street (UCMS) organization presented Sheriff Andrea J. Cabral and members of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department (SCSD) with a token of appreciation for their assistance in the rehabilitation of the organization’s new headquarters.
Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea J. Cabral (center) with Deputy Michael O’Day (left) and Upham’s Corner Main Street Board President Matthew Bruce.
The Challenge
Agreeing to rent space adjacent to the Strand Theatre meant that Main Street would have to perform extensive renovations to both the interior and exterior space. How to fund the work needed was the challenge and that’s when the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department stepped in.
Inmate work crews from the Department’s Community Works Program (CWP) were utilized to transform the formerly vacant storefront into a modern, professional space, with CWP crews working to remove existing carpet and performing demolition and removal of existing trim, sliding doors, old furnishings, and other debris. The CWP crews also resurfaced textured walls, primed and painted the existing walls and ceiling, re-floored the bathroom with vinyl planks, and replaced the existing toilet, sink, and faucet.
More about the Community Works Program
The Department’s CWP program was created for low–risk inmates who have received vocational training through Sheriff Cabral’s Common Ground Institute in areas that include building maintenance, carpentry, painting, landscaping and ground maintenance, and food sanitation. Once training is completed, inmates are then transported into Suffolk County neighborhoods to utilize these skills to make improvements to public spaces. The goal of the program is to reduce recidivism by teaching inmates to become employable citizens upon release while also saving thousands of tax dollars on each project the crews work on.
Matt Bruce Praises Sheriff Cabral
As a gesture of gratitude, members of the UCMS Board of Directors and staff presented Sheriff Cabral with a framed photograph of the newly redeveloped space before extolling the efforts of those involved in the success of the project.
“One of our major partners was Sheriff Cabral and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department,” said UCMS Board President Matthew Bruce. “We want to acknowledge and thank her, along with [SCSD Deputy Director of External Affairs and Communications] Ed Geary, [SCSD Assistant Deputy Superintendent] Heather McNeil, and [SCSD Deputy] Mike O’Day, who did a great job helping us build-out the space.”
“We really could not have done this move on such a tight budget without the assistance from the Sheriff’s Department,” UCMS Board Vice President Michelle Waldon added.
Taking the stage briefly, Sheriff Cabral accepted the photograph and expressed her own appreciation for the UCMS organization, and thanked members of the Department for their efforts. “Thank you for thanking us,” said Sheriff Cabral. “We were happy to be able to do this. The CWP crews did a fantastic job, and I especially want to acknowledge Mike O’Day. He’s one of the Officers that take the crews out and he works with them day-in and day-out. The quality of the work you see next door is largely due to Mike’s supervision.”
Max MacCarthy, Executive Director is Grateful
Speaking about the potential benefits to be reaped by the district with the organization’s new location, UCMS Executive Director Maxwell MacCarthy unveiled his vision for a stronger and more prosperous community.
“Our new storefront office gives us visibility in the district, fills a long vacant parcel, and provides Upham’s Corner with a conveniently located community space, which we want to use for elected official community office hours and community events and meetings,” said MacCarthy. “It’s also no coincidence that we are now located directly next to the Strand Theater, which we have identified as a priority property for this upcoming year. We want to help strengthen the Strand Theater and bring more foot traffic into the district to help existing businesses as well as create incentives to fill vacancies near the Strand that can complement Strand services.”
To learn more about Upham’s Corner Main Street, visit www.uphamscorner.org.
Discussion
No comments yet.