New Bostonians
In the Allston neighborhood of Boston it's possible to eat a fresh Brazilian cheese pastry called pao de queijo, go down the street to buy Russian caviar and then get a bowl of Vietnamese pho soup. Allston Brighton has experienced a dramatic increase in diversity. According to the 2000 census, it's made up of 31% people of color. But it's not unique.
All of Boston 's neighborhoods have experienced an increase in immigration. The 2000 Census showed 50.5% of the city as made up of people of color. Demographers estimate that figure is now up to 55%. Over the last couple of decades the share of Boston's foreign-born population has increased at a faster pace than in Massachusetts and in the United States. In a city that was founded by immigrants it's clear Boston's future will also be shaped by the immigrants coming to the city now. (See statistics of Boston immigration and languages.)
But how will it be shaped? Will it be by Tuan Tran, a Vietnamese immigrant with a successful insurance agency in Fields Corner? He's found success in Boston after arriving in this country 25 years ago with nothing. He's one of 8000 immigrant business owners in the city, business owners who employ, according to a 2005 report by the Boston Redevelopment Authority, 37,000 people.
Or will Boston's future be shaped by Pablo, a 7 year old immigrant from the Dominican Republic? He came here illegally with his family. Neither of his parents speak English or work full-time. Pablo's English is weak and he has disruptive behavior in school. What will his future be? And conversely how will Pablo and the thousands of other children of immigrants, legal and illegal, transform the future of Boston?
The answer could lie in politics. The surge in immigrants has started to have an impact on government. The city elected its first Asian American to the City Council and politicians predict it's the start of a trend. Boston 's council members are learning to speak Spanish and may soon learn Vietnamese and Russian too. City leaders say the government needs to reflect the diversity of the city if Boston is to become a model of inclusiveness.
All above statistics come from the "New Bostonians 2005" report by the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
Related Links
MassVote: Voter turnout analysis for the Boston elections in 2005.
City Life: Vida Urbana or City Life in Jamaica Plain, is a community organizing group.
VietAid: VietAid aims to improve voter turn out among Vietnamese Americans, preserve Vietnamese culture, and is involved in building mixed-use development properties.
Asian Community Development Corporation: The ACDC is a community based non-profit organization that is committed to serving the Asian American community of Greater Boston.
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