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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We're so excited to begin our anniversary year with one of our favorite community-centered events. In some Latin American countries and Spain, The Day of the Three Kings is quite the celebration. As Latinos, we make the most out of any excuse to gather and celebrate, and in Puerto Rico the Christmas Holidays are almost two months long. The excitement of Santa C...
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In recent weeks, the pendulum swing of the proposed GOP tax reform bill has bolstered uncertainty about the future state of our economy and how money will flow between municipalities, corporations, public and private institutions, and individuals across income levels. This monumental proposal comes at a pivotal time, as we embark on our 50th Anniversary year, and continue to reflect upo...
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Our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony is one of our community’s favorite traditions. It might have been a bit cold and rainy this year, but that didn’t stop residents and program participants alike from venturing to Plaza Betances to celebrate. Volunteers passed out hot chocolate and cookies while the musicians got the crowd in the holiday spirit. There was even a visit from Santa, whose dance moves d...
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On the heels of our 50th Anniversary Kick-Off event, which was recently held at Davio’s Italian Steakhouse, news of our exciting celebration and events program for the year ahead has been featured in The Boston Globe, South End News and El Planeta. Most recently, IBA CEO Vanessa Calderón-Rosado was featured in The Boston Globe...
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As Thanksgiving and the season of charity approaches, we’ve decided to look at this past year and reflect on everything we’ve accomplished. Here are ten things we’ve been fortunate enough to facilitate here at IBA: We rallied together after Hurricane María devastated Puerto Rico to created the ...
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In 1968, the city’s urban renewal plans for the South End threatened to displace the neighborhood’s hard-working Puerto Rican community and, with it, drastically diminish economic and cultural diversity. Advocating on behalf of their neighbors and families, a group of Puerto Rican activists founded IBA to preserve affordability and the right to thrive in the community they built from the ground up...
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