Boston in My Blood

I grew up in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston. I went to Boston Public schools. I learned to ice skate on the Lagoon in the Public Garden and played ball on the streets of my neighborhood and starting in the 7^th grade, I commuted by T to Girls’ Latin School, first in the Longwood Area and then in Codman Square. It was that daily commuting that introduced me to Boston’s neighborhood diversity and character. Not only was the architecture and context of these neighborhoods varied but also their social flavors. Driving through the West End, pre–urban renewal, revealed a different type of residential community from mine in Brighton. Accompanying my mother to buy meat at the Italian butcher shops in the North End and to purchase phyllo dough in the Middle East shops of the South End introduced me to the international cultures of the city. After school visits to Latin School classmates introduced me to Roxbury, Dorchester, and Jamaica Plain.

All these and other experiences have contributed to my appreciation of Boston’s character and uniqueness. Boston is more than the sum of its parts. What makes it so special is the strength of its neighborhoods, their histories, their population and character which folded together contribute to the city’s vitality. Boston is also dynamic, evolving over the past several decades from a provincial small city to a modern international hub. Balancing this growth with protecting the aspects that make Boston great is why the Boston Preservation Alliance’s mission and work are so important. We are stewards of a historic heritage as well as protectors of an architectural and cultural legacy. The BPA’s role is to advocate for a balance of growth and preservation.

This is why the BPA is so important to me and I hope to you. We are a not-for-profit organization that depends upon the support of members and non-members alike. The month of May provides a focus for all of us to contribute to keeping Boston a very special city.

For over 40 years the Boston Preservation Alliance has served the residents of Boston as a nonprofit organization that protects and improves the quality of Boston's architectural and cultural heritage. Through advocacy and education, we bring people and organizations together to influence the future of Boston's historic buildings, landscapes, and communities.

Without our members, donors, and community partners, our voice would fall silent–a growing membership makes our voice stronger because together we make Boston better. 

Check out the projects we're currently engaged in and thank you for your continued consideration and support. 

Non-members who donate $20 or greater will receive an annual membership.