Latest news with #MassINC
Boston Globe
22-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Builders coalition enters new chapter as founder Dave Madan rejoins
Advertisement Under Madan's leadership, the group shortened its name to The Builder Coalition, or TBC. The focus, he said, is on opening doors 'for all talented individuals, especially those who have historically lacked access to key networks and resources.' Its mission now includes a 'TBC Innovation Center' think tank, essentially consulting and convening services that it offers to help other communities diversify their development sectors. The first national Innovation Center event will be held in September, at the Seaport Hotel, to bring together real estate finance experts from around the country. Madan leads a four-person staff, and hopes to add a fifth by early 2026, with an annual budget of around $1 million. The organization is also awaiting action from the Healey administration on a state budget earmark for another $150,000. Advertisement The coalition celebrated its new phase of growth Friday by hosting a fellowship kickoff event at the Bruce Bolling building in Roxbury and a tour of affordable housing sites where previous TBC fellows have foundations in the ground and wood frames going up. Speakers included Representative Russell Holmes and Senator Liz Miranda (co-sponsors of the budget earmark), city housing chief Sheila Dillon , and Sabrina Correia from sponsor JPMorgan Chase & Co. For Madan, it was inspiring watching this new class of 25 fellows — each one gets matched with two industry mentors — meet with previous fellows and observe how they're changing the city in their own way. 'It's a pretty incredible thing,' Madan said. 'There were just big smiles when everyone got off the buses. They were like, ... 'This is the real deal. Seeing is believing.'' Banking on more English classes When the findings of a MassINC report about the need for more career-focused English classes were announced a year ago at the UMass Club, those in the room looked around at each other and said, essentially, 'We can solve this.' The report showed that funding in Massachusetts for English proficiency classes was not keeping pace with the pressing need: One in 10 working-age adults in the state still had limited English skills. 'That report was really a galvanizing moment,' said Rahn Dorsey , chief executive of the Eastern Bank Foundation , a lead sponsor of the MassINC report. Now, the report is translating into action. The Eastern Bank Foundation last week announced it is committing $10 million over three years to support English teaching programs in the state, with an eye toward filling workforce gaps. The news, announced at the State House, happened alongside the Healey administration's announcement that the Legislature had pledged a separate $10 million for English proficiency work in a recent supplemental budget. Advertisement Foundation board chair Bob Rivers , who spoke at the State House event, said in an interview that it's just a coincidence that the dollar amounts are the same. The Eastern Bank Foundation recently hired Eva Millona as a foundation fellow to help lead this new initiative, with assistance from Jerry Rubin , the former chief executive of Jewish Vocational Service and another foundation fellow. Millona is back in Boston after serving in the US Department of Homeland Security. Previously, she led the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition . MassINC chief executive Joe Kriesberg said he was impressed to see the foundation's financial commitment to this cause, saying it 'supercharges' the Healey administration's efforts. 'It's certainly of a scale that you do not see very often from any kind of foundation or philanthropy,' Kriesberg said. '[It's] courageous for Eastern ... to take this leadership role at a time when not everybody is standing up to support our immigrant communities.' Getting machines to talk at SharkNinja Making a 'smart home' even smarter was one of the top missions for Mike Harris during his seven years at Amazon . Now, it will be one of his top missions at SharkNinja . The Needham-based company has recruited Harris from Amazon to be its first-ever chief innovation and technology officer, as it tries to Harris said he's been impressed with the pace of activity at the headquarters, with engineers tinkering with products around almost every corner, to improve on the flagship lines of Shark vacuums and Ninja blenders, as well as new lines ranging from smoothie makers to hair dryers. Advertisement The road to Amazon for Harris started at a startup called Zonoff, which specialized in connected-home software. Smart-home device company Ring acquired Zonoff's staff in 2017, bringing Harris on board. Amazon gobbled up Ring roughly a year later. Harris will lead SharkNinja's electrical engineering and software efforts related to connectivity — figuring out how to get various electronic devices to talk with each other. He'll report to Ross Richardson , SharkNinja's chief design officer. Now that he's furnishing his new home in the Boston area, he may be in the market for SharkNinja products. He's already hearing from others who want to place orders. 'All my friends and family have been sending me lists,' he added. 'I'm going to have to set up a warehouse just to fulfill [their] needs.' Rest-stop rivalry draws lobbyists A redevelopment lease for In the final round, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation ended up Global Partners . Global has long been represented by Dorchester lobbyist Bobby White , whose firm, Robert F. White Associates , has several other fuel sector clients. On June 18, the day Applegreen O'Neill and Associates , Boston's third-busiest lobbying firm. Spokesman Reid Lamberty said Global has relied on White's expertise over the years, and the company tapped O'Neill to 'help us navigate MassDOT's final decision on the RFP — specifically to gain insight into the process and receive guidance as we moved forward." Advertisement Global continues to make the case to MassDOT and Governor Maura Healey 's administration that its bid is better, primarily because it contains a higher rent price and because of Global's local ties. On Applegreen's side, the Blackstone -backed company hired Smith, Costello & Crawford , the city's busiest lobbying shop, last year to help craft the bid. Recently, Dempsey Associates , the city's fourth-busiest lobbying firm, has been involved as Applegreen contractor Suffolk Construction 's adviser. Jim Smith of Smith, Costello & Crawford said his firm's advice to Applegreen was to be responsive to the top priorities of the Healey administration, namely to launch a Smith, a Tesla owner, said the primary reason electric vehicles are not being more widely adopted is the concern over finding places to charge up when batteries are running low. The service plaza bid, he said, represented an opportunity to address that issue. Plus, the existing state plazas 'are not in particularly good shape [and] are frankly embarrassing for a commonwealth that really relies on tourism' to help the economy. 'It wasn't complicated at all,' Smith said. 'Yeah, money was important but there were other things that were more important.' Jon Chesto can be reached at
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion: To Close the Latino Student Success Gap, Open Up the Educator Pipeline
Recent National Assessment of Educational Progress scores reveal concerning trends for Latino students. While some student groups showed modest improvements in 2024, Hispanic eighth-graders experienced declines across core subjects — dropping 5 points in reading and 3 points in mathematics since 2022. The declines reflect widening disparities between higher- and lower-performing students of all backgrounds. More than two-thirds of lower-performing students come from historically disadvantaged populations, such as English language learners. With English learners projected to make up 25% of students by 2025 — and 76.4% of those being Spanish speakers — it's time to remove the barriers hindering Latino students. A key factor holding back Latino students academically is that educators rarely mirror the demographics of schools. When Latino students have teachers with the same background, these teachers reflect the same culture as students, creating an environment for students to have their identity affirmed. Research links exposure to minority teachers to improvements in attendance and achievement. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Latino students now represent 29% of pre-K to 12 students across the U.S., yet only 9% of teachers identify as such. At the same time, teacher candidates of color encounter obstacles to entering and staying in the classroom. Four critical areas need to be addressed to strengthen the Latino educator pipeline: financial support, strategic recruitment, professional networks and culturally responsive practices. First, financial support must be enhanced at crucial points in educators' careers. Competitive salaries that allow for a middle-class lifestyle — combined with loan forgiveness programs, scholarships and performance bonuses — can make teaching more attractive as a career path for Latino educators. Second, Latino educator recruitment requires strategic workforce development approaches similar to those used in other fields. For example, the Tulare County Office of Education in California has been administering the Teacher Residency for Rural Education Project since 2019, preparing single-subject teachers who focus on STEM and English to meet the needs of local rural school districts. 'We strive to mirror the student population of the schools we serve and implement grow-your-own programs for preparing local talent as educators in our communities,' explained Marvin Lopez, executive director of the Tulare County Office of Education. All schools in partner districts have a higher population of socioeconomically disadvantaged, Hispanic/Latino and English learners than the state overall. On average, 68.2% of learners qualify for free/reduced lunch rates, 49.2% are Hispanic/Latino and 15% English learners. Research conducted by the Wheelock Education Policy Center on behalf of MassINC in partnership with Latinos for Education recommended a similar initiative in Massachusetts. The study found that while Massachusetts doubled the number of teachers of color hired from 2012 to 2022, students of color increased at a faster rate, leading to a larger gap in representation. According to the report, 'a homegrown strategy to close gaps in college access and success could have considerable impact.' The researchers also noted that if new hires reflected student demographics, by the end of the decade, the percentage of teachers of color would double — from 10% today to about 23% by 2030. Related Third, robust support systems and professional networks for Latino educators are essential for their success and longevity in the profession. Only 57% of Hispanic teacher candidates pass the Praxis exam even after multiple attempts, while 75% of white candidates ultimately pass. Supporting test preparation for Latino teacher candidates can make a big difference in addressing this hurdle. A 2024 research partnership between ETS®, and TEACH demonstrated significant improvements in exam pass rates through test prep. The study showed that, with sufficient support, teacher candidates from historically marginalized backgrounds experienced meaningful increases in pass rates. This focus on certification support represents one step toward building a more representative teacher workforce. Supporting professional growth is also essential. Latinos for Education's Aspiring Latino Leaders Fellowship offers one solution, giving Latino education leaders culturally responsive professional development to envision long-term careers in education rather than temporary positions. There's always room for more organizations to help keep these vital teachers in classrooms. These support systems should provide opportunities for leadership advancement, professional development and mentorship connections that understand the unique challenges Latino educators face when navigating school systems. Fourth, promoting culturally responsive practices that reflect student communities helps retain Latino teachers and improves educational outcomes. It's not just schools and administration that must address this challenge. Family and community support are vital to expanding the Latino educator pipeline. One huge asset in this population's favor: Nine out of 10 Latino parents see high-quality public schools as instrumental to their child's success, according to a Latinos for Education survey of Houston-area parents. The same Houston survey uncovered strong support for more teachers who can bridge language and cultural divides. A striking 80% of Latino parents said they would become more involved if more Spanish-fluent educators were present. And teachers see similar value in family support: A survey of 700 teachers found that 87% believe increased parent and family engagement is the most impactful way to close student learning gaps. Schools that incorporate culturally responsive curriculum and ensure staff composition reflects student demographics create environments where Latino educators feel valued rather than isolated. These practices also benefit students directly by exposing them to varied perspectives and teaching approaches. The declining academic scores of Latino students require urgent action. Increasing Latino teacher representation offers a powerful long-term solution. When students see educators who share their cultural background and experiences, achievement gaps begin to close. Financial support enhancement, strategic recruitment, robust support networks and culturally responsive practices will strengthen the Latino educator pipeline. As more Latino teachers serve as 'mirrors' for Latino students, academic outcomes can improve, creating better learning environments for all students.
Boston Globe
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Most Mass. voters want more housing, poll finds
A new poll this week from MassINC, commissioned by the pro-housing group Abundant Housing Massachusetts, found that the majority of the state's voters More than 90 percent of the 803 voters MassINC surveyed in March identified the cost of housing here as a problem, and 71 percent said they would prioritize building more homes that people can afford over preserving the character of neighborhoods. Some 57 percent of respondents said the cost of homeownership and renting in their own communities is 'a big problem,' and 75 percent said there are not enough homes in Massachusetts that the average person can buy or rent. 'This survey shows that the loud opposition that often show up at local planning meetings are actually a minority,' said Richard Parr, senior research director at The MassINC Polling Group. 'Most people, when presented with practical solutions, seem ready to say yes to more housing.' Related : Advertisement The poll, said Jesse Kanson-Benanav, executive director of Abundant Housing, indicates that the extreme cost of housing in the state — the median-priced single-family home in Greater Boston Advertisement An apartment building under construction in Lynn in 2023. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Its a welcome sign for housing advocates, who argue the state needs to compel cities and towns to build more. Massachusetts has not built enough housing over the last couple of decades to keep up with the state's growing population, and the Healey Administration earlier this year established The majority of people surveyed by MassINC said they would support efforts to increase new development near public transit, as well as allowing homes to be built on smaller patches of land. Most also said they would support allowing smaller multifamily buildings like triple-deckers in their neighborhoods. The results of the poll may sound contradictory because opposition to new housing is loud in many communities. But it aligns with homeowners. Those opponents may not necessarily be representative of the community at large, the BU research found. And even so, the majority of the voters surveyed by MassINC said they lived in a single-family home. Support for new housing development was highest among renters, non-white voters, parents, and people under the age of 45. Advertisement The poll, said Kanson-Benanav, should serve as evidence for the Legislature to pass more policies that encourage development. Several legislators have recently introduced bills that would reduce the scope of the MBTA Communities Act, the law that requires towns to zone for more housing. And two recently announced Republican candidates who plan to run against Governor Maura Healey have criticized the administration for its approach to enforcing the law, with one, former MBTA executive Brian Shortsleeve, saying he would push the Legislature to repeal it. 'Across the Commonwealth, voters want more housing solutions that create an abundance of housing opportunities for families, renters, and longtime homeowners alike,' said Kanson-Benanav. 'They're telling lawmakers: say yes to homes — and yes to the future of Massachusetts by passing reforms that will build more homes for everyday residents.' Andrew Brinker can be reached at
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Poll looks at ditching gas tax, expanding tolls, fees
BOSTON (SHNS) – About half of Massachusetts residents backed phasing out the state's gasoline tax and instead expanding roadway tolling or imposing fees based on mileage, according to a new poll that took the temperature on a range of transportation-related ideas. Fifty-one percent of respondents said they would somewhat or strongly support replacing the gas tax with a 'fee based on how much people drive, whether they drive a gas car or an electric car,' a MassINC Polling Group survey published Wednesday found. Thirty-one percent opposed the idea, and 18% said they do not know. Pollsters found a nearly identical split for eliminating the gas tax and instead deploying 'tolls on more Massachusetts roads': 52% support, 32% opposition and 16% who said they did not know. Massachusetts relies on revenue from the 24-cents-per-gallon gas tax to fund its transportation investments, but experts argue that funding from that source will decline as vehicles become more efficient or as drivers shift to electric vehicles. Gas tax revenues increased from $603 million in fiscal 2023 to $615 million in fiscal 2024, according to the Department of Revenue's 'blue book' report. The MassINC poll conducted on behalf of advocacy group Transportation for Massachusetts also found a plurality of Bay Staters are open to at least studying congestion pricing, a practice of charging motorists higher fees at certain times and in certain locations to disincentivize driving when traffic is at its worst. In their question to respondents, pollsters referenced the start of congestion pricing in New York City and said early reports indicate 'the fee has led to 1 million fewer cars and 10-30% less traffic on the bridges and tunnels into Manhattan.' They also noted President Donald Trump wants to cancel the program. Asked if Massachusetts should study the use of congestion pricing in and around Boston, 48% said yes and 35% said no. MassINC surveyed 702 Massachusetts residents between Feb. 21 and Feb. 25. The poll's margin of error is 4 percentage points. Transportation for Mass. supports legislation that would overhaul the Metropolitan Highway System and its tolls (S 2353) and bills that would push for reductions in how many miles Bay Staters travel in motor vehicles (S 2246 / H 3726). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
