Tools

All America Conversations Toolkit

National Civic League
All-America Conversations are designed to help cities and other groups understand residents’ aspirations for the community, the divisions facing the community and, most importantly, the small, specific actions that give people a sense of confidence that we can work across dividing lines.

Racial Wealth Audit

The Institute on Assets and Social Policy; Demos
This interactive online tool uses real-world examples to help policymakers and advocates explore and understand the causes and effects of the racial wealth gap.

MAPC Local Access Score

MAPC
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)'s active transportation network utility score for each segment of roadway indicates how useful that street segment is for connecting residents with schools, shops, restaurants, parks, and transit stations.

Glossary for Senior-Related Housing and Healthcare Terms in Massachusetts

The Community Builders, Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly, and LeadingAge MA
This glossary is intended to provide a primer on housing and healthcare terms, so that professionals in both housing and healthcare can work collaboratively to ensure that there is sufficient and high-quality housing and services for older adults.

Health Disadvantage Index Tool

Public Health Institute
Mapping tool allows user to explore health disparities in a region

Documentaries about Gentrification

Gentrification Learning Community
These films can be used to learn about issues of gentrification in America

Gentrification Learning Community Resources

Gentrification Learning Community-Mel King Institute
This compendium of resources studied by the gentrification learning community includes broad perspectives for defining and tackling issues of gentrification

Community Development Acronyms

MACDC
List of definitions for common terminology for community development and affordable housing

Racial Equity Tools

Center for Assessment and Policy Development
This site offers tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas for people who want to increase their own understanding and to help those working toward justice at every level – in systems, organizations, communities and the culture at large.

TAP Resident Programs Catalog

MassHousing TAP Program
Catalog offers on-site workshops and programs for residents to TAP members

Metrics for Healthy Communities

Build Healthy Places Network
Website gives sample logic models for cross-sector health oriented initatives

Advancing Racial Equity and Transforming Government: A Resource Guide

Government Alliance on Race & Equity
Resource guide includes lessons learned from practitioners on how to advance racial equity in governments

MeasureUp

Build Healthy Communities Network
Explore tools and resources to help you measure and describe your program's impact on famillies and communities

Social Justice Communications Toolkit

Opportunity Agenda
This toolkit provides communications strategies for promoting equity and social justice

Beyond Confrontation: Community-Centered Policing Tools

PolicyLink
This series of toolkits can help communities and law enforcement understand strategies to build mutual trust and respect, increase safety in communities, and minimize senseless killings and excessive use of force by police.

Creating Opportunities for Families Through Resident Services: A Practitioner's Manual

Enterprise, Freddie Mac
Manual provides guidance on how to create and offer effective services for residents

MA Coalition Finder

The Community Health Training Institute
Find local coalitions working towards healthier communities in Massachusetts

CDC Community Health Improvement Navigator

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Tool provides examples of best practices for how health centers can engage in community improvement projects

Community Development Data Guidebook

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
This how-to guide explains community development data available, how it can be retrieved, and how it can be used

Collective Impact Warm-Up Exercises for Meetings

Collective Impact Forum
Compendium of warm-up exercises for group and community meetings

Community Heart and Soul Field Guide

Orton Family Foundation
Guide offers step-by-step instructions on how to engage and motivate residents to take an active role in shaping the future of their communities

Beautiful Solutions

Ideas and strategies for building just, democratic, and resilient communities from all over the world. An initiative started because of Naomi Klein's book, This Changes Everything

My Mass Mortgage

Citizens' Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA)
CHAPA designed this website to help new homebuyers understand all the steps of the homebuying process in Massachusetts

Managing Neighborhood Change: Anti-Displacement Strategies Toolkit

Metropolitan Area Planning Council
This toolkit is based on a comprehensive literature review of academic and non-academic reports released over the last 10 years.

Staffing Tips and Tools

Local Initiatives Support Corporation
A safety organizer or coordinator can be the glue needed to hold complex community safety partnerships together. These tools can help you structure this type of position and find the right person for the job.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a methodology that directly addresses the relationship between the physical environment and the incidence of crime.

Sample Community Agreements & Memorandum of Understandin

Local Initiatives Support Corporation
In seeking to change the practices of businesses and residential properties which are complicit in illegal activity, or which contribute to disorder (such as by selling drug paraphernalia or high-alcohol content beverages), a number of community safety partnerships have used Good Neighbor Agreements.

Community Survey Templates

Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Checklist and survey templates for you to use door to door.

Customizable Census Data

American Community Survey
Create unique data and infographic reports for your neighborhood.