LISC Massachusetts

Our 6th Annual Story Slam is Coming Up! Grab your tickets today to join an evening of storytelling, celebration, and delicious global bites from local chefs. Join us for Story Slam on April 30th at the Artists for Humanity Epicenter. This year's storytellers will center their stories around the shared theme of "Rooted in Community." Register here: https://lnkd.in/ezwgMMqM #StorySlam #RootedInCommunity

Happy #DayoftheA! LISC Massachusetts is honored to recognize the talented #AmeriCorps members and alums who served their communities. We’re excited to share the Jackson’s story, an AmeriCorps member at the Housing Corporation of Arlington (HCA) since April 2024. Like most communities, Arlington faces skyrocketing housing costs that put immense pressure on low- and moderate-income residents. Jackson works with local organizations and residents to develop and preserve affordable housing options. Whether it’s building a sense of community or developing community leaders, his goal is to keep Arlington a place where people of all income levels feel heard and can thrive. “There’s a misconception that affordable housing is just about buildings,” Jackson says. “But it’s really about people. It’s about giving folks the stability they need to build a better future.” Coming to the end of his service year, Jackson was offered a full-time position at the Housing Corporation of Arlington, ensuring he will continue his amazing work. Through his dedication to the neighborhood, Jackson is not only ensuring that affordable housing remains a priority in Arlington, he is also helping turn a town into a community. LISC Massachusetts is currently recruiting AmeriCorps members for the 2025-2026. Check out our website for open positions: https://lnkd.in/g9sZEWTP #AmeriCorpsWeek #MakingADifference #CommunityDevelopment?

Registration is Now Open! Join us for LISC Massachusetts’s Story Slam on Wed, April 30, 2025, at Artists for Humanity. This year’s theme “Rooted in Community” reflects our commitment to working in partnership across the state. Register today for an evening of storytelling, celebration, great food, and networking. Get Your Tickets Today:?https://lnkd.in/ezwgMMqM

?? We’re thrilled to announce the launch of another LISC Digital Growth Accelerator Competition Cohort! ?? This 7-week journey will give 85 students hands-on experience helping 33 SMEs double their growth opportunities while overcoming regional challenges. With personalized consulting, actionable growth strategies, and cutting-edge digital tools, this program drives real impact—strengthening businesses, fostering family wealth, and closing the economic wealth gap in under-resourced communities. ?? Why it matters: By equipping small businesses in Massachusetts with the tools and strategies they need, we’re unlocking potential, driving sustainable growth, and building stronger local economies. Do you want to be part of the next cohort? ?? Check out our Linktree to learn more and apply today as a team! https://lnkd.in/dNW6BJej ??Join our LISC Digital Accelerator Community: https://lnkd.in/d5Z4naEz IXL Center - Center for Innovation, Excellence and Leadership Hitendra Patel Carolina Chitiva Nathalia Velasco Victor Bender Zevallos ??Kim, Niang Theih

A moment to celebrate! LISC Massachusetts had the honor of celebrating the Grand Opening of Suya Joint, a restaurant serving African cuisine in the heart of Boston's Nubian Square, as it expands to bring its Nigerian flavors to downtown Providence, RI. We couldn’t be more proud of Chief & Owner, Cecelia Lizotte! What began as a bustling catering business transformed into a brick-and-mortar establishment that faced significant challenges during the COVID crisis. LISC Massachusetts supported Suya Joint through our pandemic-era "Beyond Six Feet Apart" program in 2020. By helping Cecelia develop digital resources, we helped her business expand her customer base and avoid closing. Suya Joint transitioned back into a full-service dine-in and takeout restaurant as the pandemic waned. It now has grown with a new location in Providence, RI. LISC's Strategic Investments team is proud to fund and support this expansion project, and it’s an absolute honor to celebrate this occasion. LISC is a strong supporter of the growth of small businesses across the country, and along with us here in Massachusetts, Rhode Island is home to one of our 37 offices doing great work to advance our mission of forging resilient communities of opportunity. As the ribbon was cut, we were not only opening the doors to a new Suya Joint location but also opening the doors to countless opportunities and possibilities for all who aspire to dream. This restaurant is more than just bricks and mortar—it symbolizes hope, progress, and boundless potential. Whether you find yourself in Nubian Square in Boston or now in Providence, be sure to visit Suya Joint and experience the incredible flavors that celebrate Nigerian culture. Let's continue to support small businesses that enrich our communities and keep the spirit of entrepreneurship alive. #Suyajoint #Entrepreneurship #SmallBuisness #LISCRI #LISCMassachusetts

First #BridgesToGreenJobs career exploration day pilot was a major success! For the last few months, LISC Massachusetts has been thinking of effective ways to maximize our two-week BGJ training to increase participant skillset and industry retention, and simultaneously affect the backend ecosystem building in green trainings/workforce. I think we're on the right track now! The day involved deep soft skills and job readiness, job quality considerations, and goal setting from our partners at X-Cel Education, followed by short presentations from Kat James (Roxbury Community College), Alisha Soslow Harrington (Browning the Green Space), Priya Malhotra (SkillSeek), Carlos Tunes (SHINE), and Nicole Burger (NEHERS) about their upcoming programs folks can bridge into right away, or just put in their back pocket for when they're ready for new opportunities. It was really incredible to see not only participants light up with newfound career aspirations, but also have our partners learn about each other's roles in this space. It got us all thinking how we might make green jobs awareness more accessible to people in the broader community as well... Think speed dating, but with CLIMATE JOBS?! ??????? ?? In the meantime, we're just thrilled to finally roll it out for the Boston BGJ with our new host partner, Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, and we can't wait to make these kinds of connections across MA through future BGJ replications ??

Our Bridges to Green Jobs Cohort has officially launched! Our nine program participants will spend two weeks preparing for careers in the #greenjobs sector. Thank you to our partner LISC Massachusetts.

If you live in a single-family residential zoning district anywhere in Massachusetts, you can now build an accessory dwelling unit on your property by right. The new law went into effect on Feb. 2 thanks to the Affordable Homes Act, signed by Governor Maura Healey last fall. Also known as an in-law apartment or granny flat, ADUs come in a variety of forms. It’s the basement or large attic that has been turned into an efficiency apartment. It’s a cottage in the backyard. It’s a “bump out” addition on a home. Many are even invisible. This new law empowers homeowners, can provide a little rental income to a family buying their first home, can allow seniors an affordable place to retire or offer a chance at independent living for a young adult with special needs.

We are very happy to be celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth to call out the impact and contributions of Black Americans here in MA who have helped build more just and more resilient communities of opportunity across our state. #massachusetts #communitydevelopment #economicdevelopment

Last week, we completed our final stop of our statewide tour in Springfield. Hosted by MassDevelopment TDI Fellow Joshua Croke ????? and joined by our LAC Chair Lisa M Joyner, we toured around Mason Square, chatted with local leaders about the housing crunch, and had a mind-blowing conversation on small business + quantum investments coming the region. These visits were a commitment to live up to our name change from LISC Boston to LISC Massachusetts. We thank the many partners who shared their city and work with us: MassDevelopment, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services, Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield Housing Authority, Tracye Whitfield, SPRINGFIELD CULTURAL PARTNERSHIP INCORPORATED, Gardening the Community, and Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council.