Engine 6 & Yes for Newton’s Future Win Community Engagement Award

Affordable housing nonprofit Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) honored Newton advocacy groups, Engine 6 and Yes for Newton’s Future, at their virtual Annual Dinner on October 21st with CHAPA’s Community Engagement Award, recognizing the critical role the groups have played in creating more housing in Newton this year.

Working in collaboration in early 2020, Engine 6 and Yes for Newton’s Future educated voters on a referendum that would have overturned Newton City Council’s approval for Northland, a major mixed-use project with 140 affordable homes. On March 3rd, 2020, Newton voters overwhelmingly affirmed the city council’s decision.

In her acceptance speech on behalf of the Engine 6 Leadership Team, Fran Godine noted that their work is not done in a vacuum and reminded attendees of the bigger picture. “We are not the story,” Godine said. “The story is the need for diverse housing which includes – not excludes – [and] which can correct practices and policies that created generations of the wealth imbalance we are living with today.” The Engine 6 Leadership Team also includes Kathleen Hobson, Doris Ann Sweet, Lynn Weissberg, and Nancy Zollers.

Accepting the award on behalf of the Yes for Newton’s Future campaign, Allison Sharma stated that a broad coalition of supporters was crucial to their success. “Affordable housing is not a special interest,” Sharma said. “It’s a critical factor in addressing the most pressing issues of our day - the climate crisis, racial injustice, income inequality, and our rapidly aging population to name a few.”

Dr. Tiffany Manuel, president and chief executive officer of TheCaseMade and national expert on affordable housing, presented the award to both groups. In her remarks, she recognized the power and impact of “having advocates in both of these organizations say we believe in a Newton that is bigger than this moment and that requires a stronger push, not just around affordable housing, but to create a Newton that is livable for everybody.”

Engine 6, which advocates for fair, affordable, diverse, and abundant housing in Newton, formed in the summer of 2013 when a proposal for supportive housing for nine formerly homeless individuals was ultimately blocked by the city due to neighborhood opposition. Currently, Engine 6 is actively participating in Newton’s zoning redesign effort, aiming to encourage multifamily housing throughout the city, especially near transit locations.

The Yes for Newton’s Future campaign, in tandem with Engine 6, worked to build a large and inclusive coalition to support the Northland project. Bringing together affordable housing experts, climate activists, racial justice organizations, bike advocates, local clergy, current and former elected officials, business and economic development leaders, and more, both groups committed to bringing much-needed housing as well as environmental and economic benefits to Newton.

“Yes for Newton’s Future and Engine 6 have done tremendous work to build the local support that is needed to create affordable housing. Winning approval at the ballot box demonstrates a real commitment from Newton residents to ensuring that the City is inclusive. They are setting an example for the rest of the state,” stated Rachel Heller, CHAPA’s chief executive officer.

Keynote speaker for the event, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, thanked the awardees for “the generosity and the selflessness with which you share your gifts with community. Thank you for being community builders.”

Other awardees at CHAPA’s Annual Dinner included Outstanding Impact Award winner, Jeanne Pinado, former chief executive officer and strategic advisor of Madison Park CDC, and Emerging Leader Award winner, Jarred Johnson, executive director of TransitMatters. The award ceremony can be review in its entirety on YouTube. Over 400 guests tuned in virtually to celebrate the affordable housing community’s work this year and to congratulate the award winners.

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Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association (CHAPA) is the leading statewide affordable housing policy and research organization in Massachusetts. Established in 1967, CHAPA advocates for increased opportunity and expanded access to housing so that every person in Massachusetts can have a safe, healthy, and affordable place to call home. For more information, visit www.chapa.org.