The Ecumenical Social Action Committee (ESAC), a former longtime Egleston Square nonprofit founded in Jamaica Plain nearly 50 years ago, has moved its office back into JP and has launched a new program for seniors.
“Jamaica Plain is where ESAC was founded. We are happy to be in JP Centre, where so many of our partners for the Taste of JP are located,” said Emily Morris-Litonjua, ESAC’s executive director.
ESAC had left Jamaica Plain to move to Dorchester in 2013 to cut expenses. Today, they are located at 434 Jamaicaway.
The group recently received a $50,000 foundation grant, which helped them to launch a falls prevention program for senior homeowners in Boston.
“The population of Boston is aging rapidly and seniors are at risk of serious injury due to falls in the home. If a senior is concerned about this, they contact ESAC and we ask our partner YouthBuild Boston to do an assessment and then complete the work – typically, grab bars, handrails, step repairs and the like,” said Morris-Litonjua. “This provides an opportunity for a young person who is learning about construction to get some real world experience while the senior gets much needed improvements that will help them age safely in their own homes.”
ESAC is a multi-pronged community support nonprofit that aims to improve the quality of life for Boston residents, especially the young and the elderly. Its programs include senior home-repair support, foreclosure support and prevention, graduation equivalency diploma support for high school drop-outs, and coordination with Egleston Square Main Streets for community building.
ESAC is also involved in Egleston Square’s Peace Garden Project, and holds the annual fundraiser food festival A Taste of JP. Its website is esacboston.org.