“Not every regional planning agency is focused on equity. MAPC is leading the way.” Marc Draisen, MAPC Executive Director. MAPC State of Equity in Metro Boston Policy Agenda Release, July 11, 2014, Cambridge, Mass. Courtesy Marilyn Humphries.“All our struggles have to tie in together,” said David Harris, the Managing Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute, in his welcome. MAPC State of Equity in Metro Boston Action Agenda Release Event, July 11, 2014, Cambridge, Mass. Courtesy Marilyn Humphries.
In his opening words, Marc Draisen, MAPC’s Executive Director, discussed the extent to which equity is front and center in the agency’s work, and emphasized the importance of policy – of action. He turned the podium over to four community advocates, each of whose remarkable work represents one of MAPC’s four key priorities in moving the region toward equity:
Preventing displacement of residents from neighborhoods near rapid transit.
Ensuring climate change resilience for all residents
“Environmental resiliency must mean bouncing forward as well as bouncing back. It’s not just about recovery.” Kalila Barnett, Executive Director, Alternatives for Community and the Environment. MAPC’s State of Equity in Metro Boston Action Agenda Release, July 11, 2014, Cambridge, Mass. Courtesy Marilyn Humphries.“With the Green Line Extension, Somerville rents could rise from 25-67%. Minimizing displacement is our number one priority.” Meridith Levy, Deputy Director, Somerville Community Corporation, MAPC’s State of Equity in Metro Boston Action Agenda Release, July 11, 2014, Cambridge, Mass. Courtesy Marilyn Humphries.“Food insecurity is a toxic stress, and there are major racial disparities in food security.” Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, Researc and Policy Director, Children’s HealthWatch. MAPC’s State of Equity in Metro Boston Action Agenda Release, July 11, 2014, Cambridge, Mass. Courtesy Marilyn Humphries.“If we can break down the stereotype that teens are bad, we can break down the stereotype that police are the enemy.” CJ Victor, Youth Organizer, Center for Teen Empowerment. MAPC’s State of Equity in Metro Boston Action Agenda Release, July 11, 2014, Cambridge, Mass. Courtesy Marilyn Humphries.“The issue of […] regional equity is probably the most important work we can do now. Because if we acheive it, we eradicate the issues we all work on: Sub-par schools, poor housing conditions, inequities in the workplace. All that goes away if we do this right.” Marvin Martin, Action for Regional Equity, in his introduction of the keynote speaker. MAPC’s State of Equity in Metro Boston Action Agenda Release, July 11, 2014, Cambridge, Mass. Courtesy Marilyn Humphries.
The keynote address, by Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder and CEO of PolicyLink, was invigorating, hopeful, and purposeful. “The fate of the nation is dependent on the fate of its people of color. […] We don’t get America right if we don’t get equity right.” […] The disparity that matters is not between black and white, but between where we are and where we need to be.” It is no surprise that Ms. Glover Blackwell was greeted by a spirited standing ovation.
“When we solve problems for those who ae most vulnerable, we solve them for everyone.” Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder and CEO of PolicyLink, in her keynote address. MAPC’s State of Equity in Metro Boston Action Agenda Release, July 11, 2014, Cambridge, Mass. Courtesy Marilyn Humphries.
!["The issue of [...] regional equity is probably the most important work we can do now. Because if we acheive it, we eradicate the issues we all work on: Sub-par schools, poor housing conditions, inequities in the workplace. All that goes away if we do this right." Marvin Martin, Action for Regional Equity, MAPC's State of Equity in Metro Boston Action Agenda Release, July 11, 2014, Cambridge, Mass. Courtesy Marilyn Humphries.](https://www.mapc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Soe7.jpg)
