On July 12th, we tipped-off our eleventh year of the One Hood Basketball League, providing a safe space for local teenagers to “just play ball and not worry,” as Angel Lopez, our One Hood Commissioner said. At first look, it may not seem that Boston’s neighborhood streets can be a “battleground” for some, but as former South End District Officer Jorge Dias explained, “It’s hard to be a good kid no...
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As we discussed in January, 2017 is and has so far proven to be a critical year for affordable housing. The decisions made by President Trump and his administration will have a significant impact on the housing market with important resources at risk, such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. On the municipal level, M...
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Nearly half a century ago, Latino members of the South End community decided to dedicate one July weekend to celebrating their heritage with music, dancing, food, and activities for all ages; and, over the years, what started as a neighborhood block party has grown into our ...
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Over the past few decades, Boston’s residential demographics have transformed drastically. According to Mayor Martin Walsh’s Imagine Boston 2030 report, more than half of today’s Boston residents are people of color – up from one-third in 1980. As Boston continues t...
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We’re constantly working to “empower and engage individuals and their families to improve their lives," and this past month we held two resource fairs in order to introduce opportunities that residents of all ages would enjoy. Last week, we held our first annual Academic and Career Fair in partnership with Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC), whose representatives offered educational and career a...
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The Trump Administration recently announced its first full budget for next year, which proposes to eliminate funding for 21st Century Learning Centers, that are federally funded academic enrichment centers for at-risk children attending high-poverty, low-performing schools. As an org...
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Students will be let out of school in the coming weeks and some parents are scrambling to find the right summer programs, camps, and daycares for their children; but our parents are at ease with our year-round Preschool. In fact, our teachers are excited for the unique opportunities for learning, parent-child bonding, cultural immersion, and field trips that come along with the warm weather. ...
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Founded by a group of Puerto Rican activists in 1968, IBA grew from efforts to fight displacement amidst gentrification in the South End. Through widespread civic engagement, we won the right to keep our neighborhood and build our homes, and have been able to uphold our vibrant culture in the community. With our history steeped in advocating for low-income families, we believe that activism is a c...
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It becomes increasingly more difficult to engage and build relationships with our youth nowadays, which is why we are so grateful to all of those who make our Youth Development Program (YDP) possible and provide a safe space for teens to grow. [caption id="attachment_8027" align="alignleft" width="300"]...
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This past Sunday, IBA CEO Vanessa Calderón-Rosado was featured in Channel 5’s award-winning urban news and feature magazine program “City Line,” in a segment focusing on the importance of funding for the arts. She was joined by Anita Walker, Executive Director of the ...
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Our Youth Development Programs (YDP) strives to empower students ages 13 - 19 years old by equipping them with the life skills and the support system they need to excel. Through workshops with a strong arts component, we have helped hundreds of youth find their voice and gain the confidence they need to make positive, impactful changes in their communities. That is why it is always a huge reward f...
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Healthy, sustainable communities often grow from environments that provide equal social and economic opportunities. For instance, according to a 2014 National Bureau of Economic Research report, upwardly mobile communities typically exhibit low income inequality, minimal racial and socioeconomic segregation, stable households and ...
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Every day parents and teachers are doing the best that they can to ensure that our young children have access to quality early education. That is why the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) celebrates “The Week of the Young Child” every year - to congratulate & emphasize the hard work done by families and educators all year round. Their joint efforts make NAEYC’s “...
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High-quality early education is critical to the well-being and future success of children, but high costs keep it out of reach for too many families. A recent report found that the average annual cost for full-day child care is $17,000 for infants and $13,000 for four-year-old children in Massachusetts, ma...
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Our Afterschool and Summer Learning Programs are doing their best to make an impact on the lives of elementary aged children in our community through focusing on their socio-emotional development as much as their academics, and no one understands the importance of this mission more than parents. That’s why we have made parent eng...
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