Brookline has no shortage of resources, folks willing to do the work, or qualified professionals that can make lasting change. What much of Brookline’s governance does lack is perspective and a vested interest in making change happen sooner rather than later.
As a community organizer in Brookline I have worked to build equity in several core areas including affordable housing, affordable childcare, and economic opportunities (job creation & workforce development programs), and others, with the support and guidance of Brookline’s most marginalized communities. Though many historic firsts have been achieved, time and time again, we saw how much ground was repeatedly lost, and how opportunities to uplift marginalized communities were squandered at the Select Board level in particular. The community witnessed not only the inability for elected officials to grasp realities others face daily, but their inability to be accountable for unwise choices. Eventually the question “Why won’t governance listen to our community?” became “Will you represent our community in governance?”.
After the Covid-19 pandemic devastated vulnerable communities, 22 million in ARPA funding was awarded in Round 1 with no impact being felt in the low income Black and Brown communities. Despite residents routinely coming out to voice their community's concerns, none of this feedback was implemented in Round 2 and again, no impact was felt by the Black and Brown community. When residents spoke on public record that many, if not all, of the entities being awarded funds did not have any meaningful outreach to Brookline's most vulnerable communities and that their programs were not accessible to us, some made slapdash efforts to check the box of outreach. Unsurprisingly, no feedback was implemented and no followup was pursued. Yet, the ARPA Review Committee lauded themselves on their allocation decisions of these once in a lifetime ARPA funds.
Brookline Governance has failed to address repeated discrimination both within the community, like at Brookline High School, and from governance itself against the very people they have chosen to serve. Several community members detailed the repeated attacks on both individuals and community efforts such as WA19 to create a Black and Brown Commission, and were ignored entirely or discouraged from participating further. There are countless examples that reaffirm good governance in Brookline is a privilege only afforded to those that do not rock the boat.
Of course, equality feels like oppression when you are accustomed to privilege. However, many folks across the aisle also bring up valid concerns. These concerns drastically reduce when programs and initiatives are fiscally sound and successfully implemented. It is much easier to garner support when you can demonstrate the ease of integration of these efforts and the public benefit. To successfully reach folks across the aisle, we must demonstrate that we can effectively work with and uplift folks on this side and make community solutions a reality. This will shift the focus from what folks will "lose" as Brookline becomes more equitable, to all that they stand to gain. To continue to ignore community feedback and willingly pick less effective solutions is to intentionally stunt the progress of our communities and sabotage the public perception of equity building efforts.
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