Meet, greet with sweet treats at St. Stephen's

About 75 people, some South End neighbors and some residents of greater Boston, gathered on October 12 around two long tables of baked goods, ice cream cake and soft drinks to learn more about the array of youth programs offered at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 419 Shawmut Avenue. According to Jen Cusack, director of Leadership Giving at St. Stephen's Youth Program (SSYP), the dessert social was intended to draw together potential volunteers, supporters and participants for SSYP, which serves over 800 young people per year, aged 5 through 25. Guests included Episcopal Bishop Alan M. Gates and Mayor Walsh's community liaison to the South End and Bay Village, Faisa Sharif.

The abundant dessert buffet included brookies, a hybrid of chocolate chip cookies, brownies and Oreo cookies baked by the middle-schoolers of SSYP's Youth Leadership Corps; ice cream cakes donated by FoMu vegan ice cream shop, 655 Tremont Street; a European pastry assortment including petits fours; and cookies and brownies from Roche Bros.

Bishop Gates declared SSYP a model of engagement with the neighborhood and meeting the needs of the surrounding community. In a follow-up statement after the event, Cusack expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the dessert social. "We thought the event was a big success. We heard so many conversations and connections being made and felt like our staff and young people really shared the warm, welcoming spirit of this organization," she said.