For 40 years, Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation (ABCDC) has built a stronger, more stable community by representing and supporting the interests, engagement, and leadership of Allston Brighton’s diverse communities, institutions, individuals, and families of all incomes. However, over the last year, our Allston Brighton community has been reeling from the impacts of overlapping pandemics (COVID-19 and the resulting economic crisis). These crises have only exacerbated existing racial inequities which have caused devastating effects on low-to-moderate income residents and communities of color. Our neighbors are struggling with housing, education, jobs, food, health, and basic needs. Therefore, in recognition of the much needed work ahead of us, the Allston Brighton CDC is refocusing our community engagement work to focus on equitable recovery and racial justice. This restructuring of program priorities will be centered around the following principles:

• Principle I: Promote racial equity and address racial inequities in access to services and supports
• Principle II: Build and sustain the leadership of People of Color and those from underrepresented populations
• Principle III: Ensure programming is data-driven, evidence-informed, theory-based, and directly highlights and addresses racial inequities
• Principle IV: Provide services to People of Color through community collaboration and network-building
• Principle V: Address structural and institutional racism through a variety of policy and systems strategies

These principles will be incorporated into all aspects of program planning, outreach, implementation, and evaluation in the following areas:

• Leadership Development and Movement Building
• Community Planning
• Advocacy and Civic Engagement

We rise to meet the work ahead and commit to building community power and organizational resources so that low-and-moderate income people, BIPOC, and new immigrants continue to have the opportunity to reside in, be full participants, and become leaders in the Allston Brighton community – so that Allston Brighton remains to be a safe, stable, equitable, and healthy neighborhood of choice for all residents.

For more information, or to get involved in our work in the Allston Brighton community, email our Manager of Community Action, Jason Desrosier, at [email protected]