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Let’s Build It with a New and Improved IBA

For nearly five decades IBA has worked towards the advancement of our community. We started in 1968, during the urban renewal housing displacements. After battling for fair housing practices and the rights to develop our neighborhood, we developed Villa Victoria, an affordable housing community with 435 units in Boston’s South End. Since then we have empowered individuals through education, workforce development, and arts programs, created vibrant affordable housing communities. It is our belief that these are all rights and basic tools for every individual. In the past year, we helped 818 low-income people ranging from ages 3 to 65. But, now it is time to do more. In order to increase our capacity to help, we need to extend our message further by making information more accessible and strengthening the bridges of communication. We need feedback from our audience, which is why the creation of efficient channels in which to do so is at the forefront of our priorities; as well as the availability of ongoing information about our cultural events and all of our programs. [caption id="attachment_2505" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Community members working together on a puzzle that makes up the mural at Plaza Betances.[/caption] For the past six months we have been working hard in completely revamping our brand and website to better fit our community’s needs. Thus, we held a press conference in which we re-launched IBA. It wasn’t just any press conference, it was a creative expression that outlined all of our changes, in line with the cultural background and reputation we uphold. It made the desired impact, and our re-launch was featured in the press with articles in publications such as El Planeta, Telemundo, and Banner State Press. Each of IBA’s services were presented as metaphorical products, complete with their own box and particular design. They had names such as, “Wings” for our preschool program, so that children can fly off our branch, prepared and excited to successfully land in Kindergarten; and “Butterflies” referring to our arts program, to describe the feeling that artists get when given the opportunity of their first performance or exhibition. The names were a symbol, they gave our programs an image that represented their significance. [caption id="attachment_2506" align="aligncenter" width="641"] Each of IBA’s services were presented as metaphorical products, complete with their own box and particular design.[/caption] Some of our program participants gave testimonials about the difference IBA made in their lives by building a sense of community and providing opportunities. After the re-launch, we showcased a piece of our culture with an evening of Bomba and Plena to celebrate this new beginning. The band, Alma Moyo, from New York City, wrote a song just for the occasion with our tagline: “A New Future Through Community Power. Let’s Build It.” [caption id="attachment_2507" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Alma Moyo performing Bomba and Plena[/caption] To honor our community-based approach, IBA now has a new website and a refreshed logo. As Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, our CEO put it, “Our logo represents the act of converging with flow and movement towards the union of people from all walks of life, but always moving up.” This is precisely what IBA stands for. Based on talking to our audience and the people that we work with, we also created a new and more suitable website with an easier domain to remember: ibaboston.org. An important part of our renovation is active communication with our audience. It is imperative that IBA has a lively exchange with the community it serves on a daily basis. Engagement is the foundation of our renewed concept. IBA is about community, it is about working together towards achieving a common goal: A New Future Through Community Power. Let’s Build It.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQmiO6lWaOY...