City Of Boston: Creating Community: Forming Ties In Boston's Neighborhoods

Press release from the City of Boston:

July 7, 2021

In the first of a two-part series about the role of community in Boston’s neighborhoods, we look at how bonds and history are In the first of a two-part series about the role of community in Boston’s neighborhoods, we look at how bonds and history are created between neighbors, and how community members ensure that their voices are heard on important community issues.  Community plays a large role within the history of each of Boston’s neighborhoods. The residents of Boston’s neighborhoods stand up for each other, work with each other, and create connections that extend over time. Bostonians

Neighborhood bonds extend across spaces helping individuals create a community within a given town, street, or building. In these settings, neighbors organically take action to create a welcoming space. North Bennett Street, looking north towards Salem Street, circa 1920, Boston City Archives

In a similar manner, East Boston residents Sophie Catanese, Netta Forlizzi, and Carmelo Buttaro discuss how life experiences were shared in their East Boston neighborhood in very specific ways, creating a familial bond. 

In a similar manner, East Boston residents During the past year and a half, neighbors and communities have come together to help each other during the COVID-19

Petrina and her family lived in a tenement building in the North End and she explains how three of her neighbors in the building contracted the virus and later succumbed to it leaving two children behind. Pietrina discusses the quick actions taken by her family to help their neighbors and ensure the children’s safety. Her story mirrors many of the stories we have heard during Covid-19, proving the real bonds that community provides.

While bonds can be created organically, neighbors also create community when they formally organize to help and support each other. Keeping an eye on the ways that a neighborhood can be improved helps provide community enrichment.

Karla goes on to describe the positive impact the playground created for all members of the community, and provides insight into the creation of its original mural.

Karla goes on to describe the positive impact the playground created for all members of the community, and provides insight into the creation of its original mural. The various buildings that make up a neighborhood create a microcosm of shared experiences.

Anna also describes the gardens created by tenants, a beautification project, at that time, in its third year. She notes the recent addition of vegetable gardens as well as the creation of a “best garden” contest in which the winner will receive a week’s vacation!

Today, Anna Cole  The signing of the Bromley Heath TMC contract, University of Massachusetts Boston, Joseph P. Healey Library

For Bostonians who live in apartments, advocating for affordable and fair housing is a near universal issue. A third generation resident of Brighton on his father’s side, Joe Smith describes a particular demonstration for rent control staged by senior citizens and “quote hippy types” in the community. This peaceful demonstration illustrates that shared community issues create a powerful bond and driving force between community members who likely would not cross paths otherwise. Joe notes how the demonstration took place in front of the Allston-Brighton Little City Hall, a satellite branch of Boston City Hall.

For Bostonians who live in apartments, advocating for affordable and fair housing is a near universal issue. A third generation resident of Brighton on his father’s side, ​ Brighton Little City Hall, Mayor Kevin White records, Boston City Archives ​ The ideas of memory and history are tightly wound into the framework of a community. These concepts take deeper root when particular sections of a community create bonds that sustain even as life moves forward. East Boston neighbors

Cottage Street from corner of Gove Street, East Boston, 1990, Boston City Archives Communication, neighborly support, and advocacy are all important parts of what makes a community successful. Regardless of neighborhood, Bostonians find ways to come together to create vibrant spaces built on history and trust. Join us next week for part two of this series where we will explore clubs and organizations that put community members first! Emma Horning is a Master of Library and Information Science candidate at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee where she is concentrating in Archival Studies

This press release was produced by the City of Boston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.