MADISON PARK DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
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Mission Statement
The mission of MPDC is to foster a vibrant, healthy Roxbury neighborhood that supports the well-being and advancement of the community.
About This Cause
Founded in 1966 by community activists who successfully stopped the city's urban renewal plans and the extension of I-95 into Lower Roxbury, Madison Park Development Corporation went on to develop affordable housing in the very places where homes had been razed to make way for a highway that never happened, staking the community’s claim to the land, promoting the concept of resident-led development, and supporting a new vision for the neighborhood. It is now one of the largest community development corporations in Massachusetts and remains committed to its mission of serving the Roxbury neighborhood through creation and preservation of affordable housing, support for local business, building the power of residents and providing a range of effective programs to strengthen community wellbeing. Roxbury is the historic and cultural home of Boston's African American community, and it is also home to a relatively large Latinx community. Its ethnic diversity is growing as we see that in recent years Roxbury has welcomed newly arriving immigrants from Africa, the Caribbean and Central America. While it is a vibrant, active neighborhood, it is also one of the city’s poorest. 82% of the population of Roxbury are people of color and 54% of the population live at or beneath the federal poverty line. The unemployment rate is high compared to the rest of the city, in particular among youth. Families and individuals are impacted by social determinants of health where Roxbury sees higher rates of environmentally caused illness such as cardio-vascular disease, childhood asthma and diabetes than in other Boston neighborhoods. Yet strides have been made and Roxbury residents continue to work to ensure that the neighborhood is advancing towards improved health, improved public safety, and effective community leadership. And MPDC continues to partner with Roxbury residents to realize these goals and to meet the challenges of gentrification. To date MPDC has created and preserved 1262 affordable rental homes in Dudley Square, Roxbury, the South End and Mattapan, which are home to over 3000 people. Permanent affordability is essential to protecting the homes of low income families as Roxbury experiences rapid gentrification and enormous re-development. MPDC will continue to create affordable housing opportunity in keeping with its commitment to counter the threat of displacement of low income families. At the end of 2016 MPDC received a $30 million HUD grant for Whittier Choice Neighborhood Initiative, in partnership with Boston Housing Authority and Preservation of Affordable Housing to rebuild the Whittier Street housing development and revitalize the surrounding neighborhood. Around the same time, MPDC received an Urban Agenda Grant ($225,000) from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to support space build-out at 2201 Washington Street for BEST Corps hospitality worker training. MPDC completely rehabilitated a former grocery store building at 2101 Washington Street to create 30 mixed-income rental units and 7,500 square feet of retail space. Redevelopment of the building qualified for Historic Tax Credits, with MPDC complying with National Park Service guidelines for historic rehabilitation. The project is part of the Madison Tropical Parcel 10 Master Development Site located at Washington Street and Melnea Cass Boulevard where in 2015 MPDC constructed Roxbury’s first supermarket in 35 years. Other recently completed projects include the Dewitt Community Center at Madison Park Village, which opened its doors in July 2018. The 21,374 square foot facility serves as an important community resource for personal growth, youth development and community building. The facility includes a public internet center, classrooms, a gym, out-of-school-time care facilities and outdoor programming space. MPDC’s partnerships with major institutions located in Dudley Square/Lower Roxbury and beyond, include Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Northeastern University, Roxbury Community College, Boston Public Health Commission and the Boston Public Schools. It also partners with community-based non-profits committed to strengthening the well being of the neighborhood: Nuestra Comunidad CDC, Urban League of Massachusetts, The American City Coalition, Haley House, Alternatives for Community and Environment, Roxbury Cultural District, Historic Boston Inc., and Reggie Lewis Center. MPDC has a staff of 36 professionals and maintains office and administrative space at Hibernian Hall, 184 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA. There are 14 members on the MPDC Board of Directors of whom 45% are neighborhood residents and 91% are people of color. The Board utilizes a committee structure to advance its oversight of the agency; this includes standing committees: Finance, Real Estate, Governance, Organizing and Fundraising. MPDC realizes its powerful work through four departments: Real Estate: The most recently completed rental housing project is Madison-Melnea (60 affordable homes and 16 market rate homes) which completed construction in Spring 2019, with ribbon cutting scheduled for September 2019. Ongoing and pipeline projects include Guild Row (Dudley Square) with 16 affordable homeownership opportunities to come online in 2020; Whittier Choice Neighborhood redevelopment project [in partnership with BHA and POAH] with 200+ deeply affordable rental apartments undergoing complete rehab and ready for move back in 2020. 75 Dudley Street (Dudley Square) will acquire financing by the end of the year with plans for completion of a multi-family affordable rental building in 2021 hosting 42 units. Hibernian Hall: The MPDC arts and culture department produces regularly scheduled theater, music and dance performances throughout the year that reflect and celebrate the cultural heritage of Roxbury. It also serves as a fabulous venue for community events and showcasing the work of local and regional artists. Hibernian Hall is a founder and lead member of Roxbury Cultural District, a designation Roxbury received from Massachusetts Cultural Council in 2017. Hibernian Hall maintains a membership of local arts supporters and advocates and works to ensure affordable access to all of its productions and events for neighborhood residents, residents of MPDC properties and the broader Boston community. Community Action: This department leads community building and engagement efforts, providing discreet programs and working alongside residents to build the power of the neighborhood, promote community safety goals, support the development of young people and improve health and wellness for families and individuals. Its programs include a) public safety (led by 2 local stakeholder committees overseeing safety issues as they arise); b) youth leadership and workforce development (3 out-of-school programs that help our young people build academic, social and workplace skills); c) health equity and wellness programs (trainings, community gardening, healthy foods, physical fitness and policy work); and d) resident leadership (discreet neighborhood projects led by grassroots leaders and civic engagement efforts to register, educate and mobilize Roxbury voters and this year, to encourage residents to participate in the 2020 Census). Dewitt Center: The Dewitt Community Center provides expanded services and programs for Roxbury residents and welcomes community groups and events throughout the year, serving upwards of 5000 people annually, youth, children, adults and seniors.