Training for Local Journalists
Understanding Boston: A Curriculum on Boston, Its Neighborhoods, and Its Issues

In October 2004 and January 2003, The Rappaport Institute and the Boston Foundation's Indicators Project presented a seminar on the city of Boston. This training was created specifically for reporters and other media staff who are new to the Boston area and had to be brought up to speed quickly on the issues and the institutions that distinguish Boston from other American cities, or are changing their beats and need a review of key issues.

The Concept: A one-and-a-half-day seminars on the city of Boston, for reporters and other media staff who are new to the Boston area and have to be brought up to speed quickly on the issues and the institutions that distinguish Boston from other American cities.

The Schedule: Each of the two days was structured from 8 am – 3:30 p.m., with three“learning modules” in the morning and two more in the afternoon. These sessions were offset by informal lunch-time remarks by Paul S. Grogan, President of The Boston Foundation. The second day consisted of two "learning modules" and an early release.

The Agenda:

7:45 – 8 Breakfast available.

8 – 8:15 Opening remarks were presented by Mary Jo Meisner, welcoming the participants and introducing The Boston Foundation, an overview of the Boston Indicators Project, and an overview of the curriculum. The sessions were designed to encourage active questioning by the participants.

8:15 – 9:15 Demographics
Boston at the beginning of the 21st century is the economic engine of New England and the governmental, financial, cultural, educational and health care capital of Massachusetts. With almost 600,000 residents within 47 square miles, it is also a small, neighborly city. This session provided a demographic snapshot of Boston, and its implications: population characteristics, ethnic diversity within categories, urban sprawl issues, etc. Presented by Barry Bluestone, Director of Northeastern University’s Center for Urban and Regional Policy.

9:25 – 10:25 State and Local Government:
Since reporters have to be able to understand and navigate local, suburban, and state politics and government agencies, this section was designed to provide an understanding of the structure and roles of each branch of government. This session was led by Charlie Euchner, Director of the Rappaport Institute at Harvard.

10:35 – 11:35 Education
For Boston’s school-aged children, public education offers the primary gateway to good jobs and a high quality of life in the Information Age. For decades, that gateway has been impacted by the poor performance of the school system itself. There are 129 Boston public schools, and they serve a high proportion of low-income, non-English speaking and special needs students. There are also a number of alternatives (METCO, charter, independent and parochial schools). Paul Reville is Executive Director of the Center for Education Research and Policy at MassINC, where he conducts research and convenes policy makers, civic leaders, the media, and philanthropists to consider evidence on the progress of various strategies for improving the Commonwealth’s public education system. He covered both the abstract questions about the school system and the nuts and bolts of implementing a plan.

Noon – 1 Lunch and Speaker
Paul S. Grogan, President of the Boston Foundation and author of Comeback Cities: A Blueprint for Urban Neighborhood Revival, made informal remarks about the challenges and opportunities facing urban centers in general, and Boston in particular.

1:15 – 2:15 Public Safety
For almost a decade, Boston was the public safety success story of the nation, enjoying the lowest crime rates in 30 years. However, there has been a recent surge in violence, accompanied by disturbing trends in gang activity, convicted offenders returning to increasingly unstable neighborhoods, and escalating rates of gun possession. This is an issue generating national interest, and has mobilized the efforts of community activists, the Boston Police Department, academics, and foundations to address the problems. A full discussion of these issues was co-presented by Ann Piehl of the Kennedy School, who co-authored the MassINC report on reentry issues with convicted gang members, and a neighborhood outreach worker working in the community directly with at-risk populations.

2:30 – 3:30 Health
Boston is internationally recognized as a mecca for cutting edge health care, and also boasts one of the best and most comprehensive neighborhood health care networks in the country. At the same time, we have a number of systemic health care challenges, including managed care and its impact, appropriate levels of care delivered in a culturally sensitive manner, etc. Christie Hager and John McDonough of the Heller School at Brandeis University addressed the system-wide questions on this important issue.

DAY 2

8:15 – 9 Breakfast available

9 – 9:15 Welcome back and opening remarks for final day

9:15 – 10:15 Transportation
While most Bostonians live within walking distance of public transportation and depend on public transit more than residents of other municipalities, the rate of increase in vehicle miles traveled is far outstripping population growth, reflecting urban sprawl and the need for better regional planning and transit connections. Terrance Regan, a senior transportation planner for the Planners Collaborative in Boston presented highlights on Boston's transportation issues.

10:30 – 11:30 Housing
Boston leads the region’s municipalities in the percentage of subsidized housing units, but rising housing costs are displacing many long-time renters and discouraging needed young workers. A significant increase in the supply of housing will require regional collaboration and policies. Eleanor White, President of the Citizens Housing and Planning Association presented an overview of the housing issues facing Boston.

Handouts:
• The Wisdom of Our Choices: Boston Indicators of Progress, Change and Sustainability 2000 – The Boston Foundation
• Governing Greater Boston – The Rappaport Institute
• Boston reading list

The Rappaport Institute and the Boston Foundation are currently palling a 2005 training for journalists. More information will be added as it is confirmed.