Allston-Brighton Healthy Neighborhood Initiative

ABHC’s Healthy Neighborhood Initiative: Allston Brighton Connectors

ABHC supports a cohort of nine community members called Allston Brighton Connectors (ABCs). This group is paid and trained to understand information and service gaps, connect and educate fellow residents to resources and programming, and work with residents to advocate for missing resources and programming to meet identified community needs.

Grey Black

Grey is 5-year neighbor of Brighton. He loves biking, board games, local arts, and thrifting. A real chatterbox, most of his professional time is dedicated to organizing events and supporting community mental health.

Ask me about…

Ask him about local art, music, mental health resources, local sports and community activities.
He’ll chat your ear off and give you tips on public speaking, meeting new people, managing conflict, de-escalating, navigating Boston.

Liv Doyon

Liv has been a renter in the Aberdeen neighborhood of Brighton for the last 7 years. She has strong ties to the arts, music, and queer/alternative communities in Allston-Brighton & strives to maintain the local culture.

Ask me about…

Local bands, event venues, harm reduction, queer & alternative artists and events; the underground scene in general!

Lauren McGrath

SparkALifeWithArt, 501c3

Lauren was born and raised in Brighton and is a homeowner near Hobart Park where her grandsons often play. If she isn’t painting or hosting a community arts event (“Spark a Life with Art”) a nonprofit she started, you will find her at Boston College where she has worked for the last 3.5 decades. Lauren believes we can make a difference furthering the fight against our nation’s opioid epidemic by starting an early intervention with our younger generation through artistic exploration, experimentation, and conversation. She is excited to immerse herself in a space where art thrives, skills are honed, and a global community unites. Let’s paint a brighter future for Allston & Brighton together!

Ask me about…

The best routes to take to save time when making your way across the city in a car. Nonprofits, opioid crisis, special education, respite work and creative art.

Jose Mendoza

Jose grew up in the Allston/Brighton community. A Boston Public Schools graduate of Gardner Pilot Academy and the Mary Lyon School. Jose is passionate about supporting low income student career awareness, immigrant community & family programming. You can find Jose attending community events like the farmers market! Jose also speaks Spanish.

Ask me about…

Family & youth programs and resources, finding the best food around Boston, MBTA tips & tricks, the importance of self care, navigating the public schools system, Harvard Ed Portal, West End House.

Cheryl Pavlik

Cheryl grew up in New York State but spent most her adult life living and teaching abroad in places like Thailand, Mexico, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Singapore, Iran and Oman. She has lived in Brighton since her return to the states in 2014. She lives in 2life/bha senior housing.

Ask me about…

Issues regarding seniors: healthcare, housing, transportation, etc. Getting around without a car. ESL programs and problems living in a country that does share your culture and/or language.

Want to connect with an ABC? Email Us!

Background

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center selected ABHC’s Network to plan and implement an Allston Brighton Healthy Neighborhood Initiative from 2024 through 2025.

In 2023, ABHC led an inclusive, community-driven process to identify our neighborhood’s top health priorities and concerns. The Healthy Neighborhood Initiative Planning Committee included 10 community members who speak six languages, live and work in the neighborhood, and range from 16 to 73 years old. We collected feedback from hundreds of people through surveys, at community parties and events, at the bus stop and the gym. The committee used this process and information to design an initiative called the Allston Brighton Connectors.

Initiative short-term goals:

More residents know about neighborhood resources and programming, feel confident using those services, and actually use them.
More neighborhood organizations will offer services that ABCs have identified as missing and needed.
Residents will feel their voice can make a difference.

Initiative long-term goals:

Increased access to resources and increased advocacy will improve mental health, employment skills and employment, sidewalk comfort, and resident power and social capital.
The Healthy Neighborhood Initiative will foster a more socially connected, resilient and resource-rich neighborhood.

You can learn more about our process in our Canva report.