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Disproportionate Devastation: The Impact of Natural Disasters on Low-income Communities

Disproportionate Devastation: The Impact of Natural Disasters on Low-income Communities

Within a period of two weeks, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma swept through the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Texas and the Southeast, causing mass displacement, billions of dollars in damages, environmental contamination, the unfortunate loss of many lives and concern throughout our community, as many residents worried about the safety of their loved ones. Acco...

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Josean Ortiz: Married to the Theater

Josean Ortiz: Married to the Theater

Josean Ortiz loves to talk. As a producer, director, and an actor, he is certainly never at a loss of things to talk about. His hands fly around in excitement as he describes his upcoming work, two shows which feature only him on stage. While most would shy away from hour long monologues, Josean welcomes the pressure. We sat down with him to learn more about the inspiration behind ...

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New Program Gives Low-Income Families Access to Cultural Institutions

New Program Gives Low-Income Families Access to Cultural Institutions

On Wednesday, the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) introduced a program that will provide low-income residents with free or reduced admission to more than 100 venues in the state. Card to Culture provides the discounts to anyone with an Electronic Benefits Transfer Card, which currently includes 758,000 reside...

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Empowering Residents Through New Programing

Empowering Residents Through New Programing

In an effort to impart long-lasting financial security & success in our community, we recently introduced the improved College and Financial Empowerment Program (CaFe). Tiana Bonner, CaFe Director, is leading the change in the hopes that this new program will provide low-income families with the tools and knowledg...

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Beyond City Limits: The Affordable Housing Crisis in Rural America

Beyond City Limits: The Affordable Housing Crisis in Rural America

This year, we’ve explored the critical need to preserve the financial accessibility and socioeconomic diversity of Greater Boston, from policy to local activism. However, the cost of living is rising in many other U.S. communities, with resident...

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One Hood vs. BPD: Playing For Community

One Hood vs. BPD: Playing For Community

On a warm afternoon this past Friday, the Blackstone Community Center came to life as the One Hood All-Stars trickled onto their home court. Hip-Hop music underscored the excitement as players greeted each other with high fives and began to warm up. It’s hard to believe there was a time when these kids didn’t get along. Members of the Boston Police Department (BPD) showed up shortly after, out of ...

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A Changing Neighborhood: Gentrification in the South End

A Changing Neighborhood: Gentrification in the South End

Over the course of the past few decades, Boston has undergone extreme transformation, particularly in historic neighborhoods like the South End. As one of the oldest organizations in the area, IBA has had a front row seat to its changing landscape. Several large-scale developments are reshaping the South End, introducing more than ...

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Diversity, A Key to Success for Our Children

Diversity, A Key to Success for Our Children

Integrating diversity in our classrooms means more than enrolling students from a variety of multicultural backgrounds; it means, including lessons about their heritages, languages, and customs. When teachers create an environment that not only acknowledges diversity but celebrates what makes all of these cultures unique, then students can grow socially and academically with a bet...

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Housing Boston 2030: Where We Stand & What’s Next

Housing Boston 2030: Where We Stand & What’s Next

As we discussed in a recent blog post, local and national policy stands to significantly shape the future of affordable housing in Greater Boston. The ability – or inability – to successfully lower living costs and preserve accessibility for all residents will largely determine the socioeconomic and cultural fabric of our city as it c...

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One Hood: Forming Connections On & Off the Court

One Hood: Forming Connections On & Off the Court

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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2017: Mid-year Update on Affordable Housing

2017: Mid-year Update on Affordable Housing

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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Our Decades-Old Tradition Returns: Festival Betances 2017

Our Decades-Old Tradition Returns: Festival Betances 2017

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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“The Silent Crisis II”: The Importance of Equal Representation in Leadership

“The Silent Crisis II”: The Importance of Equal Representation in Leadership

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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A Wealth of Community Opportunities

A Wealth of Community Opportunities

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 Critical Role of After-school and Summer Learning Programs

The Critical Role of After-school and Summer Learning Programs

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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