Asian Community Development Corporation: Rebuilding Neighborhoods Advisory Group
We partnered with the Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) to design and facilitate their Rebuilding Neighborhoods Advisory Group initiative. This strategic initiative brought together community organizers, small business owners, and major corporations to develop implementable solutions to the lack of affordable housing in three greater Boston neighborhoods: Chinatown, Fenway, and Union Square in Somerville.
While the innovation sector has helped create jobs and drive the economic boom in Greater Boston, it has also contributed to rising housing costs. Tech companies in Seattle and San Francisco have recognized their important civic roles in shaping policy and creating resources to address housing issues, as these directly impact their ability to attract and retain their workforce. To ensure that Greater Boston remains economically healthy, we must work together across sectors to make sure that this region continues to accommodate diverse populations.
The Rebuilding Neighborhoods Initiative is brought together leaders from the innovation sector, public sector, and local communities to form an advisory group with the goal of developing a strategic plan to address housing and gentrification issues in Greater Boston. The advisory group came together for a series of workshops which featured guest speakers and directed work sessions.
GOALS
FMRA partnered with the Asian Community Development Corporation of Boston to design and facilitate the series with specific goals:
Articulate our vision for an equitable system of housing across the Greater Boston area with a particular focus on addressing the needs of the Chinatown, Fenway, and Union Square communities.
Develop a set of recommendations that drive equitable development for the Greater Boston area as well as our neighborhoods - Chinatown, Fenway, and Union Square.
Develop and commit to a set of outcomes & metrics to measure our progress towards our goal of equitable development and towards the execution of our recommendations.
PROCESS
FMRA, along with co-conveners Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) and Alliance for Business Leadership (ABL), designed a series of 6 monthly sessions to bring together community members from Chinatown, Fenway, and Union Square of Boston. The team chose 5-6 people per neighborhood, and included a mix of community leaders, small business owners, and leaders from the innovation sector to represent each neighborhood from different perspectives.
In choosing the 15-20 Advisory Group members, we required certain criteria of all participants:
Participants come prepared to have open, honest, and uncomfortable conversations.
Participants bring a deep sense of empathy and a real desire to build a better community that is inclusive and equitable.
Participants are decision makers who can represent their community members, stakeholders, corporation, organization, etc.
Participants must be able to attend all sessions.
ABOUT THE CO-CONVENERS
The Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) works in underserved and immigrant Asian American communities in the Greater Boston region to create and preserve affordable, sustainable, and healthy neighborhoods. We achieve this by building affordable homes and vibrant spaces, empowering families with asset-building tools, and strengthening communities through resident and youth leadership.
The Alliance for Business Leadership (ABL) is a coalition of business leaders who believe that social responsibility and sustainable growth go hand-in-hand. We use the platform and privilege of the business community to move the needle on issues of economic inequality and social mobility. Our members share a commitment to creating growth, opportunity, and a fairer society for everyone in Massachusetts.
← back to Projects
CO-CONVENERS:
Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) works in underserved and immigrant Asian American communities in the Greater Boston region to create and preserve affordable, sustainable, and healthy neighborhoods.
The Alliance for Business Leadership (ABL) is a coalition of business leaders who use the platform and privilege of the business community to move the needle on issues of economic inequality and social mobility.