Immigrant integration, empowerment initiative to survey Boston's neighborhoods

BOSTON - Friday, July 24, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh's Office of New Bostonians (MONB) launched the start of a community input process to gather more information on immigrant experiences in Boston. This survey is another step in Mayor Walsh's Immigrant Integration and Empowerment Initiative to improving the quality of life for all of Boston's residents. 

"Immigrants are vital to our neighborhoods, and these surveys will help us in our continued efforts to ensure their voices are heard," said Mayor Walsh. "We need to make sure that they are being connected to our resources and that their contributions to our City are appreciated." 

In partnership with the Department of Youth Engagement and Employment and community organizations, MONB will be working with four young people in the SuccessLink summer jobs program to interview residents and identify key assets and challenges in Boston neighborhoods. The surveys will be available in eight languages via social media platforms and community organizations. The English survey can be accessed here:  Boston for All Survey.

"These surveys are just the initial phase of a robust input process that will include focus groups and community meetings to help inform Boston's first Immigrant Integration plan," said Alejandra St. Guillen, Director of the Office of New Bostonians. "We seek to build a shared citywide vision and develop an innovative agenda that will open opportunities for new and improved partnerships."

"I believe this project is important because it will really help immigrants feel part of the City and give them the opportunity to better their experience in Boston," said Daniela Romero, SuccessLink participant with MONB and student at the John D. O'Bryant High School. "I'm especially excited to survey residents in my neighborhood of East Boston."

The Immigrant Integration and Empowerment Initiative, which aims to create and replicate successful practices that best empower immigrants to fully participate in the social, economic and civic life of Boston, is made possible by a three-year grant from the Barr Foundation. 

The survey schedule is as follows: 

• Week of July 6: East Boston
• Week of July 13: Chinatown, Allston/Brighton
• Week of July 20: Jamaica Plain/Roxbury, North Dorchester
• Week of July 27: South Dorchester, Mattapan/Hyde Park

To get involved or request surveys in other languages, please contact Celina Barrios-Millner (celina.barrios-millner@boston.gov).

About the Mayor's Office of New Bostonians 
Since 1998, the Mayor's Office of New Bostonians (MONB) has worked to ensure that the diverse cultural and linguistic communities in Boston have full access to the civic, economic, social and cultural life of the City. MONB is a nationally-recognized model for assisting newcomers in overcoming the barriers and challenges of immigration. 

Every year, MONB assists thousands of new Bostonians with access to City Services, referrals to English language classes, technical support for small business development, facilitating access to free legal services, providing information about community resources, which allow new Bostonians to contribute socially and economically to the City. Visit their website or call 617-635-2980 for more information.