When it comes to ensuring that everything operates smoothly at IBA, Janice Nevarez makes it happen. As the Receptionist and Administrative Assistant, all requests, questions, phone calls, and emails usually come through her first. She’s been with IBA since 2017 and works closely with the facilities manager to get maintenance requests taken care of and to schedule necessary walkthroughs. But, he...
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Whether at resident meetings speaking with the community or on television talking about key issues in affordable housing, our CEO Dr. Vanessa Calderón-Rosado is constantly advocating for inclusive development, economic and educational empowerment, representative leadership, arts programming and more. This month, as we highlight the people that make IBA so special, we wanted to provide you with ...
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One of the talented women performing at Festival Betances this year Karla P. Rivera Lozada. Born in San Germán, Puerto Rico, Karla’s attraction to music has been lifelong, studying at the School of Fine Arts of Bayamón, then the Conservatory of Arts of the Caribbean (CAC) in Old San Juan, and currently the prestigious Berklee College of Music. We sat down to chat with Karla about her ambitions,...
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Our Resident Services program works to make every resident feel at home in Villa Victoria. From case management to neighborhood events, they build community and empower our residents. We recently spoke with one of our residents to learn more about her experience with IBA. Maria, a longtime Villa Victoria resident, has been living in our neighborhood since 1991 after moving from Guatemal...
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IBA has long been committed to providing affordable housing to our community. A key part of this effort has been our Resident Services Program, which helps our residents access support resources. To learn more about our Resident Services Program, we sat down with Senior Program Director, Rafael Medina. 1. How long have you been with IBA? Can you tell us about your time here? ...
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In our second interview with the parents of our preschoolers, we spoke to Catherine, the mother of 3-year-old Louis. After they to Boston from Chicago a year ago, she enrolled her son in IBA's Preschool to immerse him in a more diverse community. Q: What do you think the benefits of the multicultural preschool can be? Catherine: It’s shaping my child’s world in...
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We recently sat down with the Sarah, the mother of one our preschoolers, to talk about IBA's preschool. Her 3-year-old son Eric has been in IBA's Preschool for the last 9 months, and according to Sarah, has grown immeasurably. Q: How did you hear about IBA’s preschool? Sarah: I was having dinner with his dad in the area, and we just walked in, whic...
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Serving children ages 2.9-5.5, IBA’s year-round preschool was the first bilingual program in the state of Massachusetts and is one of the Massachusetts Top 21 School Readiness programs. To learn more about IBA’s Preschool Program and the core values it instills in children, we sat down with Program Manager Joanna Fuentes, who has been with IBA for 19 years, and Education Manager Valerie...
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What was your journey to your position as the Arts Director at a non-profit? How did you decide you wanted to get involved with IBA? I started my professional career in a publishing house and from there I immersed myself in the cultural world. I’ve been involved with publishing for the past 20 years in different ways— I’ve published government books and magazines, then ran...
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Puerto Rican Yara Liceaga has been writing poetry since the late 1990’s, and for many years lived fully immersed both in the island’s cultural scene and academia through the Universidad de Puerto Rico. After leaving Puerto Rico in the midst of the country’s economic crisis, she used her experience to begin building a series of projects that would promote artistic collaboration and inter...
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Father-daughter duo Kianí and Jerry Medina are some of the most talented and requested voices of Puerto Rico. Jerry, also a trumpeter, has spent over 40 years making music, collaborating with the likes of Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Calle 13, and more. Singing professionally since the age of 16, Kianí is part of the group Viento de Agua and is currently performing on the Residente Tour. ...
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We are so proud to announce that our own College and Financial Empowerment Program Director, Tiana Bonner, has been selected to join The Social Innovation Forum Executive coaching class of 2019! Through a 12-year partnership with William James College (formerly Mass School of Professional Psychology) The Social Innovation Forum works with a sma...
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Many families have holiday traditions, whether it’s a special food to a family activity they can all enjoy. This year, why not create a new tradition? Giving back to our community is what makes it so vibrant and strong, and there are so many ways to take part. Volunteering over the holidays can make a big impact on those who benefit from it, whether it’s their next meal, or a safe home for thei...
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As IBA celebrates the end of its 50th year, we are already looking to the future. We have already begun building our next half century, and we are excited to see how our community grows. From affordable housing and arts programs to support for our residents, our future is bright! By the end of this year, we will acquire, rehab, and renovate 146 units of affordable housing to add to IBA’...
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November kicked off in observance of Latina Equal Pay Day, calling attention to the fact that, on average, Latinas earn 53 cents to every dollar earned by non-Hispanic white men. This fact and this day expose a blatant reality: that wealth and power are not shared equally nationwide and even within our city. A recent report f...
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