Just A Start

04/08/2026

Check out our upcoming information sessions for the Adult Career Training Program! Sign up today and take the next step toward a future in Information Technology or Biotechnology!

🔗 For more information please visit www.justastart.org/act!

04/07/2026

Recruitment is in full swing for our nine month information technology and biotechnology training programs. 🧑‍💻🧑‍🔬 This morning, our ACT recruitment team joined the City of Boston’s Office of Black Male Advancement Spring Resource and Job Fair, connecting community members with their next step toward stability and career growth.

Thank you to Office of Black Male Advancement, , MassHire Downtown Boston, and New England Law | Boston for bringing this event together!

Ready to take the next step? Visit www.justastart.org/act to learn more.

04/07/2026

Shop. Donate. Make an Impact.

Now through May 11, you can donate to YouthBuild Global when you shop at Burlington! 🛍 Every donation at checkout supports local YouthBuild programs like ours at Just A Start! Find you nearest Burlington here: www.burlington.com/store-locator

Thank you, Burlington, for supporting young people across the as they gain hands-on job skills and credentials and become leaders in their communities.

03/23/2026

We’re grateful for opportunities like this that connect our YouthBuild students with real world construction environments. Site visits like this at Tufts University provide valuable insight into the industry and help students see what’s possible in their careers.

Thank you Metro Walls and Erland Construction for investing in the next generation of the workforce!

03/19/2026

The Adult Career Training Program does not end at graduation. Our alumni remain part of the Just A Start community, with access to lifetime academic and career coaching, monthly upskilling workshops, job search club, and annual gatherings like our Alumni Postcard Night.

At our recent Alumni Postcard Night, we saw:
👉 Alumni connecting across cohorts
👉 Words of encouragement written for current trainees
👉 Smiles, laughs, and plenty of hugs

Most importantly, we saw a community that continues to show up for one another, proving that support, growth, and opportunity don’t end when the program does.

Thank you to our alumni for stopping by!

03/19/2026

Congratulations to the City of Cambridge (Official) on the release of the 5-year Affordable Housing Trust Report! We were proud to host the event at 52 New Street, a project that received approximately $18 million in Trust funding for acquisition, predevelopment, and construction.

Housing affordability remains one of the most pressing challenges facing Cambridge today, and we’re grateful for the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust’s ongoing commitment to creating and preserving affordable housing across the city.

To learn more about the Trust’s support of 52 New Street and the 26 affordable developments funded between FY21 and FY25, click here:https://www.cambridgema.gov/-/media/Files/CDD/Housing/TrustReports/cambridge_aht5year2025_online.pdf

City of Cambridge Community Development Department (Official)

03/13/2026

📣We’re hiring! 📣 Join the Just A Start team and help us build stronger communities. From workforce development to resident services, there’s a place for you! Current opportunities include:

💼 Career and Post-Secondary Education Specialist
💼 Case Manager
💼 Digital Navigator
💼 Resident Services Coordinator
💼 Resident Services Program Manager

Learn more and apply today: www.justastart.org/careers

03/12/2026

Just A Start Executive Director Carl Nagy-Koechlin joined legislative leaders, housing experts, and advocates at the Massachusetts State House for a briefing on the growing threats to permanent supportive housing.

Hosted by the United Way of Massachusetts Bay Massachusetts Supportive Housing Pipeline Coalition in partnership with the Legislative Caucus to End and Prevent Homelessness, the briefing highlighted how proposed federal changes could put thousands at risk of losing stable housing.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to share Just A Start’s perspective, grounded in decades of experience delivering housing that promotes long term stability and helps prevent homelessness.

Learn more: https://unitedwaymassbay.org/news/legislative-briefing-highlights-federal-policy-changes-and-the-impact-on-people-living-in-permanent-supportive-housing-across-massachusetts

03/12/2026

Meet Iram Bolanos, Just A Start’s Biotechnology Lab Technician and proud Adult Career Training Program alum.

Iram helps bring our biotech lab to life by preparing materials, organizing equipment, and supporting hands-on experiments so trainees can focus on building real world lab skills. She works closely with instructors and students to keep the lab safe, efficient, and ready for learning.

As a former trainee herself, Iram’s favorite part of her role is helping new participants feel confident in the lab and supporting them through the learning process. She loved the hands-on experience and strong sense of community in the Adult Career Training Program and now enjoys seeing that same growth in others.

Originally from northern Mexico in the Sonora Desert, Iram enjoys reading and hiking in her free time and despite being from the desert, she is a big fan of snow.

03/11/2026

Tomorrow! 📣🏠

03/11/2026

Thanks for sharing, Somerville YIMBY!

Join us & Somerville Community Land Trust for the 297 Medford Street Project Meet and Greet tomorrow, March 12th!
What to expect:
🏠 Meet our project team: Just A Start, Somerville Community Land Trust &
🏠Learn about the timeline for future meetings and how to sign up for updates
🏠Share your questions and feedback about how this project can contribute to the neighborhood
RSVP here: tinyurl.com/297medfordcommunitymeeting

On March 12, Just-A-Start and the Somerville Community Land Trust will host a meeting for neighbors to discuss their plans to build a fully affordable building at 297 Medford Street in Gilman Squar…

03/10/2026

We have an incredible team 41 certified volunteers ready to help you file your taxes!

Through our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, these dedicated community members donate their time and expertise to help eligible families and individuals:
💰 File accurate tax returns
💰 Claim all available tax credits
💰 Avoid high cost or untrustworthy tax services

Free tax preparation services are available by appointment through April 9, 2026. Learn more and request your appointment: www.justastart.org/freetaxprep