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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As part of April's focus on IBA's history, we will hold a historical forum next week featuring prominent individuals who have contributed to the foundation of IBA. We interviewed Mario Small, who will be on of our esteemed guests. With a Ph.D. from Harvard University, he has published books and numerous articles on urban poverty, personal networks, and th...
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Our Arts Program is an integral part of our community and our organization. With Villa Victoria Center for the Arts being the largest Latino Arts Center in all of New England, Arts Director Elsa Mosquera is responsible for sourcing Latinx talent from all over the world. Dedicated to diversifying the city of Boston and providing spaces for artists of all backgrounds, she is a true trailblazer in he...
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The month of March is deemed National Women’s History Month: a time to remember and appreciate the ways that women have contributed to the history of this country. In recognition of the celebration, we interviewed IBA CEO Vanessa Calderón-Rosado about her experience as a female leader in the field of government. Why do you think it’s important to have women represented in government? Vane...
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Although nearly six months have passed since Hurricane Maria made landfall, Puerto Rico still requires extensive aid. The storm, which caused approximately $37 billion in housing damages, has left more than ...
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The IBA community is strong, but it has not thrived for the last 50 years all by itself. As a continuation of our focus on affordable housing, we interviewed María Laboy, the Senior Property Manager from Maloney Properties, to learn more about all the work they do for Villa Victoria residents. IBA: When did your relationship with IBA and Villa Victoria begin? ML: Maloney Propert...
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IBA: You’re the star of “Hecho en Puelto Rico.” Tell us a little bit more about the premise of this play. Angel Vàzquez: This is a monologue about a student in Puerto Rico who wants to leave the island as soon as possible. He receives a phone call from his dad and he thinks he’s going to get money to go to the states, but when he opens the suitcase his father sent him, it’s just full of s...
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The burden of rising living costs and a competitive housing market are pervasively shaping the constitution of our communities. According to a recent survey that polled 115 mayors across 39 states, 51 percent of respondents indicated that a lack of affordable housing is the top reason why residents move out of ...
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We were thrilled at the turnout of this month’s Marca X Gallery opening featuring LGBTQIA Latinx artists from the Boston area. The Boston LGBTQIA Artists Alliance’s (BLAA) 14th exhibition was a collaboration with the Harvard Ed Portal Crossings Gallery (HEP), and the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS). An array of different mediums were on display—including photography, p...
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The most important part of any neighborhood is building a community; and, our hard working resident services program, along with our residents, are the key to building this everyday. Using a culturally rooted approach, our bilingual staff helps residents lead more fulfilling lives through their programming. While our residents contribute through volunteering and starting initiatives of their ow...
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The beginning of each new year offers an opportunity to reevaluate what’s needed and important in our communities. Throughout Greater Boston, preserving affordability has remained a crucial issue, as living costs and property values continue to skyrocket and burden low-income residents. As we embark on 2018, here are some of the affordable housing issues and initiatives that we will be tracking cl...
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Kicking off another great season -- and year -- of arts events this January, is Grammy Award-winning timbalero, Eguie Castrillo. As he preserves a musical tradition with performances that “transport you to the New York Ballrooms of the 1950s & 60s,” this master of mambo, accompanied by his Palladium Orchestra (an 18-piece big band), will not only bring the entire audience back in time but to t...
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To address ever-increasing housing costs across the Commonwealth and skyrocketing Boston rents, the Baker-Polito administration recently announced its outline of the Housing Choice Initiative. The comprehensive plan is designed to empower cities and towns to create more housing through more ...
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