2011 Annual Appeal

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2011 has been a remarkable year. Around the world people are joining together to create a collective voice promoting the kinds of changes they want to see in their own cities and nations. In Somerville, we’re doing it too. People are hungry to get involved. Since January, nearly 1800 people have actively participated in SCC’s events, services and classes. A thousand more have signed up for our lottery or waiting lists for SCC apartments. Somerville is a community with not enough jobs to support our workforce; not enough affordable housing; and a growing number of families who are leaving Somerville for more affordable communities.

Our challenges are many: the disappearance of funding for homelessness prevention despite the need for assistance; Zoning Board denial of a permit needed to build housing for homeless families; eviction of low-income tenants because their homes are being redeveloped into luxury condominiums; misinformation spread by Somerville residents who clamor against affordable housing in their neighborhoods; resistance to local policies to create community benefits for residents from new development.

Yet there is a contagious sense of motivation to stand up for what people believe. SCC’s core responsibility and intent is to listen to the voices of our members and craft campaigns to get more jobs and housing for our community; to cultivate the vision of neighbors through planning workshops; to help people build their own financial assets; and to literally construct buildings: safe, environmentally advanced, spacious and attractive affordable homes—all to keep Somerville the thriving and diverse city that people want and need it to be. There are many SCC highlights from 2011 to nourish our ambitions for the work ahead:

  • St. Polycarp Village was awarded the HUD HOME Doorknocker for Sustainability Award for Phase 1, will complete construction of Phase 2 this fall, and received State funding for the 2012-13 construction of Phase 3
  • In October, 100 people representing Somerville’s broad diversity attend Speak Out organized by SCC’s Jobs for Somerville Committee to support the adoption of a Local Hire Ordinance, sponsored unanimously by the Board of Alderman last spring in response to Jobs for Somerville.
  • 181 participants completed SCC’s 10 Financial Literacy and First Time Homebuyer classes and workshops.
  • Our Community Corridor Planning (CCP) initiative staged the “We Are Shovel Ready” Mock Groundbreaking rally at Somerville High School in October, attended by 175 supporters, to protest Mass DOT’s announced delay of the Green Line Extension. CCP also launched www.inTeractiveSomerville.org and other hands-on technology at visioning workshops in Gilman Square.
  • Last Spring, public rallies as well as the SCC-organized “Gentrification, Inc” Moving Brigade brought together affordable housing supporters and residents from 378 Somerville Avenue to oppose the pending eviction of low-income tenants whose homes will be replaced by luxury condos.
  • SCC provided leadership development training to 100 participants through our 4th Annual Leadership Development Institute and supplementary workshops.

Our work in days and months ahead will require vigilance, resilience, and a growing body of members to lead us toward our shared goals. We need your support to help us get there, and hope you will consider making a donation. Your contribution to the Somerville Community Corporation this year will help us to continue to ensure that this is a wonderful, livable and diverse city for years to come.