July 18 - Dorchester Reporter

Page 20 THE Reporter July 18 2013‘Sisters of Color’ rallyaround bomb victim(Continued from page 1)in Lower Mills at 2261Dorchester Ave.Daniel, who had studiedpre-med at UMassAmherst and was pursuingher dream of becominga doctor at the timeof the bombing, has comea long way since emigratingfrom Haiti 14 yearsago, when she was just17. Now, she is using thesame energy and focus toput the past behind herand live her life.Daniel, 30, is currentlyundergoing prostheticstraining to learn howto use her recently fittedprosthetic leg, andthough she said theprocess is difficult, sheis determined to pushthrough.She did not attend thearraignment of the survivingbombing suspectDzhokhar Tsarnaev lastweek in South Boston.Daniel said she is notinterested in followingthe trial. “I’m puttingall of my energy into recovery,and doing thingsthat make me happy,” shesaid. “I’m trying to figureout how I move on withmy life.”Throughout the recoveryprocess, Maryhas tried to focus on thepositives. “I’ve learnedabout humanity - howpeople come togetherduring a crisis - and abouthumility,” she said. “To becompletely dependent onother people, and to letyourself be vulnerable,is very difficult.”The organizers ofThursday’s benefit areenthusiastic about helpingsomeone from thecommunity.Liz Miranda of DS-Tination Lifestyle saidthat, as time passes andpublic attention shifts toTsarnaev’s trial, peopleshould keep the victimsin mind.“We want people to rememberthat real peoplewere hurt, and real liveswere changed,” saidMiranda. “This [mixer]is an opportunity forpeople to experience areal-life connection towhat happened that day,and to support someonefrom the community.”“We’ve worked withthe United Sisters ofColor before, and we knewabout Mery’s story,” saidDominique Gutierrez ofTwins & Friends.“We were really excitedto work on this event.”The event organizershope to have about 100people in attendance atthe mixer.The United Sistersof Color also hosted aRun4Mery on June 30, anevent that raised about$2000 and gathered over60 people for a 5K run.Anjela Childs, co-founderof the United Sistersof Color, said that shewanted to support Meryas a part of her organization’smission to bringthe community togetherby helping locals in need.“[I was] completelyshocked that I had notheard [Mery’s] story,”wrote Childs in an email.“I felt the need to dosomething so I contactedher cousin and askedher what she felt Meryneeded the most from us.After a lengthy conversation,I decided to haveRun4Mery 5K. It justmade sense.”Daniel said she hopesto attend the event onThursday night, thoughher schedule is constantlyin flux and full of medicalappointments. Thoughthe steep stairs in herMattapan apartmentforced her to move out ofthe neighborhood, Danielsaid she is touched by thecommunity’s generosity.“That should be the spiritof a community,” shesaid. “It’s not somethingI was expecting. They’regoing out of their way tohelp me, and I’m full ofgratitude.”The event organizersare asking for a $15donation at the door onThursday night, andeveryone is welcome.To contribute to theMery Daniel recoveryfund, visit gofundme.com/meryrecovery.SELECT THURSDAYS THIS SUMMERJuly 25 and August 8, 5 – 8 pmTickets are FREE but limited to Museum capacity, andcan be picked up at the door each free evening.Neighborhood Nights is generously supported in part bythe Josephine and Louise Crane Foundation, The Caleb C.and Julia W. Dula Educational and Charitable Foundation,the William E. Schrafft & Bertha E. Schrafft CharitableTrust, and the Yawkey Foundation. The Museum receivesoperating support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.Photograph by Lisa Abitbol, 2012NEIGHBORHOOD NIGHTSART • MUSIC • FAMILY FUNFREE to all, with a special invitation toour neighbors in the Fenway, Mission Hill,Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, and Dorchester280 THE FENWAY BOSTON617 566 1401GARDNERMUSEUM.ORGFairmountCommuter Rail Linenow open!Traveling to Boston just got easier.There’s a stationnear youSOUTH STATIONNewmarketUphams CornerFour Corners/Geneva AvenueTalbot AveMorton StreetFairmountKnow before you goMore service –Six new round trip trainsrecently added.Get a CharlieTicket –Purchase your fare or pass ona CharlieTicket instead of on aCharlieCard so the conductorcan view your fare.Purchase your farebefore boarding –Get tickets ahead of timeto avoid an onboard fee orbuy tickets through the freemTicket app.Choose the fare that’s right for you!StationZoneOne-WayFare7-DayLinkPass10-RideTicketMonthlyPassSouth Station $2 $18 $20 $70Newmarket Station 1A $2 $18 $20 $70Uphams Corner Station 1A $2 $18 $20 $70Four Corners/Geneva Avenue Station1A $2 $18 $20 $70Talbot Avenue Station 1A $2 $18 $20 $70Morton Street Station 1A $2 $18 $20 $70Fairmount Station 1A $2 $18 $20 $70Readville Station 2 $6 N/A $60 $189• The 7-Day LinkPass offersunlimited travel onsubway, local bus,inner harbor ferryand commuter railzone 1A.• The Zone 1AMonthly Pass offersunlimited travel onsubway, local bus,inner harbor ferryand commuter railzone 1A.READVILLEFor schedules and more info, visit mbta.com