We’ve been celebrating 50 years of IBA, from our anniversary kickoff almost one year ago, through our gala earlier this month. The gala was an incredible event, the culmination of 50 years of supporting our community through housing, the arts, and more. We were honored to welcome our 50 honorees, esteemed guests, and fantastic chefs to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute on the evening of November ...
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As our year of celebration comes to a close, we’re proud to honor 50 of our community members for the work they’ve done. From aiding survivors of Hurricane María to supporting the Latinx community here in Boston, our honorees make a difference every day. We look forward to honoring each of them at our gala on November 3rd! For more than 25 years, Aixa Beauchamp has worked in th...
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We’re excited to host the world renowned saxophonist who is transforming the jazz tradition by infusing it with Puerto Rican folkloric music: Miguel Zenón, a Puerto Rican native, along with Spektral Quartet, a string quartet based in Chicago. This multiple Grammy nominee, Guggenheim Fellow, and MacArthur (Genius) Fellow, is not only a master of balancing and blending musical traditions into a n...
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IBA’s Afterschool and Summer Learning Program is an integrated academic and arts program that help students develop language skills and self-esteem, and equips them for academic success. The focus on both academics and arts allows for the freedom to follow their own interests, while also enhancing what they’re learning in school. Our program focuses on a different theme every year, with ...
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As the first bilingual preschool in Massachusetts, our preschool program has been serving our community for over 40 years. A parent favorite, our program preserves students’ culture while also preparing them for school. Our bilingual program makes a big difference for parents, with our multicultural curriculum and diverse classrooms making up 38% of why parents send their kids to our pr...
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To honor our 50th anniversary, we’re taking a look back at the history of IBA’s Preschool program! In 1976, a group of local Latino parents came together to present to the Massachusetts State Government the need to provide services to Spanish-speaking families. One of these services included a bilingual preschool for children. The parents’ effo...
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Rainy skies couldn’t stop our community from coming together for the Annual Cookout & Community Health Fair, organized by our incredible Resident Services team! Plaza Betances was filled with residents enjoying the food and games while taking advantage of the health resources available. As kids played in the bounce house and got their faces painted, adults were able ...
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In April 2018, we invited Bostonians to learn more about how an unlikely group of activists who rallied against local government to avoid being pushed out of their homes. We were humbled by the sheer number of people who came out to this event to share their connection to IBA and our community. As th...
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“It was a long struggle to make the residents believe that, if we united ourselves, nobody could take our rights for better housing and better living standards” -Victor Feliciano The South End of today looks strikingly different than it did 50 years ago. High-end retail and polished townhouses line the sid...
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Nearly half a century ago, Latino members of the South End community organized to dedicate one July weekend to the celebration of their heritage with music, dancing, food, and activities for all ages. Over the years, what started as a neighborhood block party has grown into our annual Festival Betances! Each year we’re proud to welcome more than 3,000 attendees—and this year was no different!...
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During his second inaugural address, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh recommitted himself to tackling Greater Boston’s housing shortage, vowing to “increase [Boston’s] targets for low-income homes, moderate-income homes, senior housing and overall units.” Now that we are over halfway through the year, we’ve pro...
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As we finish up our month-long endeavour to feature our outstanding Youth Development Program, we decided to sit down with Youth Coordinator Angel Lopez and star player Erik Ramirez to talk about their involvement with the OneHood Peace Basketball League. Angel coached for nine years before taking on responsibility of coordinating the entire league. Now in its ...
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IBA’s Youth Development and Afterschool & Summer Learning Programs foster independence, creativity, and academic growth among children and teenagers. This month, we will highlight IBA youth on our social media and website to celebrate their achievements. We interviewed a previous YDP participant to provide some insight on what we do. Tell us a little about yourself....
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Last week, the College and Financial Empowerment Program had the absolute pleasure of recognizing, celebrating, and honoring our program participants in all component areas: Academic, Financial Empowerment, and Technology. We were pleased to welcome a full house of family and friends, whose support made the event feel truly special. Program Direc...
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As part of April's focus on IBA's history, we will hold a historical forum next week featuring prominent individuals who have contributed to the foundation of IBA. We interviewed Mario Small, who will be on of our esteemed guests. With a Ph.D. from Harvard University, he has published books and numerous articles on urban poverty, personal networks, and th...
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