Author: Abby DeRigo
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Boston names first black police commissioner, but activists say there’s still a lot of work to do
William Gross made history on July 23 when he became Boston’s first ever black police commissioner. Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced Gross’s appointment, which will begin on August 5. Both Walsh and outgoing commissioner William Evans had glowing words for Gross and his 33 year career at the Boston Police Department. “I don’t think the…
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Hundreds Rally to Mass. State House to Protest Immigration Policy, State Government’s Inaction
Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Massachusetts State House on Wednesday, June 20, to speak out against the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy that detains those trying to cross the border and separates parents from their children. The protesters — joined by groups such as the ACLU and the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy…
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Panel discusses how racial equity can help solve homelessness
The speakers who discussed racial equity as a solution to homelessness, from left to right: Dr. Monica Bharel, Julia Tripp, and Jeff Olivet. On Thursday, June 14, the Center for Social Innovation held a discussion at The Nonprofit Center in downtown Boston about systemic racism and its impact on the homeless population—and how improving racial…
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Forum evaluates state of affordable housing in Massachusetts
Congresswoman Katherine Clark speaks a the housing forum on May 1. Photo: Boston Metro Housing/Bethany Versoy/V2Visuals Associates. On May 1, housing advocates and city and state officials gathered together for a forum about the condition of state and federal affordable housing programs, and what it means for housing throughout the Commonwealth. The event was hosted…
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Buy tickets to our 25th Anniversary Gala on May 11!
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Mayor Walsh and hundreds of volunteers take to streets for 2018 point-in-time count
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, left, and Emergency Shelter Commission director Jim Greene, right, speak to a recently housed young woman. On Wednesday night, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh led the annual homeless census, joining hundreds of volunteers who combed through the city to tally the homeless population. It was his fifth point-in-time count as the mayor,…
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Homeless Memorial Service 2017
The pews at Church on the Hill were filled with friends, advocates, and members of the homeless community on Thursday to pay tribute to over 100 people who died this past year. The interfaith service marked the 28th anniversary of the National Homeless Person’s Memorial Day, though the Boston community has seen a similar event…
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Boston immigrants rally for temporary protected statuses and DACA
In Faneuil Hall on Wednesday night, about 200 hundred immigrants and their allies and advocates rallied in support of keeping Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and other immigrant groups and preserving Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). In late November, President Donald Trump’s administration announced the upcoming end of TPS for Haitian, Nicaraguan, and…
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Boston Police release arrest reports from August’s ‘Free Speech’ Rally
Photos by Caitlin Russell Back in August, a handful of Nazis, White Supremacists, and “free speech advocates” came to Boston, where they were met by tens of thousands of counter-protesters. Or, as Boston Police (BPD) reported, somewhere between 200… And 2000. While the crowd was huge, only 33 people were arrested. And according to those…