Today, Mayor Joyce Craig announced a partnership with Girls at Work, Inc. to install fifteen miniature libraries across the community. Built by Girls at Work, Inc. volunteering during the Granite United Way’s Day of Caring, these little libraries are scheduled to be installed in parks, near schools, and at City Hall.
Made possible through support from Girls at Work, the Manchester Parks and Recreation Division and Manchester City Library, the fifteen little libraries will be a shared resource aimed to encourage and inspire a love of reading and community engagement.
“This will be a wonderful resource to children across our city, and I’m thrilled to be involved in this project,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “I want to thank Girls at Work, the Parks and Recreation Division and the Library for their partnership and support for this effort. By making books accessible to children and students across Manchester, we are able to continue promoting early literacy to our young learners.”
“Girls at Work was extremely excited to partner with the City of Manchester on Granite United Way Day of Caring. We had the opportunity to teach volunteers from Acadia Insurance, Parkland Medical Center, St. Mary's Bank, Sheehan Phinney Bass and Green and City Year how to build little libraries that will be displayed around the city,” said Elaine Hamel, Founder and Program Director, Girls at Work, Inc. “It's really fun to see the bonding happen with adults in an unfamiliar environment working toward a common goal of building for others. Thanks to everyone who came together to make it happen, and thanks to Granite United Way Day of Caring for bringing so many volunteers together to invest their time in our community.”
“The Manchester City Library supports literacy efforts in our community which is why we are proud to be partnering with Girls at Work, the City Parks and Recreation Division and the Mayor’s Office to support the installation of little libraries around our city,” said Denise van Zanten, Director, Manchester City Library. “Little libraries play an integral role in communities by promoting literacy and providing access to materials for all ages. We look forward to expanding our literacy efforts with our little library community partners.”
Reading is such an integral part of life so the Parks and Recreation Division is glad to be part of this tremendous group effort. Having free reading material available in parks and public places is a great way to encourage people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors and expand their minds at the same time,” said Janet Horvath, Recreation and Enterprise Manager, Parks and Recreation Division. “Thanks go to our partners, Mayor Craig and her staff, Girls At Work and the City Library. We can’t wait to see you outdoors enjoying the parks and reading!”
Over the next few days, the Manchester Parks and Recreation Division will install four little libraries at Livingston Park, Rock Rimmon Park, Sheridan Emmett Park, and Manchester City Hall. The remaining eleven libraries are scheduled to be installed in spring 2020.
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Today, Mayor Joyce Craig announced she will host the Second Annual ‘Halloween at City Hall’ event on October 31st. From 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., students, parents and children are invited to come to City Hall to pick out a free book from the Bookmobile, meet the Mayor, grab a treat and show off their costumes.
“I’m excited we’re able to host Halloween at City Hall again this year,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “With support from the Manchester School District and Manchester City Library, the Bookmobile will be here to hand out free books everyone that stops by.”
Weather permitting, the event is scheduled to take place in City Hall Plaza, 900 Elm Street. In case of poor weather, Halloween at City Hall will be held in the Aldermanic Chambers inside City Hall.
Trick-or-treating in the City of Manchester is scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The City of Manchester, New Hampshire will once again be participating in a community-wide reading program. The book selection for the 2019 One Book One Manchester read is KooKooLand by Gloria Norris. “In the tradition of The Glass Castle and With or Without You, KooKooLand is a bracingly funny and chilling true crime memoir about a girl’s gutsy journey to escape her charismatic yet cruel father’s reign -- an unforgettable story of violence, love and ultimately, triumph.”
“I’m excited this year’s selection for One Book One Manchester is by Queen City native, Gloria Norris,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “The ability to have residents from across Manchester come together and read the same story is incredibly powerful and will not only strengthen our literary community, but highlight a story of resilience based in our community.”
The community-wide read includes several book discussion groups and programs related to the book’s themes of adverse childhood experiences, mental illness, substance abuse and incarceration, as well as hope and resilience, which Norris discovered through the power of education. Students in the Building Literary Community class at the Institute of Art and Design at New England College have created a discussion guide, and are available to lead book discussions. To reserve a time with them, send an e-mail to obom@nec.edu. For a full list of events and where to find a copy of the book, please visit our Facebook page @1BOOK1MHT or sign up for updates at our website.
Ms. Norris, a Manchester native, screenwriter and film producer, will appear on November 14th at 6 pm at Manchester Community College, 1066 Front Street, Manchester NH to discuss and sign copies of her memoir. As part of her visit, Ms. Norris will meet with students at her alma mater, Central High School, where she will also be conducting a master class in writing. Local colleges have also arranged time with her to speak with various classes in media, film, and communication. On November 13th, at 3 pm, Gloria Norris will return to Elmwood Gardens, the Manchester neighborhood where she grew up to speak with the current residents.
Last year’s One Book One Manchester featured internationally renowned writer Mohsin Hamid, whose visit to the city helped to launch the program, which is gaining further visibility with the appearance of Ms. Norris.
A consortium of Manchester cultural and educational institutions, along with local businesses and non-profits, have banded together to make One Book One Manchester 2019 possible. These organizations include:
- Barnes & Noble
- Dismas Home of New Hampshire, Inc.
- New England College, including the Institute of Art and Design
- Manchester City Library
- Manchester Community College
- Manchester School District
- Saint Anselm College
- Southern New Hampshire University
- The Bookery Manchester
- University of New Hampshire at Manchester
- YWCA NH
We are proud to be supported by the following sponsors:
Gold Level: Digital Federal Credit Union, The Humanities Division and the Institute of Art and Design at New England College
Silver Level: Heather Staples Lavoie
Bronze Level: The English Department at Manchester Community College, Manchester City Library Foundation, Manchester Community College
ABOUT KooKooLand
KooKooLand was listed as one of National Public Radio’s Great Reads of 2016.
“Gloria Norris’s KooKooLand is a memoir written on the edge of a knife blade. Chilling, intensely moving, and darkly funny, it cuts to the heart and soul of a troubled American family, and announces the arrival of a startlingly original voice.” – Simon & Schuster
“Heartbreaking and darkly humorous… an intelligent and bracing memoir” –Kirkus Reviews
“Manchester, get ready for your close-up. It arrives in a gritty new memoir by Gloria Norris, a California screenwriter and film producer who grew up in Elmwood Garden, in Manchester’s South End — “the projects,” or, as her sister put it, “poor people housing.” – Jennifer Graham, The Hippo Press
“Although many vibrant characters populate this chilling memoir, Norris’ recreation of her early 1960s nine-year-old self is spot on treat and a terror. A tumble through tumultuous time, in which the heroine inexplicably, beautifully lands on her feet.” –Booklist
“Dad's a petty criminal whose insults land like punches to the psyche. Mom's an enabler who endures her husband's shenanigans with the help of highballs. Yet their daughter Gloria—blessed with Huck Finn's rough-hewn decency and Scout Finch's sassy aplomb—survives, triumphs, and, in KooKooLand, bears witness to an amazing if challenging childhood. Norris's memoir made me laugh, made me cringe, broke my heart, and reaffirmed my optimism. I loved this book!" —Wally Lamb, New York Times bestselling author of She's Come Undone.
MANCHESTER, NH – Today, Mayor Joyce Craig Mayor Joyce and the City of Manchester recognized the winners in the 14th Annual National Arts Program Exhibition, “Art on the Wall at City Hall.” Mayor Craig and members of the Manchester Arts Commission, including Chairman Ed Doyle were on hand to present awards to all the winners.
“I want to congratulate everyone who participated in ‘Art on the Wall at City Hall’ this year,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “We received 120 submissions from everyone from teachers to City employees and their family members. This event showcased the immense artistic talent across our city, and I want to thank everyone, especially the Manchester Arts Commission and Chairman Ed Doyle for making this all possible.”
All award recipients were chosen by an independent panel of judges.
The exhibition, which began on August 5th, will run until Friday, September 27th. The public is invited to view the show during the hours City Hall is open to the public (Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Tuesday 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.)
The award winners are as follows:
People’s Choice – “Mystical Forest” by Ana Liz Bourassa
Mayor’s Choice – “Lady Liberty” by Lyla Roy
Best of Show – “Morning Light, Boston Common” by Sharon Price
Adult Amateur
First Place – “Hampton Sunrise” by Cynthia King
Second Place – “Sunrise in Lubec” by Margaret Harrington
Third Place – "Snowy Owl” by Kathy Walton
Honorable Mention – “View at Dorrs Pond” by Claudette Laroche
Adult Intermediate
First Place – “Three Ponds” by Thomas Jennings
Second Place – “Jade” by Sara Gates
Third Place Tie– “Keep on Truckin’” by Paula Wakefield
Honorable Mentions – “Self Portrait” by Arthur Anderson and “Nova” by Amara VanBurg
Adult Professional
First Place – “Noveau” by Brett Parenteau
Second Place – “2 Girls on the Bus” by Megan Crockett
Third Place – “Pinkham Notch Stream” by Jane Tentas
Honorable Mention – “Waiting” by Sharon Price
Teen 13-18
First Place – “Rising UP” by Elizabeth Field
Second Place – “Mystical Forest” by Ana Liz Bourassa
Third Place – “Augmented” by Ruby Amorim
Honorable Mention – “Contoocook Covered Bridge” by Julia Baer
Youth 12 & Under
First Place – “Koi Pond” by Pascal Dionne
Second Place – “Foxes in the Leaves” by Triniti DeSantis
Third Place – “Bentley” by Addison Bethke
Honorable Mentions – “Narwhal” by Peter Hutchins and “Cosmic Galaxy” by Elliot Robinson
Residents, Property Owners and Stakeholders are invited to share visions for redevelopment on May 23
Today, Mayor Joyce Craig announced a South Millyard project charrette happening on Thursday, May 23. Residents, property owners, and stakeholders are invited to give their input to help shape the future of the South Millyard area in downtown Manchester.
Three project charrette sessions will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Manchester, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m., and a final feedback session at 7:00 p.m.
“We’re looking forward to getting input from the businesses, residents and visitors regarding the South Millyard area,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “I encourage everyone to stop by, share ideas and learn more about this initiative.”
The South Millyard charrette is a direct result of the City of Manchester’s announcement to pursue a Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant to explore development in the South Commercial and South Elm Street areas of the Millyard.
BUILD grants can provide a unique opportunity for the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve national objectives. They’re administered by USDOT to support communities to obtain funding for multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional projects that are more difficult to support through traditional DOT programs.
The South Millyard project charrette’s overall vision is to create a schematic design for downtown connection and a multimodal hub; a project with the potential to improve all types of transportation systems in order to ensure the city’s continued economic health and growth. All of downtown/Millyard is in the study area, but the BUILD grant project is focused on the area from Granite Street to Queen City Avenue (from north to south) and Elm Street across the river to Second Street (from east to west).
WHAT: South Millyard Project Charrette
WHEN: Thursday, May 23
Workshop Sessions: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. OR 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Feedback/Presentation Session: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: DoubleTree Downtown Manchester, 700 Elm St.
The South Millyard project charrette is free and open to the public.
Funds to be used to help pregnant mothers and their babies suffering from substance use disorder
New York-based one2one USA Foundation announced today it has awarded the Manchester Community Health Center (MCHC) a $45,000 grant to support the organization’s work in providing for the care of pregnant women and their newborn babies struggling from the opioid crisis.
Proceeds from the grant are designated to create a new health and social services position within MCHC to provide local women with the medical and social welfare services they need and their unborn children deserve. The position is expected to serve about 100 local babies born each year with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) to mothers struggling with addiction, a rate that has increased fivefold in New Hampshire between 2005 and 2015, according to the University of New Hampshire and New Futures Kids Count.
Following an introduction at the National League of Cities, Mayor’s Institute on Opioids, one2one USA Foundation worked closely with Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig in determining how to best deploy the grant in order to have the greatest impact.
“This grant exemplifies the generosity of our community and ensures we have the resources we need to solve complex problems,” said Mayor Craig. “This funding for the Manchester Community Health Center will help a vulnerable population within our city, and I want to thank one2one Foundation and its donors for helping us address an area of critical need in Manchester.”
The grant is made possible by the unique mission of the one2one USA Foundation, which cuts through bureaucratic red tape by allowing donors to target donations to specific causes and individual needs. In this instance, the Foundation, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, worked with a couple from New York, who spend time in southern New Hampshire, to establish the New Hampshire Opioid Relief program, which provided the grant.
“The generosity of one2one USA and its donors will go a long way in our effort to help newborns and their mothers overcome the challenges of opioid addiction,” says Kris McCracken, president of MCHC. “Through their good work we now have the ability to make an immediate impact in our community, improving the lives of the most vulnerable among us. Research shows the success rate of weaning babies off opioids is high when they quickly receive the medical and social services they need. This grant aims to enable hospitals and organizations to do just that.”
Statewide, New Hampshire suffers from the second-highest rate of opioid-related overdose deaths in the country. In 2016 (the latest year for which numbers are available), there were 437 opioid-related overdose deaths in New Hampshire—nearly three times higher than the national rate.
Manchester Community Health Center, a federally qualified health center that specializes in providing high-quality, comprehensive, family-oriented primary health care, is making significant headway in combating the opioid epidemic by providing, among other services, Medication-Assisted Treatment to patients with opioid and other substance abuse disorders.
Individuals can learn more about how they can support important causes to them by going to https://one2oneusa.org/donor/. All donations are tax exempt.
Mayor Craig, The Center for Women and Enterprise, the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation, and iFundWomen join forces to launch a crowdfunding experience dedicated to providing New Hampshire women entrepreneurs with the capital, coaching, creative and connections needed to start and grow businesses.
MANCHESTER, N.H. – March 7, 2019 - Today, on the eve of International Women’s Day 2019, Mayor Joyce Craig, the Center for Women and Enterprise, the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation, and iFundWomen, the only crowdfunding ecosystem designed for female entrepreneurs, announced the launch of iFundWomen New Hampshire, a statewide initiative to drive funding to early-stage women-led businesses.
There are 12.3 million female entrepreneurs in the United States alone, and with female founders starting businesses at 4.8 times the national average, it is without question that women-owned firms in the State of New Hampshire have the potential to play a much bigger role in the local economy.
Despite advancements, funding options for these female entrepreneurs remain limited with women only receiving 2.2% of the venture capital dollars allocated. This leaves few traditional options for female business owners who are left to max out credit cards or take out loans to fund their startups. iFundWomen New Hampshire is a solution to this funding problem, providing women-owned businesses with the access to capital they need to help them successfully launch and grow, create jobs, and have a positive impact on New Hampshire’s economic development.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for women entrepreneurs across our State,” said Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig. “By establishing a system that helps female business owners gain access to capital, we can make our New Hampshire business landscape more representative of those who live here.”
All women-led businesses that are launching, growing, pivoting, or marketing their product or service in the State of New Hampshire are strongly encouraged to sign up for the inaugural cohort. Entrepreneurs who sign up will have the option to start their crowdfunding campaigns immediately or receive coaching first. They will have access to video production services, a community of entrepreneurs utilizing the iFundWomen platform, as well as local, one-on-one crowdfunding coaching, offered by New Hampshire entrepreneur and iFundWomen Certified Crowdfunding Coach, Kristin Hardwick. “I’m thrilled to help bring iFundWomen to New Hampshire because it’s an amazing service that I wished I had when starting out. Being able to serve and support this community is an exciting honor,” said Hardwick.
“It is critical that female founders of New Hampshire have access to a crowdfunding platform that provides them with a low-risk, efficient path to funding, allowing them to prove demand for their products or services before they invest in supply, all without the risk of going into debt funding their startups. Together we are heeding the call, and bringing iFundWomen New Hampshire to life,” said Karen Cahn, Founder and CEO of iFundWomen. “When women empower women, the whole world benefits, and the fact that Nancy Pearson, Director of the Center for Women and Enterprise in New Hampshire, saw this opportunity and immediately connected with Mayor Craig to launch this cohort speaks volumes about their commitment to the women entrepreneurs in New Hampshire.”
The Center for Women and Enterprise has worked with more than 46,000 Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont entrepreneurs since 1995. CWE also operates the Veterans Business Outreach Center of New England (VBOC of NE) that focuses on assisting veterans, active duty service members and their families with starting and growing their business.
“Funding is one of the biggest hurdles for women entrepreneurs, and I’ve been keeping an eye on the success stories on the iFundWomen crowdfunding platform, which was created by women for women,” said Pearson. “New Hampshire women entrepreneurs are typically right on, or ahead of, national trends, so 2019 is the perfect time to jointly launch this initiative in the Granite State.”
Finally, the iFundWomen New Hampshire cohort is made possible in part by the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation, a statewide foundation investing in opportunity and equality for women and girls in New Hampshire. “The Women’s Foundation is proud to support the Center for Women and Enterprise and iFundWomen New Hampshire because we believe providing tools, resources and funding to women business owners will positively impact women, families, and communities across the Granite State. We are excited to see this statewide initiative grow,” says Tanna Clews, CEO.
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For the second year in a row, Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig will spend a night outside to raise awareness and money for homeless youth in New Hampshire.
Craig is participating in Waypoint’s fifth annual SleepOut, an event dedicated to raising community awareness and funds to help stabilize and transform the lives of homeless youth in New Hampshire. The event will take place on March 22 in downtown Manchester at Stanton Plaza in front of the DoubleTree Hotel.
“I’m looking forward to participating in Waypoint’s SleepOut again this year,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “Homelessness is a moral challenge, and we must address it with empathy and resolve. By raising funds and supporting organizations such as Waypoint, our community will ensure homeless youth have access to the critical support they need.”
The Mayor will be joined by her entire office at the SleepOut, including Chief of Staff Ryan Mahoney, Policy and Strategic Outreach Director Lauren Smith and Community Outreach Director Donald Stokes.
Waypoint works to stabilize the lives of more than 1,500 runaway, homeless and at-risk youth in Manchester, Concord, Littleton and the Seacoast every year. They provide basic needs such as food and clothing, and connections to shelter and medical care. In addition, Waypoint provides mental health and substance abuse counseling and helps youth with educational advocacy, employment, and housing.
To learn more about Waypoint’s SleepOut event, visit their website. If you’d like to support Mayor Craig’s team, donate here.
Most of New Hampshire saw opioid overdoses continue to rise
January 3, 2019 -- This morning, Mayor Joyce Craig praised American Medical Response (AMR)’s recent report that opioid overdoses and opioid overdose deaths are decreasing in the City of Manchester.
“This is the first time Manchester has seen a decrease in opioid overdoses since this epidemic began,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “In the last year, we have worked to develop a new system of care for those seeking help from substance use disorder. I believe strong partnerships and the success of our Safe Station program can directly be attributed to Manchester’s decreasing opioid overdose rate. Unlike Manchester, opioid overdoses across New Hampshire are continuing to rise. There’s still much more we need to do, but this is a positive step in working to eliminate opioid overdoses in our city.”
Since its inception, the Safe Station program in Manchester has seen 4,837 people come into local fire stations. However, by developing a new system of care in 2018, the average time it takes to get an individual into treatment through Manchester Safe Station decreased from two to three weeks to two to three days. It takes an average of nine minutes to get an individual through Manchester’s Safe Station access point.
As a result of Manchester’s Treatment and Recovery Network developed in 2018, individuals seeking help through Safe Station are screened for multiple needs, including homelessness, mental health issues and substance use disorder. Once needs are assessed, individuals are connected to various organizations to get them the help they need.
“There are many people who make our system of care work,” added Mayor Craig. “The Manchester Fire Department, the Manchester Police Department, the Manchester Health Department, AMR, Granite Pathways, the Farnum Center, Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center, the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, Makin’ It Happen, Families in Transition - New Horizons, Granite United Way, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and others have continued to work with the city to develop a system that is saving lives.”
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Mayor Joyce Craig and the Manchester Transit Authority (MTA) are pleased to announce from December 18 to December 24, all stops along Route 8 will be offered free of charge.
"The Mall of New Hampshire, the businesses along South Willow Street and downtown Manchester are all wonderful places to do some holiday shopping," said Mayor Joyce Craig. "By eliminating the bus fares on Route 8 until December 24th, we're hoping to give people a stress-free holiday experience in great shopping areas across our city."
MTA Route 8 makes six regular loop stops -- the Downtown Manchester Doubletree Hotel, Michaels/Burlington Coat Factory Plaza on South Willow Street, Walmart on Gold Street, the Mall of New Hampshire, South Willow Street and Weston Road, and Downtown Manchester.