My Vision for an Equitable Boston Post-Covid
“Safe and equitable spaces, particularly for black people, is as economic as it is social.” (Justin Moore, Columbia University)
My vision is that post-covid we become a welcoming & inclusive community that makes information, resources, & experiences more accessible. We become a city where Black people (in particular) have a sense of belonging and are fully engaged as residents who contribute to the culture, economy, and vibrancy of Boston.
COVID has uncovered the structural inefficiencies and inequities that many of us already knew existed.
It has also given us the rare opportunity to reimagine the city.
This pandemic has made it so that people no longer need to come to Boston to work, to go to school, to benefit from the institutions that have attracted people to the city for so long.
There is someone right now who is working on their master’s degree from Harvard, but living in Atlanta.
So, we will no longer be able to rest on that competitive advantage. We can’t assume that our reputation alone will attract the best & brightest.
Actually our reputation is sometimes what keeps the best & brightest away - particularly as it pertains to being unwelcoming to people of color.
So now we have this opportunity to really reimagine, remake, and rebuild with EVERYONE in mind.
We need to optimize and make better use of all of the human capital we have in our city right now.
And we need to be smarter and more strategic about attracting the people we want.
The city is getting younger and more diverse. When we invest in those who want to be here, but don’t find it welcoming, as well as in those who are not choosing us because of their perceptions (and our reality), we will be closer to our vision of an equitable city.
Let’s invest in culture, placemaking, spatial justice, opportunities for belonging, economic revitalization that centers the experiences of Black people. COVID has shown us how much we can do when we have the will. Is Boston willing?
Disrupting the status quo in medical hair-loss spaces | Professional actress and Co-Founder/COO of Coils to Locs wigs | Inclusive beauty, health and wellness entrepreneur | Natural hair blogger
9 个月Thanks for this share Sheena Collier you're always so insightful and inspiring. Two things (of many) jump out at me. "Is Boston willing?" and "Actually our reputation is sometimes what keeps the best & brightest away - particularly as it pertains to being unwelcoming to people of color." It saddens and frustrates me that often when I share with Black people outside of Boston where I'm from how consistently the thought and feeling is that Boston is a racist and unwelcoming city. And some have stories from time spent here to back it up. It's the opposite from my encounters with non people of color who often respond with how much they love Boston. That speaks volumes to me. Boston needs to do a major national campaign, backed by action, to clean up this cities image. I definitely think we have a more willing Boston than we did pre-pandemic. Possibly because of the current and potential economic losses that you reference. As a pessimistic optimist, I have hope that more and more people will focus on embracing the change from a place of creating true equity, access and inclusion here in Boston.
Well stated
Catalyst Fellow @ Empower Success Corps | Senior Consultant, League of Women
4 年So glad you are sharing your vision Sheena, we have been through too much to go back to the status quo. It is time to create a new city with equitable opportunities.
Director of Apprenticeship Pathways
4 年Thank you for this article, Sheena. As I have lived here for over 20 years I think it is important that as we exit out of this pandemic that we also treat ourselves (black people) in a kinder, more inclusive and supportive way, no matter the backgrounds. If we don't support and encourage each other successes, we will perpetuate a negative cycle that stops many of us from reaching our dreams.
Senior Corporate and Commercial Counsel /Board Member/Board Trustee/Health Coach
4 年Sheena, I participated in the conference and watched the panel. You were dynamic and made the very necessary points to address the many of needs and issues of the Black community in Boston.