Tools
Healthy Homes: What You Need to Know about Pests and Pesticides
Boston Public Health CommissionWhat you need to know about pests and pesticides to protect your family's health.
Massachusetts Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Toolkit
Massachusetts Integrated Pest ManagementThis toolkit consists a self-assessment checklist and resources for procurement staff, managers, and owners of affordable housing.
Resources for Mission-Driven Organizations
This resource hub is designed to support nonprofits by providing updates on federal executive orders and policy changes, insights into their implications for the sector, and strategies to navigate these shifts while centering equity and justice in their work.
Winter Energy Price Spike Toolkit
MAPCA communications and social media toolkit for Massachusetts municipalities.
Engagement for Equity
Health Resources in ActionHRiA offers a toolkit and playbook for government entities, community organizations and residents to address health inequities and advance equitable outcomes.
NeighborWorks Fall Learning Series: October – December 2024
NeighborWorks AmericaConvenient, cost-effective online trainings to grow your career and impact!
Center for Housing Data
Massachusetts Housing PartnershipWe collect, interpret, and share data to improve state policy, foster effective community conversations and ensure that we meet our housing needs throughout Massachusetts.
The 2024 Elections and Beyond: Fortifying Ourselves, Our Organizations, and Our Ecosystems
Building Movement ProjectElection cycles can be opportunities to deepen community engagement, sharpen narratives, and clarify organizational and movement values. As we head towards the November 2024 elections, how can we prepare ourselves as individuals and organizations to play the right roles, to respond quickly to unfolding events, and to buttress our connections and partnerships?
Beyond Democracy: Mobilizing BIPOC Voters in the South
The Opportunity AgendaVoters of color in the South have been instrumental in challenging systemic inequalities and shaping the political landscape nationwide. Yet, many often feel overlooked, despite being crucial to building a more inclusive and representative democracy. To strengthen your communications in these communities, The Opportunity Agenda developed "Beyond Democracy: Mobilizing BIPOC Voters in the South," a narrative guide that provides tips for telling the story of community, activism, and the importance of civic engagement to protecting our democracy. By creating and promoting a cohesive narrative about the power of collective action, we can build upon BIPOC Southerners’ legacy and rally for policies that create better communities for everyone.
A Conceptual Map of Structural Racism in Health Care
Longstanding racial and ethnic disparities in health care experiences contribute to profoundly inequitable health and life outcomes in the United States.
The Push and Pull: Declining Interest in Nonprofit Leadership
This report presents findings from BMP’s 2022 survey of more than 3,000 nonprofit staff on the factors related to their aspiration to top leadership roles, as well as the experiences of current nonprofit leaders.
The Gap - A Shortage of Affordable Homes
No State Has an Adequate Supply of Affordable Rental Housing for the Lowest-Income Renters
BUILDING A BETTER AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUTURE
How States Can Integrate Health, Energy Efficiency, Working Conditions, and Racial Equity in Their Qualified Allocation Plans
A neighbor saw her moving in and screamed, she said. ‘Well, I looked back at him and screamed.’
Two Black moms integrated public housing in South Boston. Decades later, they call the move courageous.
Global Greater Boston: Immigrants in a Changing Region
For as long as it’s been a city, immigrants have been central to Boston’s identity. For this new report Boston Indicators partnered with Immigration Research Initiative to analyze who makes up immigrant communities in Greater Boston, quantify what they contribute to our regional economy, and detail the immigration pathways they take to get here.
Advocates' Guide 2024!
Every year, the National Low Income Housing Coalition publishes the Advocates’ Guide to educate advocates of all kinds about the programs and policies that make housing affordable to low-income people across America.
Building Inclusive AI: Strategies for Training Against Racism
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved since 2021, becoming an integral part of our daily lives. However, with the integration of AI into various sectors and applications, the issue of bias in AI has rightfully come to the forefront of discussion. Recognizing and addressing bias in generative AI models is crucial to building inclusive technology which ensures diverse perspectives are factored, and that outcomes are both fair and equitable.
A VISION FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES
MASSACHUSETTS COALITION FOR RACIAL EQUITY IN HOUSING
Compare Project Management Software
Search and select project management software to build your own comparison and see which provider best fits your requirements.
Slides for Webinar: DHCD Sustainability, Resiliency, and Healthy Homes 4.19.23
Gregory Abbe, DHCDCome learn about ways that Public Housing Residents, DHCD, and Housing Authorities can work together to create healthier, more resilient buildings that emit fewer greenhouse gasses.
Webinar: DHCD Sustainability, Resiliency, and Healthy Homes 4.19.23
Gregory Abbe, DHCDCome learn about ways that Public Housing Residents, DHCD, and Housing Authorities can work together to create healthier, more resilient buildings that emit fewer greenhouse gasses.
Slides for Webinar: Understanding Who's Who - DHCD, the LHA Board, and the Local Tenant Organization 2.8.23
Sarah O'Leary and Bill Halfpenny, DHCDFor Residents and LHA Board Members Join this webinar with DHCD and the Mel King Institute to understand the different powers of the Local Tenant Organization, the LHA Board, and DHCD. Residents will learn more about the "chain of command" for resolving individual problems, the expansive powers of their local Board, and the limits of DHCD's authority.
Webinar: Understanding Who's Who - DHCD, the LHA Board, and the Local Tenant Organization 2.8.23
Sarah O'Leary and Bill Halfpenny, DHCDFor Residents and LHA Board Members Join this webinar with DHCD and the Mel King Institute to understand the different powers of the Local Tenant Organization, the LHA Board, and DHCD. Residents will learn more about the "chain of command" for resolving individual problems, the expansive powers of their local Board, and the limits of DHCD's authority.
Local Housing Authority (LHA) Fiscal Year Ends
LHA Fiscal Year Ends
Slides for Running Community Meetings Webinar 2.8.23
Gillian MasonJoin MKI Trainer Gillian Mason for a discussion about how your LTO can run a good community meeting. We speak about reasons for holding meetings, the role meetings play in an effective tenant association, and share some sample meeting agendas. We also speak about balancing participation and handling tough participants.
Running Community Meetings Webinar 2.8.23
Gillian MasonJoin MKI Trainer Gillian Mason for a discussion about how your LTO can run a good community meeting. We speak about reasons for holding meetings, the role meetings play in an effective tenant association, and share some sample meeting agendas. We also speak about balancing participation and handling tough participants.
RLA Tenant Participation Regulations - Trivia Answer Key
Resident Leadership Academy Tenant Participation Regulation Trivia Answer Key
Slides for Webinar: Performance Management Reviews (PMR) with DHCD 12.7.22
Lisa Taylor and Robert Garrett, DHCDLocal Housing Authorities participate in a Performance Management Review (PMR) in the areas of finance/management, capital, maintenance, and CHAMP as established by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). In this presentation, DHCD will give an overview of PMR criteria and will specifically focus on the new CHAMP and maintenance PMR criteria.
Webinar: Performance Management Reviews (PMR) with DHCD 12.7.22
Lisa Taylor and Robert Garrett, DHCDLocal Housing Authorities participate in a Performance Management Review (PMR) in the areas of finance/management, capital, maintenance, and CHAMP as established by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). In this presentation, DHCD will give an overview of PMR criteria and will specifically focus on the new CHAMP and maintenance PMR criteria.
Slides for Capital Project Implementation Process, Featuring DHCD 10.18.22
Stefanie Brynen, DHCDJoin this webinar with DHCD (The Department of Housing and Community Development) to learn more about implementing capital improvements at your Local Housing Authority. We discuss how residents and board members are involved in this process.
Slides for Community Leadership 101
Francisco Ramos, NewVue CommunitiesWhether you are a community leader or work with community leaders, join us for this training! We will cover the basics of developing community leadership in an organizing and power-building context. We’ll cover organizing principles, the role of the community leader, turn-out, leader role modeling, and more. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the work, you’re invited to share your wisdom, stories, and questions. This training will kick of a series focused on community leadership. GOALS Create greater shared understanding of basic organizing/leadership concepts among CDC organizers and other interested folks Create peer learning opportunities across community leaders, organizers and possibly RSCs. Spark a longer ongoing process to help professionals accomplish their goals RE leadership development; identify further training topics Build direct skills for community leaders
Community Leadership 101
Francisco Ramos, NewVue Communities and Sarah Byrnes, RLA DirectorWhether you are a community leader or work with community leaders, join us for this training! We will cover the basics of developing community leadership in an organizing and power-building context. We’ll cover organizing principles, the role of the community leader, turn-out, leader role modeling, and more. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the work, you’re invited to share your wisdom, stories, and questions. This training will kick of a series focused on community leadership. GOALS Create greater shared understanding of basic organizing/leadership concepts among CDC organizers and other interested folks. Create peer learning opportunities across community leaders, organizers and possibly RSCs. Spark a longer ongoing process to help professionals accomplish their goals RE leadership development; identify further training topics Build direct skills for community leaders.
Webinar: The Capital Project Implementation Process, Featuring DHCD 10.18.22
Stefanie Brynen, DHCDJoin this webinar with DHCD (The Department of Housing and Community Development) to learn more about implementing capital improvements at your Local Housing Authority. We discuss how residents and board members are involved in this process.
Maria Fernandes-Dominique Spotlight
Lia Downing, MKI"Maria Fernandes-Dominique brings an array of valuable experiences from a variety of mission-driven organizations to her work with the Mel King Institute. She is a self-described community development practitioner with an impressive background, having held roles at NeighborWorks America, the Boston Bar Association, Boston Children’s Hospital, and now Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts." To read more, please see the full Spotlight.
Carol Roberts Spotlight
Lia Downing, MKI"The fellow residents in Carol Roberts’ public housing complex are not afraid to give her a call. As the tenant board president of Caffrey Towers in Brockton, she has worked to build trust with her neighbors, and that trust comes with its own responsibilities." To read more, please see the full Spotlight.
The Grievance Process Booklet
MLRI"Using Your Public Housing Grievance Process. A Know Your Rights Guide for Public Housing Tenants in Massachusetts."
How the Mel King Institute’s Public Housing Training Program is helping one tenant group to bridge divides amongst residents
Nadine Sanchara, MACDC"The public housing residents in Salem have a strong tenants organization, and while they face many challenges, the Mel King Institute’s (MKI) Public Housing Training Program is preparing them to work together towards their common goals." To read more, please see the full blog.
Mel King Institute Public Housing Training Participants Form New Tenant Groups
Nadine Sanchara, MACDC"In spring of 2020, just as COVID was ramping up, Judy O’Kulsky began knocking on her neighbors’ doors at the public housing development where she lives in Belchertown, MA. Judy was able to get her neighbors involved in a newly forming tenant group." To read more, please see the full blog.
Boston Builds Credit
Boston Builds CreditHere, you’ll find free and low-cost resources to help Boston and area residents understand how credit works and learn how to build, protect and improve your credit scores. With a trusted network of partners working with the City of Boston and United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley, our team can put you in contact with a trained financial coach and financial wellness workshops.
DHCD Webinar: Funding and Supporting Capital Improvements at Your LHA 5.26.22
Stefanie BrynenJoin this webinar with DHCD (The Department of Housing and Community Development) to learn more about funding and supporting capital improvements at your Local Housing Authority. Due to successful advocacy on the part of MassNAHRO and Mass Union, an additional $150 million will be available for LHA capital improvements through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Join us to learn how residents can be involved in decisions regarding these funds, as well as an overview of the capital improvement planning process and the RCAT program (Regional Capital Assistance Teams).