Gateways

On this episode of Gateways, Ben Forman is joined by Marinell Rousmaniere, CEO of Edvestors, a nonprofit organization designed to accelerate improvement of Boston's schools. They dive deep into the school funding debate and discuss local accountability as well as the role of school councils.

Dr. Tracy Corley is joined on this episode of Gateways by Noah Koretz, Director of Transformative Development for MassDevelopment. He chats with Tracy about the organization's Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) that targets Gateway Cities. In concentrating effort and resources to specific areas, the initiative's goal is to stimulate economic activity and inspire investment by local residents and businesses.

Ben Forman visits the Union Hill K-6 school in Worcester. He explores the transformation the school underwent, starting in 2010 when the school was designated as Level 1 and ending four years later after it improved in status. The school has maintained this success ever since. Ben spoke with Mullen Sawyer, executive director of Oak Hill Community Development Corporation, which invested in the Union Hill School as well as Marie Morse and Kareem Tatum, who came on as Principal and Assistant Principal respectively at Union Hill to spearhead the turnaround.

On this week's episode of Gateways, co-hosts Ben and Tracy discuss some of the high points of MassINC's regional forum on transformative transit oriented development, held in New Bedford's historic Whaling Museum on April 8. Speakers include several Gateway City leaders who are working to achieve transformative transit oriented development in their regional cities, such as Mayor Jon Mitchell, Rob May, Brockton's director of Planning and Economic Development, SRPEDD's Angie Constantino, Ted Carman of Concord Square Planning and Development, and Kirsten Bryan, Assistant Planning Director for the City of New Bedford.

Episode 12: Juana Matias talks Lawrence, diversity in representation by Gateways Podcast

Episode 11: TOD planning takes root in Worcester by Gateways Podcast

In Part 2 of our deep dive on local education accountability, Ben talks with Rep. Aaron Vega, author of the Education Promise Act-- the legislation that would update the foundation budget formula for public schools-- and Ed Lambert, former mayor of Fall River and current Executive Director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education.

Episode 9: Local education accountability with Tracy Novick by Gateways Podcast

Dr. Tracy Corley takes a walk through Worcester along MassINC's research director Ben Forman and Tim McGourthy, the former Executive Director of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau. The group walks us through the commuter rail stations, theater district, the Common, and the DCU Center, highlighting the area's historical ties and future changes that may soon take shape.

Intro and outro music by The Curtis Mayflower

In this episode of Gateways, co-hosts Ben Forman and Dr. Tracy Corley dive deep into state and federal housing policies that stimulate housing development in Gateway Cities. In response to Gov. Baker's Housing Choice legislation announcement, they analyze its potential impacts on the quantity and quality of housing across the state.

Tune in to Ben and Tracy's conversation, which tees up clips from MassINC's Feb. 27 State House Forum, "Stimulating Transformative Development in Gateway Cities," co-sponsored by LOCUS of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance.

A special thank you to Worcester's The Curtis Mayflower for this week's theme music!