Name: Toy Burton
From: Roxbury, MA
About The Woman Of The Week: Toy is the mother of two daughters, and is also a grandmother. She loves her family, friends, and her community. Toy was raised in Roxbury and moved up to the North Shore in 1990 where she lived for twenty-one years. No matter where Toy lived she would always point out that she is a Roxbury girl, ALWAYS!
Toy overcame alcoholism and drug addiction, and was in a number of abusive relationships. She moved back to Boston in 2011 and after working a job in retail most of her life decided to attend college. Toy worked as a head start teacher and received an Associate’s degree from Urban College of Boston in Early Childhood Education and a certificate in Human Services Administration.
Shortly after graduating in 2015 Toy suffered a stroke. Despite the health setback she kept pushing forward and was able to make a full recovery. She began volunteering with different organizations throughout the city.
Being back in Boston, Toy noticed acknowledgments and celebrations for other neighborhoods and felt where’s the recognition for Roxbury? After participating in the Dorchester Day Parade 2017, Toy thought how come Roxbury doesn’t have a parade? After sharing this idea with local politicians and on Facebook and receiving positive feedback, Toy decided to put action behind the idea. With help from the newly formed Roxbury Community Unity Committee the Inaugural Roxbury Unity Parade will be taking place on Sunday, July 22, 2018. And on May 5, the Roxbury Community Unity Committee (RCUC) will be participating in the Love Your Block Spring Cleanup 2018.
On September 9, 2017, Toy posted on Facebook how if her sister hadn’t died from suicide she would be celebrating her 55th birthday. Toy was then messaged by a former co-worker whose brother had recently died from suicide. The friend inquired, “How do you ever get over or deal with such pain because I struggle everyday?” Toy told her story and she expressed her pain. Their correspondence stayed on Toy’s mind, wanting to help her friend, the next day Toy researched online for support groups or events for families of suicide victims, what Toy learned that day was that events for suicide prevention were not taking place in communities of color. At that moment Toy decided she would organize suicide prevention and mental wellness events that are accessible and intentional for families in communities of color and she named her organization after her sister. With the support and guidance of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, DeeDee’s Cry will be having their first event on March 31, 2018, at Franklin Park from 1:00pm - 3:00pm, DeeDee’s Cry Hop for Suicide Awareness and Easter Egg Hunt. This is a free event for the whole family.
Toy is always wanting and willing to help ensure that resources are accessible to the people in her community. She is organizing a Health Fair on May 3rd and May 4th and an Empowerment/College Fair on June 1, 2018 both located at 198 Geneva Avenue in Dorchester from 1:00pm – 3:00pm.
Toy knows and acknowledges that only the hand of God can move her from alcoholism and drug addiction to giving back to the people and community that she loves.
Favorite 97.7 Artists: New Edition, Prince
Toy's Song Pick: New Edition - "Hot 2 Nite"