Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation

Working together, building community

All Bright Community Center

Since opening in 2017, our All Bright Community Center has been a go-to resource for tenants of our properties. Located on the ground floor of 1287 Commonwealth Avenue, our staff is able to provide case management and complementary programming to residents in our portfolio right at their doorstep. We offered yoga sessions, ESOL classes, computer hours, coffee socials, mobile food pantries, holiday parties, movie nights, and more! In addition to providing sought after services to tenants, we help build a sense of community among neighbors.

We’re always looking to bring different types of programming to the Community Center that residents of our housing would enjoy and have requested. Contact us let us know what you’d like to bring to the Community Center. Para Español por favor contacte a Regina: [email protected] o 617-787-3874 x 202

Meet The Team

Troy Rothman
Resident Services Manager
[email protected]
617-787-3874 x201

Troy (he/him) enjoys working with and celebrating community. His past work experience is in affordable housing with CDCs and CDFIs in the Boston and Washington D.C. areas, and he will continue to grow his housing knowledge of Allston and Brighton as the new Resident Services Coordinator. Troy is thrilled to be a member of this community to help support residents, as well as work with students via the All Bright Community Center’s afterschool program. You can often find him volunteering for a local election, community farm or various other neighborhood events, or resting at the park with a good book.

Regina Fink
Resident Services Coordinator
[email protected]
617-787-3874 x202

Regina is originally from Bergen County, New Jersey. She recently graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies from Williams College in Western Mass, where she developed a love of hiking and looking at some really nice trees and salamanders. During her time at college she ran a book club with the Positive Pathways Partnership at the Berkshire House of Corrections and co-ran a program providing programming for adults with special needs. She has worked as a program associate at Berkshire Environmental Action Team, in a forest teaching elementary schoolers, and most recently as a server at Tu y Yo in Somerville. She loves reading, dancing, learning, journaling on buses or trains, and biking.

Regina es originalmente de Bergen County, Nueva Jersey. Se graduó de la universidad de Williams College en Massachusetts, donde estudió estudios del medio ambiente. Durante su tiempo en la universidad, manejó un club de libros para los prisioneros y programas para personas con necesidades especiales. También trabajó en Berkshire Environmental Action Team, en un bosque como educadora de niños y más reciente como mesera en Tu y Yo, un restaurante mexicano en Somerville. A ella le encanta leer, bailar, aprender nuevas cosas y montar en bicicleta. Ella aprendió español en la escuela y durante su tiempo en España. 

Resident Profiles

ABCDC resident, Amanda, moved into her apartment on Glenville Ave. with her mother in 1999. Both her mother and her provide support to her 96-year-old grandmother who lives in the neighborhood.

As a long-time Allston resident, she has plenty of experience working with the Resident Services department. “The Resident Services staff is very helpful to me and my neighbors.” Amanda remarked that the staff is very welcoming and gives people the confidence to ask for help. “A lot of my neighbors only speak Spanish and struggle with technology. Some people are embarrassed to ask for help. They always help no matter what.” Amanda stated that if she talks to any neighbors with problems with their rent, she always tells them to call Resident Services.

Amanda remarked that the Resident Services staff is willing to help with any issues that come up. When she lost her ID during the pandemic, she struggled to figure out how to get a new one. The Resident Services staff helped navigate her through the RMV website and she was able to get a replacement ID quickly.

Amanda has a strong connection to Allston Brighton and she always gives back to those around her. She will always lend a hand to her elderly neighbors and will even help carry groceries from the monthly mobile food pantry to folks with mobility issues. She has also been a longtime volunteer at our All Bright Community Center and has helped decorate for events and fold our monthly newsletter.  ABCDC is fortune to have Amanda as such an engaged member of our community and we are glad to provide support to her and her neighbors!

Amanda

Sayed has lived with his family at our Hano Homes property for the past three years. Like many residents in our community, the pandemic deeply affected his family and he struggled to understand how to access the support he needed.

“I applied for RAFT (Rental Assistance for Families In Transition) at the beginning of the pandemic because I was struggling to pay rent. My application was denied because of an error, and I was confused about what to do next.” After meeting with our Resident Services Manager, Sayed was able to apply again and his application was approved. This funding was pivotal in helping his family get back on track with their rent.

Along with accessing rent relief, Sayed and his family have also participated in activities in the All Bright Community Center including our Toy Drive where his two children received toys during the holiday season. Sayed also graduated from a Tech Goes Home class led by Resident Services staff where he learned more about how he could utilize technology. At the end of the class, he received a free Chromebook.

When asked about his experience with our staff, Sayed remarked that “the Resident Services staff is excellent! They are always available to help me, and they are patient and understanding of my concerns.”

Sayed

While Aysha and her family only moved into their apartment in Allston 8-months ago, ABCDC’s Resident Services program has already made an impact. “Resident Services has been a huge help for my family!” Aysha remarked that no matter what issues she encounters, the Resident Services staff of ABCDC is always available and willing to help.

Currently, Aysha is enrolled in an ESOL class at our All Bright Community Center. Her son was also enrolled in our All Bright Afterschool program which offers homework help and other enrichment activities for school-aged children who live in our properties.

Along with case management support, Aysha is looking forward to enrolling in a computer class at the Community Center to learn more about technology and how she can use it in her daily life.

Aysha


©Allston Brighton CDC | 18R Shepard Street, Suite 100 | Brighton, MA 02135 | p: 617.787.3874 | f: 617.787.0425 | TTY: 711