Boston at the Crossroads

Though Greater Boston is becoming more diverse as a whole, most of the region’s residents still live in relatively segregated neighborhoods and communities. There are signs, however, that integration is still possible and indications that the region’s minority populations are themselves unusually diverse. Recent trends suggest that Boston is at a crossroads. One road leads to the consolidation of segregation and the increasing isolation of people of different races and ethnicities, with the area’s satellite cities becoming increasingly isolated minority ghettos. The other road leads to integration - a diverse mix of populations across all parts of the metropolitan area.

On Tuesday, December 14, Guy Stuart, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Kennedy School of Government highlighted the current demographic trends in Greater Boston and explained the possible racial future of Greater Boston. Over 40 participants received copies of Professor Stuart's paper, "Boston at the Crossroads: Racial Trends in the Metropolitan Area in the 1990s and Beyond."