As the first bilingual preschool in Massachusetts, our preschool program has been serving our community for over 40 years. A parent favorite, our program preserves students’ culture while also preparing them for school. Our bilingual program makes a big difference for parents, with our multicultural curriculum and diverse classrooms making up 38% of why parents send their kids to our pr...
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On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, leaving extensive devastation in its wake. As we near the one-year anniversary of the storm, it’s important that we reflect upon the impact of the Hurricane and understand efforts underway to protect and aid the recovery of Puerto Rico. How did Hurricane Maria impact Puerto Rico? Puerto Rico suffered ex...
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To honor our 50th anniversary, we’re taking a look back at the history of IBA’s Preschool program! In 1976, a group of local Latino parents came together to present to the Massachusetts State Government the need to provide services to Spanish-speaking families. One of these services included a bilingual preschool for children. The parents’ effo...
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IBA’s Peer Leader Summer Graduation had it all; laughter, heartfelt thanks, and even a few backflips! The event was focused on the Youth Development Program, celebrating the end of another successful summer. Kicking off the event, youth from each workshop shared their testimony about what they learned this summer, and how it affected them. “I ha...
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Rainy skies couldn’t stop our community from coming together for the Annual Cookout & Community Health Fair, organized by our incredible Resident Services team! Plaza Betances was filled with residents enjoying the food and games while taking advantage of the health resources available. As kids played in the bounce house and got their faces painted, adults were able ...
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In April 2018, we invited Bostonians to learn more about how an unlikely group of activists who rallied against local government to avoid being pushed out of their homes. We were humbled by the sheer number of people who came out to this event to share their connection to IBA and our community. As th...
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“It was a long struggle to make the residents believe that, if we united ourselves, nobody could take our rights for better housing and better living standards” -Victor Feliciano The South End of today looks strikingly different than it did 50 years ago. High-end retail and polished townhouses line the sid...
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Nearly half a century ago, Latino members of the South End community organized to dedicate one July weekend to the celebration of their heritage with music, dancing, food, and activities for all ages. Over the years, what started as a neighborhood block party has grown into our annual Festival Betances! Each year we’re proud to welcome more than 3,000 attendees—and this year was no different!...
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During his second inaugural address, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh recommitted himself to tackling Greater Boston’s housing shortage, vowing to “increase [Boston’s] targets for low-income homes, moderate-income homes, senior housing and overall units.” Now that we are over halfway through the year, we’ve pro...
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As we finish up our month-long endeavour to feature our outstanding Youth Development Program, we decided to sit down with Youth Coordinator Angel Lopez and star player Erik Ramirez to talk about their involvement with the OneHood Peace Basketball League. Angel coached for nine years before taking on responsibility of coordinating the entire league. Now in its ...
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IBA’s Youth Development and Afterschool & Summer Learning Programs foster independence, creativity, and academic growth among children and teenagers. This month, we will highlight IBA youth on our social media and website to celebrate their achievements. We interviewed a previous YDP participant to provide some insight on what we do. Tell us a little about yourself....
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The ability to afford housing is a daily struggle for thousands of American families and individuals. According to Bloomberg, approximately 900,000 renters received eviction notices in 2016 alone and more than 20 million households currently dedicate more than 30 percent of their income towards housing costs. Numerous factors, from federal budgeting to local development grants, ...
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Last week, the College and Financial Empowerment Program had the absolute pleasure of recognizing, celebrating, and honoring our program participants in all component areas: Academic, Financial Empowerment, and Technology. We were pleased to welcome a full house of family and friends, whose support made the event feel truly special. Program Direc...
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When gentrification enters a community, it doesn’t just impact low-income individuals and families. Rather, the small retail businesses, or mom-and-pop storefronts, that contribute to the vibrancy of a local economy are often pushed to the peripheries. For instance, according to a recent WBUR s...
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In 1968, the words “no nos mudaremos/we shall not be moved” rang throughout the South End, as a group of Puerto Rican activists – the future founders of IBA – fought against an urban renewal initiative threatening to displace residents from the Boston Redevelopment Authority designated Parcel 19. Having fought to preserve the influence and accessibility of the South End’s Puerto Rican and Latino c...
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