Blog

Villa Victoria Resident Gives Back

Villa Victoria Resident Gives Back

Heroes in our community come in all shapes and sizes… and costumes! This past Halloween is no exception, especially for one Villa Victoria resident, Hector Colon who makes it his mission to give back in a big way. We sat down with him recently for an interview to learn more about how this Halloween giving tradition started. Can you share more about your Halloween trad...

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The Voice of Our Future

The Voice of Our Future

Empowering our future leaders by giving them the tools and encouragement they may need to discover and express their voice is critical to the direction of our nation. Giving youth the safe space to explore and learn about the arts is exactly what IBA's Youth Development Program is all about. With a mission to provide academic support, job readiness, arts education, leadership training, civic en...

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The Importance of Open Spaces in Affordable Housing Communities

The Importance of Open Spaces in Affordable Housing Communities

Open spaces in Boston, like Boston Common and the Rose Kennedy Greenway, play a vital role in fostering physical activity and hosting community gatherings, such as food and culture festivals and public displays of activism. Yet, these open spaces are not always accessible or welcoming to low-income residents who don’t have the time or resources to visit them. To improve residents’ quali...

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Spreading the Impact in Our Community

Spreading the Impact in Our Community

With the divisive political and racial climate we live in, it is refreshing to see young leaders active in their community and looking to spark change. And, the teens in this year's Fall cycle of the Youth Development Program are having a big impact in the Boston area. In a recent event with the IBA Preschool, teens spent the afternoon with the youngest in our community doing a host of ...

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Building a Brighter Financial Future for All Bostonians

Building a Brighter Financial Future for All Bostonians

As credit woes and debt are crippling many young people across the nation, Boston is committed to building a city where every resident can improve their financial wellness. And IBA is leading the way in this regard with a recent partnership with United Way and Boston Builds Credit. The innovative, new Credit Building Pilot program is designed to integrate credit building with career pa...

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3 Tips to Empower Your Financial Future

3 Tips to Empower Your Financial Future

In today’s world, having a good handle on your finances can mean the difference between getting the best rate on a loan or feeling stuck paying extra in interest. That’s why IBA has focused on empowering the local Boston community by providing a host of financial empowerment training classes and seminars, designed to teach residents the fundamentals behind budgeting, managing their credit, even...

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The Impact of Anti-Immigrant Sentiment on Community Stability & Wellbeing

The Impact of Anti-Immigrant Sentiment on Community Stability & Wellbeing

Recent policies regarding immigration in the U.S. have created an environment that threatens the safety and wellbeing of legal and undocumented immigrants. On a national stage, these policies stand to drastically restrict immigration and asylum-seeking. Here, we take a deep dive into how discrimination and confusing policies are affecting immigrant communities. R...

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IBA Spotlight | Financial Planning Success Stories

IBA Spotlight | Financial Planning Success Stories

With the average Bostonian owing at least $6,541 in consumer debt, finding ways to better manage your finances is key to achieving a bright financial future. That’s why IBA created the College & Financial Empowerment program, to give residents in the South End and Lower Roxbury communities the tools, resources, an...

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Villa Victoria Center for the Arts is Closed

Villa Victoria Center for the Arts is Closed

Villa Victoria Center for the Arts is currently closed to the public until further notice. We understand that this is an inconvenience to those attending upcoming events, and we are working closely with artists to identify alternative spaces within the city, should they wish to relocate their exhibits. Here's what this closure means for our arts programming....

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Uplifting Our Community Through Resident Services & Affordable Housing

Uplifting Our Community Through Resident Services & Affordable Housing

IBA has long been committed to providing affordable housing to our local South End community. A key part of empowering our community is rooted in ensuring that our residents have continued access to support resources. By combining recreation, culture, health, educational and case management services, we’re able to address all of the needs of our residents. With a growing team...

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The Benefits of Empowering Our Youth Closer to Home

The Benefits of Empowering Our Youth Closer to Home

As Boston students settle into the new school year, IBA is gearing up for the next Youth Development Program (YDP) cycle, which starts in October and runs through May. IBA’s nationally acclaimed program encourages students between the ages of 14 and 19 to use the arts and civic engagement as tools to help them think critically a...

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YDP End of Summer Cycle Celebration

YDP End of Summer Cycle Celebration

We celebrated the end of the Youth Summer Cycle on August 16th and the energy was amazing! From the live performances, to the art on display, to the ice cream provided by the City of Boston -- all who attended had a great time. We can't wait to ring in Summer 2020. ...

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Teaching Our Future Leaders

Teaching Our Future Leaders

The team of passionate educators at the IBA Preschool take a personal approach to how they teach and inspire our next generation of leaders to learn. With a mission to nurture creativity and individuality in every child, the IBA Preschool has been touted as one of the Top 21 School Readiness Programs in Massachusetts, with a 100% kindergarten readiness rate. Known for its bilingual education mo...

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Behind the Scenes | Linnette Speel

Behind the Scenes | Linnette Speel

“I want IBA to be the biggest and best nonprofit organization in all of Massachusetts,” Linnette Speel, Executive Assistant explains. Having spent the past 4 years as an integral part of Operations, Linnette is responsible for supporting the senior management team, including IBA CEO, Vanessa Calderón-Rosado. In addition, she serves as a liaison between the management teams and external ...

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Behind the Scenes | Janice Nevarez

Behind the Scenes | Janice Nevarez

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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