BLOG: APPLIED RESEARCH OF EMMANUEL GOSPEL CENTER

Emmanuel Gospel Center 7/8/24 Emmanuel Gospel Center 7/8/24

Christian Organizations Addressing Social Issues

This guide showcases organizations addressing some of the most pressing social issues. Their endeavors range from supporting vulnerable children and families to promoting environmental stewardship.

Photo credit: Matt Vasquez via Lightstock

by Rudy Mitchell, Senior Researcher

Boston is home to an array of initiatives dedicated to tackling social issues. Many churches and Christian organizations are at the forefront of addressing these needs. Some have been serving for decades. Others are new.

This guide showcases Christian organizations addressing some of the most pressing social issues. Their endeavors range from supporting vulnerable children and families to promoting environmental stewardship.

Organized into over a dozen categories, this guide lists many organizations engaged in this work. Whether you want to collaborate, network, volunteer, or learn more about what God is doing in our city, we hope this guide serves as a valuable resource.

This is not meant to be a comprehensive list. Don’t see a Christian organization you think should be included? Feel free to contact us to suggest any additions.

Christian Organizations Addressing Social Issues

Name

First Name

Last Name

Subject

Message

The Boston Project
“The mission is to engage and equip neighbors, volunteers, and congregations to build strong communities characterized by God’s shalom.
“Shalom means wholeness, peace, well-being, righteousness, and justice.”
The ministry applies “community-building strategies that include strengthening youth and families, developing leaders, multiplying collaborations, and investing in corner-by-corner transformation resulting in a more green, healthy, safe, connected, and economically-empowered neighborhood.”
For more on their youth programs, see "Youth" below.
- Website: tbpm.org
- Email: tbpm.org/contact
- Phone: (617) 929-0925
- Location: 15 Elmhurst St., Dorchester, MA 02124
Cory Johnson Program for Post Traumatic Healing
“The Cory Johnson Program for Post Traumatic Healing is a Christ-inspired, community-based, clinically-supported 501c3 program of the Roxbury Presbyterian Church Social Impact Center that offers a peer-centered approach to addressing post-traumatic stress in urban neighborhoods.” The program fosters connections and empowers individuals to take active roles in helping themselves and others heal. The main outreach of the Cory Johnson Program is the Can We Talk Network, which has several sites in Boston.
- Can We Talk Roxbury: “This program component offers a safe, sacred space for people to share their stories of trauma, loss, grief, and hope in words, poetry, or song. Artists in residence offer their creative expressions, and Community Companions offer support. It is a place for listening, and people experience individual and community healing.” Other support groups are also available.
  - Contact: Danielle McFarlane, dmcfarlane@rpcsic.org
  - Location: Roxbury Presbyterian Church, 328 Warren St., Boston, MA 02119
- Codman Square Can We Talk? A partnership with the Boston Project Ministries, Life Church Boston, Second Church of Dorchester, and Neighborhood Church of Dorchester. “Codman Square Can We Talk? is a safe place to share your story and have your voice heard and welcomed. It is a community-based, clinically-supported program that increases awareness and understanding of trauma, offers mental health resources, and a safe environment for what can at times be painful conversations to occur.”
  - Website: tbpm.org/community/codman-square-can-we-talk/
  - Phone: Contact through The Boston Project by dialing 617-929-0925 or emailing Maridena Rojas, maridena@tbpm.org
  - Location: Community Room, 86 Southern Ave., Dorchester
  - Also: Anointed Fire Church, 777 Washington St., Dorchester; Contact: Tony Fernandes, tonya_f@hotmail.com
- Peace by Piece: Fourth Presbyterian Church
  - Contact: Lauren Basler, laurenabasler@gmail.com
  - Contact: Rev. Burns Stanfield, bstanfield@hds.harvard.edu
  - Location: 340 Dorchester St., South Boston, MA 02127 and 5 O’Connor Way, South Boston, MA 02127
- Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Boston (Common Cathedral)
  - Contact: Rev. Carrington Moore, carrington@commoncathedral.org
  - Location: 15 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116
Boston Trauma Healing Collaborative
“The vision of Boston Trauma Healing Collaborative is to develop an integrated strategy that draws from the strengths of current trauma healing programs (both locally and nationally), to train and equip churches and communities to become more trauma-informed as they respond to wounded people and unacceptable realities that are often rooted in trauma. . . .
“This integrated strategy includes a collaborative effort between BTHC, as a local partner with the American Bible Society and the Trauma Healing Institute, and the Cory Johnson Program for Post-Traumatic Healing and their Can We Talk… Network, which will help encourage churches and non-profit organizations to work together to bring healing to those wounded by trauma.”
- Website: bostoncollaborative.org/boston-trauma-healing-collaborative
Others
- American Bible Society Trauma Healing: ministry.americanbible.org/trauma-healing
- Trauma Healing Institute: traumahealinginstitute.org
- Cory Johnson Program for Post-Traumatic Healing: rpcsocialimpactctr.org
- Can We Talk… Network: canwetalknetwork.org
Hagar’s Sisters
“For an individual who has experienced the life-shattering effect of domestic abuse, Hagar’s Sisters is a non-profit organization that offers holistic services that empower them to find healing and a new healthy way of life that is free from abuse.”
- Website: hagarssisters.org
Boston Education Collaborative
The Boston Education Collaborative (BEC) is an initiative of the Emmanuel Gospel Center which recruits, trains, and connects church volunteers with underserved schools to address disparities in educational opportunities.
The BEC “empowers churches, schools and non-profits to support underserved urban students. BEC helps students thrive in all areas of life by nurturing and supporting church-school partnerships; facilitating and encouraging neighborhood-focused involvement; engaging in systems level work; and participating in broader networking, coaching, and learning opportunities.”
- Leadership: Ruth Wong, director
- Website: egc.org/education
- Email: rwong@egc.org
- Phone: (617) 262-4567
Boston Higher Education Resource Center (at Congregación León de Judá)
Mission: “The Boston Higher Education Resource Center (HERC) functions to equip first-generation youth of color to access and thrive in higher education, to break the cycle of poverty, and to become agents of change in our communities.”
The Passport Curriculum is designed to equip 11th and 12th-grade students to navigate the college admissions process and the college world successfully while gaining and developing their academic and leadership skills. The center offers both in-school programs and a community-based program at 62 Northampton St. These programs are far more extensive than typical after-school tutoring programs.
- Leadership: Carolina De Jesus, CEO; Junardy Jean-Charles, Passport to College Program Director
- Website: bostonherc.org
- Email: info@bostonherc.org and infopassport@bostonherc.org
- Phone: (617) 221-6495
- Location: HERC, 62 Northampton St., Boston, MA 02118
American Chinese Christian Educational & Social Services, Inc. (ACCESS)
Mission: “ACCESS seeks to empower, encourage, & motivate immigrants to build confidence, gain skills, and the ability to make positive changes within their own lives.”
Vision: “We want to see our Chinatown neighbors thriving and building bridges across languages, cultures, and generations in God's love.”
Their programs include K-5th grade enrichment afterschool and summer programs, adult fitness as well as arts and crafts programs in Tai Tung Village.
- Leadership: Pasang Drolma, executive director; Annie Tran, director of children and families
- Website: chinatownaccess.org
- Email: info@chinatownaccess.org
- Phone: (617)-426-1070
- Location: 244 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02111
Victory Generation
Victory Generation Programs of the Black Ministerial Alliance/Ten Point, a network of faith-based, out-of-school educational enrichment programs.
Mission: “Our mission is to empower and strengthen out-of-school program leaders and their staff who serve as role models and the front-line to the children and families we wish to serve. In addition to building impactful and qualifiable programs for students, we also provide workshops and training to empower parents in advocating for their children and fostering positive school relationships.”
- Leadership: Rochelle Jones, director of education
- Website: bmatenpoint.org/victory-generation
- Email: info@bmaboston.org
- Phone: (617) 445-2737
“Victory Generation directly aids out-of-school programs dedicated to nurturing, strengthening, and enhancing the social, emotional, and cognitive development of Boston's youth aged 5 – 12. As an intermediary, we support our affiliated programs by enhancing their organizational and programmatic capabilities. Our assistance includes networking, financial aid, professional development workshops, and technical guidance.”
- Sites
  - Twelfth Baptist Church After-School
    Leadership: Darryl Simpson, program director
    Website: tbcboston.org
    Email: dsimpson@tbcboston.org
    Phone: (617) 427-5158; main line: (617) 442-7855, ext. 121
    Location: 160 Warren St., Roxbury, MA 02119
    Hours: Monday - Friday, 2-6 p.m.
  - Greenwood Shalom After School Program (a Victory Generation site)
    Greenwood Shalom offers a range of enriching activities designed to engage and inspire students. These include tutoring, homework assistance, interactive online learning using Lexia, art, music, STEM projects, physical fitness, social emotional support, field trips, play, and test prep.
- Programs
  - After-school enrichment program for children ages 5 to 13.
  - Summer enrichment program
  - English Language Arts Bootcamp: A full day program in February vacation week.
  - Math Bootcamp: A full day program during April vacation week.
  - Saturday Online Academy (10 a.m. - noon): Designed to uplift and empower students who may face barriers to traditional academic and emotional support.
  - Healing Hearts Club Camp: A transformative five-day program designed to provide healing and support for children ages 8 to 13 who have experienced trauma.
- Contact information
  - Coordinators: Sasha Desrosiers and Jennifer Merren
  - Website: greenwood-outreach.org
  - Email: greenwoodshalom@gmail.com
  - Phone: (617) 282-1464
  - Location: 378 Washington St., #A, Dorchester, 02124. (The entrance is on Dakota Street.)
St. Stephen’s Youth Programs
Mission: “To promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in education, employment and opportunity through long-term relationships with youth and their families and communities.”
- Programs
  - B Ready
    Afterschool enrichment program for students grades 1-12. See ssypboston.org/bready for more details.
  - B Safe
    “Summer enrichment program - provides a safe, fun, academically enriching environment for 650 students each year. We run B-SAFE at our year-round sites in the South End and Lower Roxbury and at four additional sites in Dorchester, Mattapan, and Chelsea.
  - Intergenerational Organizing
    This program “equips young people to become agents of change and helps them to organize their neighbors, parents, and peers to address the issues of that disproportionately impact their communities” (such as gun violence).
- Contact information
  - Leadership: Inés Palmarin, executive director; Eva Ortez, chaplain
  - Website: ssypboston.org
  - Email: info@ststephensbos.org
  - Phone: (617) 262-9070
- Sites
  - South End: St. Stephen’s Church at 419 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 02118
  - Lower Roxbury: The Church of St. Augustine and St. Martin at 31 Lenox St., Boston 02118
Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light
“Mission:
• To educate people on why climate change is a matter of morality and justice.
• To foster public understanding of policies that will lead to a sustainable future.
• To work with faith communities and their members to be better environmental stewards of their buildings by providing technical expertise and assessing ways they can lower their carbon emissions and save money.”
- Website: massipl.org
- Email: info@MassIPL.org
- Phone: 617-244-0755
- Address: P. O. Box 600163, Newton, MA 02460
Better Future Project
Better Future Project builds grassroots power to advance a rapid transition beyond fossil fuels. Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW), a program of Better Future Project, is Better Future Project's network of local leaders building grassroots climate resilience. In 2023, CREW sponsored the Interfaith Summit, How to Respond to Climate Change.
- Rev. Vernon Walker, former director
- Location: 30 Bow St., Cambridge, MA 02138
Boston Faith & Justice Network
Boston Faith & Justice Network, as part of one of its online book club discussion series, has focused on how we as Christians are called to climate justice. See the BFJN website for recommended resources and readings.
- Leadership: Elizabeth Grady-Harper, executive director
- Website: bostonfaithjustice.org/learn
- Email: info@bostonfaithjustice.org
Fostering Hope
“Fostering Hope empowers churches and individuals to care for children and families impacted by foster care.
Our vision is the dream of a day when ZERO children in foster care are waiting for a safe and supported family to care for them. This initiative is called Project ZERO. “
- Leadership: Jonathan Reid, founder and director
- Website: fosteringhope.org
- Email: info@fosteringhope.org
- Phone: (401) 524-0949
Initiative on Health, Religion, and Spirituality
Although this organization is not independent, it addresses the important relationship between spiritual care and spirituality to medical care and physical health. The initiative is centered at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health.
It aims “to study and implement ways to better integrate religion and spirituality into the practice of medicine and public health. It seeks to discover individual and social connections of spirit, mind, and body within the healthcare context. Advancement of spirituality research is energized by the practical concern that new discoveries from spiritual and religious resources will yield significant new gains in alleviating illness and promoting human flourishing.”
Some of the studies are relevant to end-of-life spiritual care.
Faculty leaders include Dr. Tracy Balboni, Dr. Michael Balboni, Ms. Laura Tuach, and Dr. Tyler VanderWeele.
- Website: projects.iq.harvard.edu/rshm/home
- Email: xavier_symons@hsph.harvard.edu (Xavier Symons, administrator)
- Location: 12 Arrow St., Cambridge, MA, 02138
Boston Health Care Fellowship and Longwood Christian Community
“Our vision is to reunite faith and healthcare in line with God's intention of bringing healing to the world. To that end, we exist to make disciples of Jesus among those in the biomedical science and healthcare community in Boston for the glory of God.”
- Website: healthcarefellowship.org
- Email: boston@healthcarefellowship.org
- Location: Boston Healthcare Fellowship, Longwood Medical Area, Boston, MA 02120
Christian Medical and Dental Society
The Christian Medical and Dental Society “has over 340 healthcare campus ministries as well as over 80 community ministries. Along with encouraging students to live out the character of Christ on their campuses, they help Christian healthcare professionals connect with each other through local ministries.”
- Campus chapters
Housing Justice
Boston Rescue Mission
“The Boston Rescue Mission transforms lives by empowering individuals experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of becoming homeless to achieve and sustain life skills necessary to become more self-sufficient.
“We operate an emergency overnight shelter every year. We offer healthy and hearty meals, basic necessities, and bathroom and shower facilities. We provide sober living and life growth shelter communities for men in recovery transitioning from homelessness to independent living.
“Our mission is to
- Offer resources that prevent and end homelessness
- Support the recovery, health, faith, and independence of those with a history of substance use, incarceration, and homelessness
- Raise awareness about the root causes of homelessness, addiction, and incarceration
- Serve our guests and residents and each other with respect, integrity, and grace
- Continue to learn, grow, and excel in our services
- Be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us by our supporters”
- Contact information
- Website: brm.org
- Email: info@brm.org
- Phone: (617) 338-9000
- Location: 39 Kingston St., Boston, MA 02111
- Veterans’ House: 173 Humboldt Ave., Dorchester, MA 02121
Faith Leaders for Housing Justice
“A coalition of Boston area faith leaders collecting and sharing information and stories about issues facing people with housing insecurity.”
The group is involved in several practical ministries. Leaders include Art Davies, Rev. June Cooper, Sara Mitchell, Jennifer McCracken, Amanda Grant Rose, and Phil Jones. They are working in partnership with the Boston Faith & Justice Network.
- Website: bostonfaithjustice.org/fl4hj/
Send Relief: Boston Ministry Center's Friendship Initiative
“The Friendship Initiative of the Boston Ministry Center seeks to build friendships with neighbors experiencing homelessness. It begins with sharing a meal, engaging in constructive conversations and transforming lives through fulfilling relationships.”
- Leadership: Andrew Montoya, coordinator
- Website: sendrelief.org/projects/boston-ministry-center/
- Phone: (401) 443-6839
- Location: Boston Ministry Center, 88 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02108
MANNA (Many Angels Needed Now and Always)
MANNA is a “ministry of and with the unhoused community in downtown Boston. Through MANNA, we seek not only to welcome folks across differences of class, wealth, culture, race and mental ability, but also to empower all people to claim their place as essential members of our community. We all have gifts to give and to receive. We need each other. And this is why we gather each week to serve, to pray, and to create together.”
Mission statement: “To provide a space for spiritual refuge and flourishing; To build a community of genuine belonging with the unhoused and unstably housed of Boston.”
- Leadership: Rev. Jennifer McCracken, contact and lead pastor
- Website: mannaboston.org
- Email: mannaboston.org/contact
- Location: St. Paul’s Cathedral, 138 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02111
- Hours of ministries:
  - Gathering of friends over coffee and worship service (Sundays, 8:30 - 11 a.m.)
  - Lunch and worship service (Mondays, 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
  - Black Seed Writers Group (Tuesdays, 9:30 - 10:45 a.m.)
  - Quiet Meditation (Tuesdays, 11 a.m. - noon)
Miracle Mile Ministries
"Miracle Mile Ministries is a Boston, MA based Christian ministry devoted to a sustained, deliberate, and strategic response to the area we call ‘Miracle Mile’ (a roughly 2-square-mile area in the South End of Boston often referred to as ‘Mass & Cass’ or ‘Methadone Mile’).
“It is led by a core group of four Boston area Lead Churches (Congregación León de Judá, Antioch Community Church Brighton, Cornerstone Church, and Symphony Church) but involves a universe of a dozen or so churches and parachurch ministries from throughout Boston's neighboring communities who faithfully support this effort week after week.”
Saturday ministries include breakfast, prayer, clothing distribution, counseling and referral, and street outreach.
- Website: miraclemileministries.com
- Email: cljstreetministry@gmail.com
- Saturdays at 9 a.m. (volunteers arrive at 8 a.m.)
- Location: Congregación León de Judá, 62 Northampton St., Boston, MA 02119
Winter Walk
Winter Walk is a non-profit organization raising awareness and funds to end homelessness in our communities. It centers on an annual walk, 2 miles around the streets of the city in February, one of the coldest months of the year. The Winter Walk raises awareness and funds for 25 non-profit organizations working to alleviate suffering and address the root causes that give rise to homelessness. It helps fund St. Francis House, Common Cathedral, and the Manna Community. Also, various church groups have participated in Winter Walk.
- Website: winterwalk.org
- Email: info@winterwalk.org
Women’s Lunch Place
Although not specifically a Christian organization, Women’s Lunch Place operates at the Church of the Covenant at 67 Newbury St. in Boston.
- Leadership: Jennifer Hanlon Wigon, executive director
- Website: womenslunchplace.org
- Email: info@womenslunchplace.org
- Phone: 617-267-1722
Affordable Housing
Greater Boston Interfaith Organization
“The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO), founded in 1998, is a broad-based organization that works for the public good by coalescing, training, and organizing people across religious, racial, ethnic, class, and neighborhood lines.” “Our mission is to build power by developing local leaders so we can act together on issues that matter to our communities.”
Housing Justice Campaign
“This comprehensive, multi-pronged, statewide Housing Justice campaign addresses challenges to safe and dignified public housing, affordable rental and homeownership, and access to supportive housing for citizens returning housing justice and other issues.”
- Leadership: Allie Gardner, chief of staff, (608) 630-3041; Kathleen Patron, executive director
- Website: gbio.org
- Email: office@gbio.org
- Mailing address: GBIO, P.O. Box 190892, Roxbury, MA 02119
- Location: GBIO, 1803 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA 02124
Habitat for Humanity
“Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston’s homeownership program provides homeownership opportunities to families without the financial means to purchase a home through traditional methods. By utilizing volunteer labor, sweat equity, and donated supplies and funds, Habitat Greater Boston can build and sell homes at an affordable price to first-time homebuyers.” Since its founding, the organization has used its model to build more than 120 homes in Dorchester, Roxbury, and other neighborhoods.
- Website: habitatboston.org
- Phone: 617-423-2223
- Location: 434 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 201, Boston, MA 02118
Amirah
Mission: “Amirah exists to provide a refuge for those seeking to break free from exploitation and heal in community on their journey toward lasting hope. “ “Amirah exists to provide exit and aftercare opportunities to women exiting the commercial sex trade.”
Amirah’s “supportive services include comprehensive case management, economic stability planning, housing navigation, support groups, individual coaching, and peer care navigation. We provide supportive services to clients living in our residential program, those housed in other local housing programs, and clients housed independently or seeking housing placement.”
Amirah also has a rapid rehousing program, a community resource center, and education programs.
- Leadership: Mary Speta, executive director
- Website: amirahinc.org
- Email: info@amirahinc.org
- Phone: (781)-462-1758
- Location: 100 Cummings Ctr, Suite 204-J, Beverly, MA 01915 (office)
Route One Ministry
“The mission of Route One Ministry is to serve sexually exploited and trafficked women by entering strip clubs and building relationships with the women who work in the clubs. We also strive to equip the local church, and community leaders with the tools they need to understand trafficking, identify vulnerable people, and respond in the most healthy ways to those who have experienced sexual abuse.”
- Leadership: Bonnie Gatchell, executive director
- Website: lovedbyrouteone.org
- Email: info@lovedbyrouteone.org
Send Relief: Boston Ministry Center’s Beloved Initiative
“The Beloved Initiative is an effort to serve human trafficking and sexual abuse survivors as they are brought into safe community with opportunities to be mentored and empowered to embrace new identities in Christ.” This ministry is a part of the Boston Ministry Center.
- Leadership: John Ames, director
- Website: sendrelief.org/projects/boston-ministry-center/
- Phone: (401) 443-6839
- Location: Boston Ministry Center, 88 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02108
Harbor Christian Counseling
“Harbor Christian Counseling provides clinically skilled, biblically informed, gospel driven counseling services for individuals, couples, children and families in the Greater Boston area. Our team also seeks to partner with local churches to provide training and resources that promote a more effective and compassionate ministry to mental health issues within the church.”
- Leadership: Matt Warren, executive director
- Website: harborchristiancounseling.com
- Phone: (617) 299-6516
- Location: 874 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02215
Boston Faith & Justice Network
"The Boston Faith & Justice Network brings Christians from many traditions together to move from personal religious commitment to transformative action against poverty and oppression. We foster a dialogue about money and responsibility while presenting opportunities for practical lifestyle shifts and justice-oriented engagement. Economic discipleship—following Jesus with our money—is one of the foundations of our vision for Christ-centered just living."
- Leadership: Elizabeth Grady-Harper, executive director
- Website: bostonfaithjustice.org
- Email: info@bostonfaithjustice.org
Massachusetts Poor People's Campaign
The Poor People's Campaign, a national ecumenical and interfaith anti-poverty campaign, seeks to confront the interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the denial of health care, militarism and the expansion of the war economy, and the false narratives of religious extremism and white supremacy. Cynthia Parker is one of the local Massachusetts organizers.
- Website: poorpeoplescampaign.org/committee/massachusetts
- Email: massachusetts@poorpeoplescampaign.org
Emmanuel Gospel Center (EGC): The Race & Christian Community Initiative (RCCI)
RCCI collaborates across racial lines to foster shalom between individuals, communities, and systems damaged by racism. “RCCI works toward this vision by equipping Christians in Greater Boston to engage issues of race in ways that honor the image of God in all people and nurture the righteousness and justice Jesus desires for our communities.”
RCCI “provide[s] biblically-based discipleship so white evangelical communities can experience — and contribute to — healing from the sin of racism.” RCCI “also work[s] with BIPOC Christians who desire to see transformation in white evangelical communities and the body of Christ at large.”
The ministry includes action communities, learning community cohort groups, experiential education, workshops, and coaching. Resource lists, articles, and books are also available.
- Leadership: Megan Lietz, director
- Website: egc.org/race and egc.org/race-resources
- Email: mlietz@egc.org
- Phone: (617) 262-4567
- Location: EGC, 44 Moultrie St., Dorchester, MA 02124
Be the Bridge
“Our vision is that people and organizations are aware and respond to the racial brokenness and systemic injustice in our world. That we are no longer conditioned by a racialized society but are grounded in truth. That all are equipped to flourish.”
During 2020 and 2021, UniteBoston launched a “Be the Bridge” Zoom group, where 28 people engaged in weekly conversation with Latasha Morrison’s “Be the Bridge” curriculum. Although this is a national organization, a number of Boston area churches have started “Be the Bridge” groups and used the curriculum.
- Website: bethebridge.com
- Email: info@bethebridge.com
Awaken City Church: Immigrant Connection
"Immigrant Connection is dedicated to building a community of inclusion.
"By providing low-cost legal services to eligible immigrants to secure permanent residency and citizenship, our hope is that they will experience greater access to employment, education, housing, and health services. Our entire community and economy benefit when individuals experience stability and opportunities.
"Immigrant Connection (IC) is recognized by the Department of Justice, and our services include legal representation for green cards and citizenship, petitions for survivors of domestic violence or violent crimes, family-based petitions, temporary protected status, consular processing, work authorization applications, and DACA renewal applications."
- Website: awakenboston.org/immigrant
Emmanuel Gospel Center (EGC): Intercultural Ministries
“Intercultural Ministries (IM) supports immigrant leaders' work in grassroots organizations tuned in to community needs. We leverage our volunteer and church networks, offering thought partnership as our partners share their concerns and make strategic connections to support our partners' priorities. We network, train, and consult to promote effective intercultural ministry and international mission networks in and out of Greater Boston.”
- Leadership: Sarah Blumenshine, director; Gregg Detwiler, consultant
- Website: egc.org/intercultural
- Email: sblumenshine@egc.org
- Location: EGC, 44 Moultrie St., Dorchester, MA 02124
Mygration Christian Conference
“We exist to explore God's heart through stories of migration.”
“We believe that the Bible's stories are our stories, and that through the exploration of these stories we can come to a greater understanding of how Christians can positively and proactively respond to the migration crisis in our world today.”
Mygration Christian Conference sponsors an in-person and online conference each summer and provides educational webinars and resources throughout the year.
- Leadership: Daniel Montañez, founder and director
- Website: mygrationchristianconference.com
- Email: MygrationChristianConference@gmail.com
UniteBoston: “A Sanctuary for Strangers”
“We want to help every church, big and small, to feel equipped to address the migrant crisis and mobilize their church to ACT. We have put together a full preaching package complete with designs, multimedia content, sermon examples, and more, to help churches recognize Migrant Sunday across Boston effectively.”
- Leadership: Rev. Kelly Fassett, executive director; Rev. Devlin Scott, managing director
- Website: uniteboston.com/a-sanctuary-for-strangers-understand-believe-act/
- Mailing address: UniteBoston, P.O. Box 961162, Boston, MA 02196
Agencia Alpha
“Our mission is to improve the quality of life of immigrants in Massachusetts by empowering our community members to become leaders, overcome social challenges, and fight against xenophobia. As an immigrant-led, grassroots organization, we work in three areas: community organizing, legalization, & citizenship services.”
Some of Agencia Alpha’s many services include:
- Immigration advice and consulting
- Family petitions and adjustment of status
- Temporary Protection Status (TPS)
- Work permit renewals
- Free citizenship application assistance
- Citizenship classes (Boston/East Boston)
- Interpretation and translation services
Agencia Alpha has also worked with the Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative.
- Leadership: Patricia Sobalvarro, executive director; Damaris Velasquez, program director; Vilma Galvez, legalization program director
- Website: agenciaalpha.org
- Email: info@agenciaalpha.org
- Phone: (617) 522-6382
- Location: Congregación León de Judá, 62 Northampton St., Boston, MA 02118
True Alliance Center
True Alliance Center is a faith-based charitable organization that seeks to promote advocacy in the Haitian community related to education, housing, immigration, health, and economic development. The Center advocates for positive change, educates its constituents about their rights and opportunities, provides assistance, and develops partnerships.
- Leadership: Rev. Keke Fleurissaint, director
- Website: truealliancecenter.org
- Email: dieufortnfs@gmail.com or tacempower@gmail.com
- Phone: (617) 749-6947
- Location: 1550 Blue Hill Ave., Mattapan, MA 02126
Send Relief: Boston Ministry Center’s Geneva Initiative
“The Geneva Initiative of the Boston Ministry Center mobilizes churches to receive refugees and international families in healthy and loving ways, inviting them into a supportive community and connecting them with opportunities in their new home country.”
- Website: sendrelief.org/projects/boston-ministry-center
- Phone: (401) 443-6839
- Location: Boston Ministry Center, 88 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02108
The Boston Project
“The mission is to engage and equip neighbors, volunteers, and congregations to build strong communities characterized by God’s shalom.
“Shalom means wholeness, peace, well-being, righteousness, and justice.”
The ministry applies “community-building strategies that include strengthening youth and families, developing leaders, multiplying collaborations, and investing in corner-by-corner transformation resulting in a more green, healthy, safe, connected, and economically-empowered neighborhood.”
- Youth ministry: The Boston Project partners with Young Life Boston. Along with others, Christian and Mary Grant serve as staff for both organizations.
- Day program: “The Elmhurst Park Program aims to keep neighborhood children engaged by fostering a safe environment where they can grow as a person and develop friendships.” This is a free, summer day program from 12:30 – 4 p.m.
- Mental health: “The Mental Health Ambassadors program brings together teenagers who are passionate about supporting teen mental health. Together, the MHA team works to decrease the stigma, educate their peers and community about mental health, and create innovative spaces for self-care and healing.”
- Life coaching: LevelUp Life Coaching “provides teens with a personal life coach, a caring mentor trained to help them create, achieve, and celebrate their goals.”
- Summer employment
  - Artists in Action: “In collaboration with professional artists, young people bring shalom (peace, justice, healing, wholeness) through visual art pieces benches, murals, sculptures) and performances (music, drama, spoken word, and dance) in our community.”
  - Healthy Youth Champions: In this summer program, “youth work at urban farms and gardens, learn how to cook nutritious snacks and meals, assess community health resources, and educate their peers and children in healthy lifestyle habits such as exercise, self-care, and healthy eating.”
The Boston Project also offers leadership development programs and teen jobs.
- Website: tbpm.org
- Email: tbpm.org/contact
- Phone: (617) 929-0925
- Location: 15 Elmhurst St., Dorchester, MA 02124
Black Ministerial Alliance / Ten Point Coalition
Mission: "to build the capacity of Black churches and ministry leaders to support the empowerment of our youth and families and strengthen the Health and well-being of their surrounding communities."
The Ten Point Coalition works collaboratively to end patterns of violence in Boston. It seeks to foster cooperation between faith-based organizations and leaders in citywide-crime-reduction efforts and youth intervention.
- Contact information
  - Leadership: Rev. David Wright, executive director
  - Website: bmatenpoint.org
  - Email: info@bmaboston.org
  - Phone: (617) 445-2737
  - Location: 2010 Columbus Ave. (Lower Level), Roxbury, MA 02119
- Programs
  - Victory Generation out-of-school programs – see above
  - Vacation Bible School: In partnership with churches
  - Teen Café: Activities and work opportunities to prevent youth violence
  - Community Wellness: Seeks to improve health outcomes and eliminate disparities
Boston Faith and Justice Network
Mission: “The Boston Faith & Justice Network brings Christians together to live simply and give generously in pursuit of a just world.”
- Principles:
  - Working for justice: “Christians have a Biblical call to be at the front lines of transformative action against injustice.”
  - Practicing economic discipleship: “Economic Discipleship is what BFJN calls the process of following Jesus with our money.”
  - Engaging in Community: “Through our Lazarus at the Gate small group study, BFJN encourages open discussions about wealth, poverty, and Christian responsibility to meet the needs of the suffering and vulnerable.”
- Programs
  - Service: The “Micah 6:8 programs offer multi-day experiences for those wishing to explore deeply the concepts of justice and generosity in their own lives.”
  - Bible study: Lazarus at the Gate is an eight-week Bible study that challenges participants to understand the Biblical foundation for generosity, simple living and just consumption. BFJN also offers shorter Lazarus at the Gate workshops.
- Contact information
  - Leadership: Elizabeth Grady-Harper, executive director
  - Website: bostonfaithjustice.org
  - Email: info@bostonfaithjustice.org
Emmanuel Gospel Center (EGC)
EGC “is a nonprofit Christian organization dedicated to supporting the work of passionate individuals, ministries, and organizations seeking to positively impact critical issues in the city. Our collaborative approach aims to create a more equitable, connected, and thriving community for all Bostonians.”
- Website: egc.org
- Phone: (617) 262-4567
- Location: 44 Moultrie St. Dorchester, MA 02124
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 240017, Dorchester, MA 02124
The Salvation Army Boston Kroc Center
The Kroc Center offers fitness equipment and instruction, an aquatics center with a pool, climbing wall, gym, group exercise, youth programs, culinary arts training, programs for seniors, and many other classes.
The Youth programs include F.E.A.S.T., which stands for “Food, Enrichment, Arts, Spiritual Development and Teaching.”
“Kids F.E.A.S.T is a children's out-of-school program that aims to provide a relaxed, safe, Christian environment where children experience God’s unconditional love, learn valuable biblical stories, develop appropriate social behavior, discover new skills, pursue interests, utilize talents, make new friends, and have lots of fun.
“Youth ages 6-12 have the opportunity to receive tutoring and mentoring, spiritual development, social and emotional skill development, fitness fun and enrichment activities.”
- Website: easternusa.salvationarmy.org/boston-kroc
- Email: BOKInfo@use.salvationarmy.org
- Phone: (617) 318-6900
- Location: 650 Dudley St., Boston, MA 02125
UniteBoston
UniteBoston sees its role is to “create opportunities for ‘beloved community’ to emerge, one that leans into our diversities, nurtures belonging for all of God’s children, models redemptive power dynamics, and works together to nurture shalom across historic divides. As we nurture kinship relations among diverse siblings in Christ, we believe our self-giving love for each other will be a collective witness to the reconciling power of the gospel.”
- Leadership: Kelly Fassett, executive director; Rev. Devlin Scott, managing director
- Website: uniteboston.com
- Email: info@uniteboston.com
- Mailing address: UniteBoston, P.O. Box 961162, Boston, MA 02196
Boston Collaborative
“Christians are serving generously in every sector of Boston. The Boston Collaborative is helping them work together to achieve the greatest impact.
“Our dream is to see communities transformed and Christians known as redemptive change agents in Boston.”
The Boston Collaborative focuses on the Boston Trauma Healing Collaborative, Pastors Praying Together, Boston Flourish, and Returning Citizens.
- Leadership: Jua Robinson, executive director
- Website: bostoncollaborative.org
- Email: info@bostoncollaborative.org
- Phone: (617) 804-6195
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 365988, Hyde Park, MA 02136
The Boston Project
See above for details of programs. Other programs of community organizing and promoting community and individual well-being involve adults as well as youth.
- Leadership: Paul Malkemes, executive director
- Website: tbpm.org
- Phone: (617) 929-0925 (general); (617) 318-6937 (ministry and church)
- Location: 15 Elmhurst St., Dorchester, MA 02124
Greater Boston Nazarene Compassionate Center
The goal of the Center is “to provide relief and opportunity to the most vulnerable, distressed and underprivileged, undeserved, under-represented people of the greater Boston area, with a particular emphasis on the Haitian community, immigrants and youth in Mattapan, Dorchester and vicinity.”
- Objectives
  - “To enable limited English speaking adults to access skill building programs and basic services to stabilize families, and develop marketable skills that position them for success.”
  - “To mobilize the community to address critical issues and opportunities that affect Haitians in Greater Boston.”
  - “To provide high quality education and support services that effectively advance youth along the ‘educational pipeline’ from elementary, middle, and high school through college graduation.”
The Center operates a large food pantry, a workforce readiness initiative, education programs, refugee ministries, and a youth arts and culture program.
- Leadership: Rev. Dr. Pierre-Louis Zephir, executive director
- Website: https://www.gbncc.org/
- Email: info@gbncc.org
- Phone: (617) 506-6161
- Location: 130 River St., Mattapan, MA 02126
Send Relief: Boston Ministry Center
“In the heart of Boston, this Send Relief ministry center is dedicated to functioning as a catalytic hub for restorative ministry in and around the city. The center is committed to working alongside local ministries and through the local church to see communities strengthened to the glory of God.”
“The Boston ministry center is committed to resourcing local churches, renewing ministry workers and families and restoring communities in need across the city. We do this through three initiatives: The Friendship Initiative (relating to homelessness), The Beloved Initiative (relating to human trafficking), and the Geneva Initiative (relating to refugees & international families). See categories above for more detail).
- Leadership: John Ames, director
- Website: sendrelief.org/projects/boston-ministry-center
- Phone: (401) 443-6839
- Location: Boston Ministry Center, 88 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02108
This section highlights some organizations that, while not explicitly Christian, are doing meaningful work with churches and faith-based groups to address social issues.
City of Boston's Faith-Based Monthly Community Meetings and Newsletter
- Leadership: William Dickerson III, City of Boston, Senior Advisor of Faith-Based Initiatives; Kenneth Moales, assistant
- Email: william.dickerson2@boston.gov; kenneth.moales@boston.gov
- Phone: (617) 308-7609
Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence
“Our Mission: The Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence brings together impacted communities, advocates, public health experts and policy-makers to prevent gun violence in all its forms. Because we recognize that gun violence is a public health emergency exacerbated by economic disparity and systemic racism, we address those root causes through education, policy analysis, trauma informed advocacy, and by amplifying the voices of impacted individuals and communities.”
“Our Approach: Directed by survivors and member organizations, we seek to strengthen legislation, gun safety practices, research, and funding for community based solutions to create a Commonwealth that is free from gun violence. The Coalition engages in this work through four main avenues: Education, Advocacy, Community Organizing, and Member Support. Many faith-based partners (including EGC) are a part of the coalition.”
- Leadership: Ruth Zakarin, executive director; Mark Scott, president of the board of directors
- Website: mapreventgunviolence.org
- Email: info@mapreventgunviolence.org

Boston Housing: Facts and Resources

As we begin 2019, housing is a hot topic in every corner of Boston. Get oriented with some basic data about housing realities and resources in Boston.

Editor’s note: This resource was updated with the most recent research in May 2022.

Boston Housing: Data & Resource Guide

by Rudy Mitchell, Senior Researcher

Housing remains a critical and controversial community issue in Boston.

In the “Boston Housing Facts and Resources” guide below, we have compiled a list of resources with the latest information on housing data and plans, demographics, innovative models, organizations working in housing-related justice, and the mayor's Housing Innovation Lab.

Boston Housing Facts and Resources

Basic Facts

Total number of housing units in Boston: 301,702 (2020 Decennial Census)
Occupied units: 91.5% (276,057)
Vacant units: 8.5% (25,645)
Rental vacancy rate: less than 3%
Owner-occupied units in Boston: 96,502 (35.3%) (2016-2020 ACS 5 yr. est)
Renter-occupied units in Boston: 176,686 (64.7%) (2016-2020 ACS 5 yr. est)
Over 50% of Boston housing units were built in 1939 or earlier.
The percentage of owner-occupied housing increased from 33% in 2012 to 35.3% in 2020.
BPDA Board Approved Projects in 2021
- Number of new Residential Units: 6,555
- Number of new On-site Income Restricted Housing Units: 2,366
In Boston, the median owner-occupied home value was $581,000 in 2020, up from $395,000 in 2010 — an increase of $186,000.
In Greater Boston in April 2022, the median price for a single-family home hit $845,000, and the median price for a condo rose to $716,500, according to the Greater Boston Association of Realtors.
In Massachusetts, prices of single-family homes increased 28% between 2019 and 2021. (Kara Miller, Boston Globe, 12 May 2022).
Over 40% of renters pay more than 35% of their household income for gross rent.

Boston Housing Authority (BHA)

Kate Bennett, administrator
(617) 988-4000

“In total, BHA currently owns and/or oversees approximately 12,623 rental units of public housing in Boston and houses more than 25,000 people under the public housing program. BHA owns 63 housing developments. Of the 63 developments, 36 are designated as elderly/disabled developments and 27 are designated as family developments. Three of the 27 family developments have elderly/disabled housing on site and one of the elderly developments has designated units for families.

In addition to housing developments, BHA administers approximately 11,469 rental assistance vouchers, otherwise known as Tenant-Based Section 8 vouchers, that allow families to rent in the private market and apply a subsidy to their rent. A similar state program assists an additional 700 households. With this assistance, residents are able to pay approximately 30-40 percent of their income toward rent, and BHA pays the remainder. BHA helps provide housing to approximately 29,000 people under these programs. In addition, BHA provides subsidies to more than 2,100 households under its Section 8 Project-Based Voucher and Moderate Rehabilitation programs as well.”

Overall, the BHA is involved in assisting almost 60,000 people.

Finding Affordable Housing

The City of Boston website listing new and existing affordable housing units also has the link to sign up for the MetroList through which you can receive up-to-date information on new housing opportunities as well as housing programs and events. Some other resources for finding housing include the following Boston City webpages:

Resources

The Boston Foundation

The 2021 Greater Boston Housing Report Card recommends:

Build on recent legislative momentum around zoning and housing production by legalizing small-scale multifamily housing and expanding the mandate for multifamily zoning in MBTA communities.
Improve the quality and frequency of transit service, both to better serve transit-dependent populations and to better support new or planned housing development.
Advance housing equity by making local inclusionary zoning policies more universal and more effective and by advancing state and local policies that limit displacement.
Advance building techniques and strategies with great potential to reduce housing production costs.

City of Boston

Housing Boston 2030

Released in 2014, Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030 was former Mayor Marty Walsh’s original housing plan.

Housing Boston 2030: 2018 Update

By 2018, the original 2014 Housing plan was revised to account for the greater population growth that was being projected by 2018 and thus a need for even more new housing.

2020 Annual Report for HOUSING BOSTON 2030

According to the report, 3,300 new housing units were permitted in 2020, which included 1,023 income-restricted units.

In 2019, 40,933 students were living on campus or in university-provided housing, 9,917 lived off-campus in their family home, and 36,288 lived off-campus and not at home. 5,245 new beds were completed or were in the process of being built by 2020.

Quarterly Housing Progress reports on Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030

Boston 2030 includes quarterly reports for 2015 through 2018.

City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development

26 Court St., 8th & 9th Floors, Boston, MA 02108-2501
neigborhooddevelopment.dnd@cityofboston.gov
617-635-3880
The Department of Neighborhood Development works with communities to improve Boston’s neighborhoods through investing public resources. Its main jobs are to create housing options, support tenants, foster homeownership, end homelessness, and manage the City’s real estate.

Imagine Boston 2030 Housing Goals

General goal: Reduce housing cost burden for Bostonians.
- Decrease portion of low- and middle-income households that are severely housing-cost burdened.
Initiatives to encourage housing production, increase affordable housing options, and reduce displacement. The city seeks to:
- Work to increase overall housing supply.
- Deploy a suite of tools to support the preservation of affordable housing citywide.
- Pursue policies that encourage the production and maintenance of deed-restricted low-, moderate-, and middle-income housing.
- Aspire to higher levels of affordability in geographies where this is feasible.
- Stabilize housing and reduce displacement. (The City established the Office of Housing Stability to prevent evictions, foreclosures, and displacement.)
- Partner with neighboring municipalities to identify and consider regional solutions to housing challenges.
- Support homeownership by: › Assisting moderate- and middle-income Bostonians to purchase and maintain their first home through a variety of homebuyer and homeowner programs including prioritizing pathways to homeownership for tenants.

Community Preservation Act

A significant amount of money is now available from this tax supplement.

Thadine Brown, director, THADINE.BROWN@BOSTON.GOV
617-635-0545

Churches may apply for Community Preservation Funds (with some limitations). Examples: Charles St. AME, Roxbury Presbyterian, and Second Church in Dorchester. Grants will be made available for three types of initiatives or projects:

Affordable housing
Historic preservation
Parks, outdoor recreation, and open spaces

The Mayor’s Housing Innovation Lab

It seeks to increase housing affordability by testing innovative housing models and accelerating the pace of innovation in the housing sector.

26 Court St., 11th Floor, Boston, MA 02108-2501
HOUSINGILAB@BOSTON.GOV
617-635-0259

Projects of the Housing Innovation Lab:

Plugin House Initiative: The Plugin House demonstrates the possibilities of backyard homes and smaller living to provide housing affordable to all.
Housing with Public Assets: Could building housing on top of, or next to, city buildings, such as libraries and community centers, benefit our communities?
Intergenerational Homeshare Pilot: We’re offering affordable housing to graduate students while helping local homeowners and communities. This plan aims to encourage age-friendly development in the City. We’re also exploring different housing options in communities through a “Homeshare” network. This network matches older homeowners with extra rooms to rent to people who need to rent a room. This uses the Nesterly housing app.
Additional Dwelling Unit Pilot: This pilot program seeks to streamline the process for homeowners looking to create an additional unit. This 18-month pilot program allows owner occupants in East Boston, Mattapan, and Jamaica Plain to carve out space within their homes to create smaller, independent units, known as Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs). The program aims to help homeowners take advantage of the existing space in their homes, which can help people age in place and prevent displacement.
Urban Housing Unit Roadshow: Through our interactive exhibit, we heard from the Boston community about what they think about compact-size living units. The Urban Housing Unit was a compact apartment on wheels. The Housing Innovation Lab took it from downtown Boston to Roslindale, Mattapan, Dorchester, Roxbury, and East Boston. The 385 square-foot, one-bedroom unit was modular and fully furnished. Evidence shows that smaller, modular units can be built much cheaper than traditional housing.
Housing Innovation Competition: The Lab asked development teams to propose innovative compact living designs. The goal of the competition was to show that small, affordable family units are feasible. The competition took place from November 2016 to June 2017. This wasn’t just an ideas competition. The subjects of the competition were five city-owned properties in the Garrison Trotter neighborhood in Roxbury. The winning proposals in the competition would be built there.
Density Bonus Pilot Program: This pilot initiative allowed developers in the program to increase the height or floor area of their units. In exchange, they would restrict the income on a percentage of their residential units. The City created new density bonus zoning for the Strategic Planning Areas of PLAN: JP/Rox and PLAN: Dot Ave. This seeks to increase the number of affordable housing units.
Simplifying the Homebuying Process: After research with recent first-time homebuyers, the Housing Innovation Lab developed a framework to better support first-time buyers through the complex process. This framework keeps in mind the unique paths different individuals take in buying a house. The results were put into use by the Boston Home Center.

The Boston Home Center

26 Court St., 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02108
617-635-4663

The Boston Home Center is the City’s one-stop-shop for homebuyers and homeowners. The Boston Home Center helps Boston residents purchase, improve, and keep their homes. We offer training, financial help, and counseling to first-time homebuyers, guidance and funding for homeowners for home improvements, and counseling to help families avoid foreclosure. The Home Center also markets homes developed for income-eligible, first-time homebuyers. The website also has information on current home-buying lottery drawings for income-eligible families.

Other Organizations

Boston Neighborhood Community Land Trust

550 Dudley St., Roxbury, MA 02119
(617) 237-6015
Meridith Levy, executive director, mlevy@bnclt.org

Mission: “Boston Neighborhood Community Land Trust works to combat displacement and racial injustice by creating permanently affordable, community-controlled housing in the Boston area, with a specific geographic focus on Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan. BNCLT builds neighborhood stability, housing equity, and community strength among low- and moderate-income residents most at risk of displacement; and through the collective strength of partners working toward a shared, equitable, and just future.”

Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MAHA)

1803 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester MA 02124
617-822-9100
Symone Crawford, executive director

MAHA’s mission is to educate and mobilize to increase affordable homeownership opportunities, break down barriers facing first-time and first-generation homebuyers, and close the racial-wealth and homeownership gaps.

The Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP)

160 Federal St., Boston, MA 02110
617-330-9955; Toll-Free 877-MHP-FUND

A statewide public nonprofit affordable housing organization that works in concert with the Governor and the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to help increase the supply of affordable housing in Massachusetts.

Additional Resources

Dorchester Not For Sale
Dudley Square Neighborhood Initiative
Greater Boston Interfaith Organization
Office of Housing Stability
Reclaim Roxbury
City Life/Vida Urbana
BMA Tenpoint (Black Ministerial Alliance / Ten Point Coalition)
Massachusetts Affordable Housing Trust Fund

Contact Rudy Mitchell

Name

First Name

Last Name

Subject

Message

Back to Housing & Homelessness

Back to resources

Boston Climate Dialogues: 3 Fall Events

Join us for three Boston climate talks at EGC this fall! Guest speakers include Mia Mansfield, Mariama White-Hammond, Gabriela Boscia, and Melinda Vega. Come learn with us as we become more informed and ready to support local leaders doing important climate resilience work in our neighborhoods and city.

Boston Climate Dialogues: 3 Fall Events

By Ruth Wong

EGC is excited to partner with Northeastern University and Vibrant Boston to promote practical dialogue on climate change and resilience in Boston communities. We are opening three of our fall sessions to the public, to broaden community knowledge and collaboration with Christian leaders engaged in climate resilience work.

ABOUT OUR COLLABORATION

EGC is one of Northeastern University’s Service Learning Opportunity sites, and this fall we are learning alongside students in a Climate Change & Society class, taught by Sociology Professor Sharon Harlan. We are exploring together the possible impacts of climate change in a Boston neighborhood and how the community can become more resilient to environmental change.

Northeastern also has interest in engaging youth and residents from a Boston neighborhood. With our existing collaboration with Vibrant Boston, EGC helped facilitate a three-way partnership for this class.

Vibrant Boston is a free drop-in program based in Boston’s Lenox-Camden neighborhood of the South End /Lower Roxbury area. They provide the youth and their families living in this well-documented high crime community with support, enrichment, and opportunities based in a Social and Emotional Learning approach. Vibrant Boston programming covers a broad spectrum of services, including homework help, sports activities, career exploration, job opportunities for both teens and adults, and therapeutic classes in the arts.

OUR GOALS

Our three-way collaboration seeks to:

empower Vibrant Boston, and the residents of housing developments surrounding it, to learn about the potential impacts of climate change on urban communities, including their own
become more informed about climate change and how we can support Christian leaders’ involvement with the city of Boston’s climate change initiatives
promote a constructive dialogue about resilience within the community, with other communities, and with city government
provide opportunities for Vibrant Boston youth to interact with Northeastern students for mutual learning and relationship-building that are beneficial to both groups.
encourage Vibrant Boston youth’s aspirations for a university education

EGC staff and Vibrant Boston youth will attend eight sessions of the Northeastern Climate Change & Society class to learn and dialogue about climate change and its impact on urban communities.

“Decisions are being made now about climate mitigation and adaptation that affect how people will live in the future climate. There are significant social justice problems involving human capabilities and adaptive responses to climate change that must be addressed at local, national, and global scales. We will examine how communities are striving to adapt and prepare for the climate of the future. - excerpt from the Climate Change & Society course syllabus, Northeastern University

You're Invited!

Three guest speaker sessions are open to the public. We welcome residents from Boston and area churches to participate with us as we hear from key Boston leaders addressing this issue.

Learn with us! Join us in becoming more informed and ready to support local leaders doing important climate resilience work in our neighborhoods and city. Please mark your calendars for these fall events!

1. Is Boston’s Climate Changing? Are We Prepared?

Mia Mansfield

City of Boston Office of Environment, Energy and Open Space

Reading Assignment: Climate Ready Boston Report

Monday, October 23 @ 3:15PM

2. Connections: Race and Climate Justice

Rev. Mariama White-Hammond

Bethel AME Church

Reading Assignment: Bridging Boston’s Racial Divide by Blanding

Monday, October 30 @ 3:15PM

3. Resilient Communities: East Boston Sets an Example

Gabriela Boscio & Melinda Vega

Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, East Boston

Wednesday, November 8 @ 3:15PM

Take Action

Learn More

Climate Dialogues Contact Form

Contact Ruth Wong

Do you have questions about the Climate Dialogues? I’d be happy to get back to you.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Subject

Message

Give

RUTH WONG

Ruth is passionate about creating learning communities for churches and leaders across racial, socio-economic, and denominational lines. Director of the Boston Education Collaborative, Ruth collaborates with the Boston Public Schools to foster partnerships between schools and faith-based institutions. Every summer, Ruth also teaches at an engineering program at MIT for high school students.