Blog

"For me, IBA was always a safe space"

"For me, IBA was always a safe space"

Isaiah joined IBA’s Youth Development Program during his first year of high school. Wanting to help his parents financially, he signed up for a part-time job near his home. Isaiah wanted to be a productive part of his community in a safe space outside school. Not only did he achieve all of this through YDP, but after three successful years as a youth participant, toda...

Read more

What Our Preschools Need to Thrive Throughout the Pandemic

What Our Preschools Need to Thrive Throughout the Pandemic

As the Covid-19 pandemic persists, the conversation continues to progress around how our education system will and should adapt to meet the developmental needs of our children, while keeping them safe. Preschools face unique challenges in preventing the spread of Covid-19 infections. Currently in Massachusetts, anyone ages 5 and up can ...

Read more

“Yo creí que era imposible, pero afortunadamente vi que no era así”

“Yo creí que era imposible, pero afortunadamente vi que no era así”

Rocío Then-Reyes es una madre soltera que vive en nuestra comunidad. Gracias a la ayuda que el Programa de Servicios al Residente le otorgó, pudo inscribir a sus hijos en una escuela privada y católica, lo cual era muy importante para ella. Rocío sabe que a través de la educación que hoy están recibiendo sus hijos, tendrán una mejor oportunidad de entrar a la universidad. Es una prior...

Read more

“Mis objetivos son basados en la realidad en la que viven las personas hoy en día”

“Mis objetivos son basados en la realidad en la que viven las personas hoy en día”

Con nuestro programa de Preescolar, al igual que con todos los programas de IBA, buscamos la manera de ayudar a nuestra comunidad. Este no solo tiene como objetivo principal brindar una educación bilingüe de la más alta calidad, sino también ayuda a los padres de familia a navegar con mayor información algunos temas de actualidad referentes al desarrollo de sus hijos...

Read more

"My kids have been exposed to every culture"

"My kids have been exposed to every culture"

A successful transition to elementary school has always been the priority of IBA’s Preschool Program. With the big responsibility of having these children’s futures in our hands, we work hard to provide them with all the tools they need for a strong academic start. Daliza Nova’s daughter graduated from our Preschool Program last year, and she wanted to share wit...

Read more

2022’s Forecast for the Arts

2022’s Forecast for the Arts

Many aspects of our lives have changed since the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, where the arts were one of the first to be put on pause. There were immediate cancellations of in-person activities – such as live theater, community festivals, concerts, dance performances, a trip to the movies, and more. The need to protect ourselves and others by limiting gatherings forced us to shift our in-pe...

Read more

Faces of IBA

Faces of IBA

Thanks to our supporters and dedicated staff, IBA has come a long way since its founding in 1968. While the people and needs of our community have changed over time, the dedication of IBA’s to its mission has never wavered. Today, as over 50 years ago, our ...

Read more

2021 Highlights of our programs

2021 Highlights of our programs

This year is coming to an end, and in case you missed any of the things that have been happening at IBA (many things happened!), we wanted to point out a few of them . We’re beyond happy to say all five of our programs were busy at work, and this only means positive impact for our community. Please join us in remembering some of what we accomplished in 2021....

Read more

"¡No paren, porque han cambiado mi vida!"

"¡No paren, porque han cambiado mi vida!"

Isaura Gómez ha sido residente en Villa Victoria durante los últimos cinco años. Estuvo antes en otra vivienda, no administrada por IBA, ni por el Programa de Servicios al Residente (RSP por sus siglas en inglés). En su anterior residencia, Isaura carecía de las instalaciones que necesitaba como persona discapacitada y por lo mismo, tuvo que enfrentarse no sólo al aislamiento, sino ta...

Read more

85 West Newton Project

85 West Newton Project

PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTIONThe Project is the redevelopment of the site of the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts which was located at 85 West Newton Street. IBA had to demolish the structure in 2020 due to severe structural conditions. The site is 9,301 square feet with frontage on West Newton Street, and adjacent to the City of Boston’s O’Day Playground. The ...

Read more

"The light in my daughter’s eyes every time she comes back home is amazing."

"The light in my daughter’s eyes every time she comes back home is amazing."

In 2021, 15 students graduated from IBA’s Preschool Program, which prepared them for a successful entrance into elementary school. Despite a number of challenges during the last few years due to the pandemic, IBA’s Preschool rose to the occasion and implemented new protocols and strategies that proved successful for the e...

Read more

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s Vision for Affordable Housing

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s Vision for Affordable Housing

In 2021, Michelle Wu made history as the first woman and woman of color to be elected Mayor of Boston. Her win symbolizes a wave of change and, with it, brings hope for reform in our city. Throughout Wu’s campaign, the affordable housing crisis remained at the...

Read more

Empowering the Future of Boston

Empowering the Future of Boston

In 2016, IBA’s Youth Development Program (YDP) won the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. Awarded by former First Lady Michelle Obama, this award was the nation’s highest honor for after-school and out-of-school-time arts and humanities programs that focused on the needs and talents of young people. But what does YDP do, exactly, that’s so impressive? ...

Read more

“Don’t stop, because you have changed my life!”

“Don’t stop, because you have changed my life!”

Isaura Gómez has been our resident in Villa Victoria for the past 5 years. She transferred from a different housing location, not supported by IBA’s Resident Services Program, that lacked the facilities she needed as a disabled person, and faced isolation and indifference. We sat down with Isaura and she told us how today her life “is not gray anymore” [...], because she now lives in ...

Read more

The Gratitude We Feel at IBA

The Gratitude We Feel at IBA

During the month of November, we want to take the time to reflect on the work we do at IBA, and to express our gratitude for the generous and continued support of our donors. We are grateful for the partnerships and investments of both individual and corporate donations, grants, and supporter fundraising events that allow us to continue to elevate and strengthen our efforts to provide affordabl...

Read more