Boston Redevelopment Authority
20-34 Year-Olds - Young Bostonians

Landscape
Program Details
Housing
Get Involved
Young Parents
Additional Resources
Contact

Landscape
Boston has long been known as a city attractive to young adults. The presence of so many colleges and universities and the job opportunities generated by the city's leading industries are the main factors in this attraction, as are the social, cultural, and recreational assets in and around Boston that make the city a place where young adults want to live, learn, and work.
The 20 to 34 year old age group is an important segment of the city's population. Its members are particularly suited to the knowledge-based and technology-oriented jobs of today's economy. They are also valued as consumers since they possess significant discretionary incomes.

Program Details
ONEin3 Boston serves the one-third of Boston's population that is between the ages of 20 and 34. The program connects Boston's young adults with resources related to home buying, business development, professional networking, and civic engagement.

Focus Groups
ONEin3 Boston held 19 focus groups, asking young Boston residents what their greatest challenges are, as well as what they love about Boston. Here's what they said:

On Our Minds
Our top 5 areas of focus are:
  • Job opportunities

  • Housing challenges
  • Greater civic engagement
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  • Networking opportunities
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  • Strengthening public schools
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In Our Hearts
Our top 5 reasons we love Boston:
  • Diversity

  • Perfect size

  • Cultural and social scene

  • Easy to get around

  • Character and history



Housing
To help young Boston residents overcome the challenges of Boston's hot housing market, ONEin3 Boston provides a centralized listing of resources both for prospective home buyers and renters.

Buying
Renting

Buying

The City of Boston provides several resources to homeowners and those seeking to buy a home. Visit Mayor Thomas M. Menino's Boston Home Center to view all of these programs and tools.

1st Home Program , offered by the City of Boston, provides a great opportunity for first-time homebuyers to purchase a new or rehabilitated home in Boston at an affordable price.

Homebuying 101 Program is a FREE ten-hour course for first-time homebuyers offered by the City of Boston.

Homebuying 101 graduates have these advantages:

  • Homebuying 101 is a required course for the BostonHOME Certificate Initiative

  • Homebuying 101 is a required course for the Soft Second Mortgage

  • Qualified buyers can also access MHFA and other Fannie Mae specialty loan programs upon completion of the course.


Click here to see a schedule of classes.


Homebuying 102 Program is the City of Boston's FREE 2-hour class specifically focused toward purchasing a condominium. It is intended for those who have completed the regular Homebuying 101 class.

Classes are held approximately every 6-8 weeks. Call the Boston Home Center at 617-635-4663 for the latest schedule.

The Boston Soft Second Mortgage Program offers low and moderate income buyers a discounted mortgage rate with no points, reduced closing costs and no mortgage insurance fees.

The Boston HomeWorks Program offers eligible homeowners financial and technical assistance for their home improvement repair projects. Owner-occupants of 1-4 family homes, including condominium units, who meet program guidelines, may be eligible to participate in one of the following Boston HomeWorks two grants programs:

HomeWorks program - offers assistance for interior and exterior repairs.
Boston's Historic HomeWorks program - provides assistance for historically appropriate exterior improvement for homes that are at least 50 years old.
HomeWorks Emergency Loan program - provides conditional emergency loan to help finance home repair.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority requires real estate developers to create affordable homeownership and rental opportunities in the city of Boston. Visit this site to find out about specific current opportunities and related income guidelines.

You can even register for regular email notification of affordable housing opportunities.

The Artist Housing Initiative is a program of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, designed to help Boston's artists find the live/work space they need. Information is available on eligibility guidelines, as well as specific units currently available - generally at below-market prices.

Mass Housing

At the state level, Mass Housing offers additional programs and resources for would-be home buyers. Use The Boston Atlas to see aerial photos of real estate you are considering, as well as to look up current City of Boston assessment figures for that property.

Renting
The Rental Housing Resource Centerprovides rental specific resources designed to help Boston's renters through whatever difficulty they might encounter. Check out the Good Neighbor's Handbook
Two great apartment search tools are Boston.com

Get Involved

Boston is rich with opportunities for civic engagement. Whether in the form of political activism, committing time on a non-profit board, or participating in service opportunities, Boston has a myriad of volunteer opportunities to offer.

Voting
Volunteer Opportunities
Board Membership

Voting

Register to Vote

  • Who are your elected officials?
    Look up important information about your hereState and City elected officials as well as information about where to vote
  • City resources
  • The Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS)
    Your neighborhood liaison in the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) is your direct link to Mayor Menino.

1 Charlestown Jack Kelly 617.635.3549
1 East Boston John Forbes 617.635-2681
1 North End, West End Nicole Leo 617.635-4987
2 Chinatown Denny Ching 617.635-3891
2 South Boston Amanda Simon 617.635.2680
2 South End/Bay Village Meghan Haggerty 617.635.4517
4 Mattapan/ North Dorchester Freda Brasfield 617.635.2677
3 Dorchester Lauren Smyth 617.635.4819
3 Mid-Dorchester Karine Querido 617.635.1880
5 Hyde Park, Roslindale David McNulty 617.635.4830
6 Jamaica Plain Lesley Delaney Hawkins 617.635.4855
6 West Roxbury Ryan Fitzgerald 617.635.4818
7 Roxbury Keith Williams 617.635.3488
8 Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fenway, Kenmore, Mission Hill William Onuoha 617.635.2679
9 Allston, Brighton Paul Holloway 617.635.2678


Liaison: GLBT Community Karen Fried 617.635.4520
Liaison: Vietnamese Community Diane Huynh 617.635.4873
Liaison: Hispanic Community Marco Torres 617.635.2185
Liaison: Asian Community Denny Ching 617.635.3891
Liaison: Cape Verdean Community Karine Querido 617.635.1880
Liaison: Elderly Mel Goldstein 617.635.4834
Director Jay Walsh 617.635.4316
Associate Director Nikko Mendoza 617.635.2682
Special Projects Coordinator Karen Fried 617.635.4520
Staff Assistant 1/ENS Coordinator Tanya Robinson 617.635.3309
Main Office/Receptionist Lisa Coveney 617.635.3485
  • Impact Advisory Groups (IAG) IAGs advise Boston Redevelopment Staff on the impact and appropriate mitigation for large-scale development projects proposed in Boston's communities. To ensure your voice is heard, you can request to be in the pool for IAG participation.
  • City Planning Initiatives Learn about city planning initiatives in your neighborhood and how to participate in the public planning process.
  • The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) Boston Chapter strengthens the nonprofit community by providing accessible professional development, resources, and networking opportunities for young professionals involved in the Boston-area nonprofit sector. YNPN Boston expands the impact of the Boston-area nonprofit community by:

  • attracting talented young people to the sector
  • supporting nonprofit professionals in their work
  • providing professional development opportunities for current and emerging leaders in the field
  • Volunteerist Magazine is a new magazine and affiliated website designed to promote corporate citizenship and community volunteerism.
  • Boston Cares' mission is to make volunteering accessible to everyone, and to this end it provides a reliable source of volunteer labor to non-profit organizations in the greater Boston area.
  • FIERI-Boston is an organization of students and young professionals celebrating Italian culture. The group meets in the North End and is composed of members from Boston and cities and towns nearby.
  • National Service Alumni Network : If you have committed a year or more of service to the community you may want to join this civic association for people who have done the same.
  • The United Way of Massachusetts Bay has many volunteer listings for the Greater Boston area
  • AFC Mentoring provides opportunities for those interested in working with adopted and foster children.
  • Common Boston is a volunteer association affiliated with the Boston Society of Architects. They organize events that engage the public in Boston's built environment with aims to improve civic responsibility, participation, and awareness in regards to design and Boston neighborhoods and communities. They always need volunteers, but they specifically need presenters, hosts and tour assistants for the Common Boston 2009 Festival.
  • Civic Source is a comprehensive listing of events around Boston for civically engaged citizens.
  • The Arts and Business Council invites you to put your business experience to use supporting Boston area arts and culture non-profits. Check out their Business Volunteers for the Arts program and get involved!
  • SCI Dorchester is an effort to bring greater social capital and civic engagement to the Dorchester community. There are many ways to get involved in Dorchester and SCI Dorchester will show you the way.


Young Parents

Boston has what young parents need

School, Day Care and Summer Camp
Art, Entertainment and Fun
Parks and Recreation
Healthcare


School, Day Care and Summer Camp

1. Letter to Public School Parents from Superintendent Thomas Payzant
2. YBPS is a joint effort by the YMCA of Greater Boston and the Boston Public Schools to help young parents in Boston make school choices. The program offers workshops and information on the BPS system and specific schools. Please visit them on the web
3. Countdown to Kindergarten Starting kindergarten is an exciting and hopeful time for families and children. Your child's education will play an important role in shaping his or her future. Kindergarten will provide the strong start your child deserves. The year before kindergarten is the perfect time to get ready. Countdown to Kindergarten helps families get to know the Boston Public Schools, choose the right school for their children, learn and grow together, and ease the transition into kindergarten from home or preschool.
Countdown to Kindergarten

4. Guide to the Boston Public Schools online
The Boston Public Schools' all-purpose guide to finding the right school for your children, this publication contains all policy information necessary for parents of school age children.
BPS Homepage

5. Guides to Child Care Services in Boston
These listings contain information about various day care options for residents of Boston, as well as tips about what to consider when choosing a child care service. Child Care Choices of Boston
Verizon Child Care Services Listings
Child Care Resource Center

6. After School Programming
Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) offers after school programming in many neighborhoods of the City of Boston. Informational summaries and contact information for all programs can be found on their website or by email [mailto:pbha@pbha.org or by calling 617.495.5526.

7. Summer Camps
Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) also offers summer camps across the City of Boston. Information can be found on their website or by email [mailto:pbha@pbha.org or by calling 617.495.5526.

8. Dorchester Parents Group
Members are all parents considering or planning to send their children to a Boston Public School. The DPG brings in speakers (parents and staff) from different schools, shares information with members, and keeps members updated about changes in the school system and in registering for school. Children are welcome at all meetings. Click here for more information.


Art, Entertainment and Fun

1. The Wang Center
Through its arts education program, entitled Suskind Young at Arts, the Wang Center offers a variety of different activities for both adults and children. Ranging from workshops and acting classes to play readings, these activities are fun and informative for people of all ages.
Suskind Young at Arts

2. The Museum of Fine Arts
The MFA has a full calendar of events geared toward families and children. Among the many continuously running programs are "Art Alive," which provides theatrical interpretations of works of art, and the "Children's Room," a free gallery and workshop program for individual children ages 6-12.
MFA Family Programs MFA Children and Family Calendar

3. The Museum of Science
The Museum of Science has an unbelievable amount of child, teen and family oriented programming available. From interactive exhibits on topics as diverse as math, the Big Dig and foreign languages, to the Planetarium and uber-widescreen Mugar Omni Theater, the Museum of Science is an ideal educational outing for young families. Museum of Science Admission and Membership Info


4. The New England Aquarium
Situated on the Boston Waterfront at Long Wharf, the Aquarium provides entertainment and education to patrons of all ages. The four story main exhibit, a cylindrical ocean tank filled with sharks, turtles, a coral reef and plenty of colorful tropical fish, is unforgettable. So are the interactive shows put on by the Aquarium's knowledgeable staff, and the 3D IMAX movies at the Simons IMAX theater.
New England Aquarium
Parents Page
Simons IMAX Theater

5. Kid-Friendly Restaurants
City Search provides listings and descriptions of restaurants in Boston that welcome young children with open arms.
City Search Kid-Friendly Restaurants

6. Listings
SearchBoston provides listings of events and places that are fun for young families. SearchBoston


Parks and Recreation

1. Search for parks in Boston on the /parks/openspaces/" target="_blank"> Boston Parks Department website br>
2. Search for parks in Greater Boston on the /dcr/metroboston.htm " target="_blank"> Department of Conservation and Recreation website


Healthcare

1. Boston Public Health Commission provides lots of helpful information on a range of health related issues including the Child and Adolescent Health and Family and Community Support. A list of their programs and services can be found at BPHC Programs .

2. The Mayor's Health Line is a clearinghouse for information about healthcare in the City of Boston. It is free and can be contacted online at Mayor's Health Line or by calling 1.800.847.0710.

3. A list of free clinics in Boston can be found at Free clinics

4. Boston Community Health Centers can be found across Boston, and are listed at Boston Locations


Additional Resources

Visit our Facebook Page
Follow us on Twitter @ONEin3
Boston Redevelopment Authority News and Updates Learn more about Boston Parenthood
Learn more about Boston.com Events
Learn more about Boston Phoenix Events
Learn more about Upcoming.org Events
Learn more about Bay State Banner Events
Learn more about Downtime Online Events
Learn more about Panorama Magazine Events
Learn more about The Innovation District
Contact
Devin Cole, Manager Onein3 Boston
617.918.4303
Devin.Cole.bra@cityofboston.gov">
ONEin3Boston@CityofBoston.gov">

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