Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Neighborhood Revitalization

Commissioned by The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc., this study examines the role of immigrant entrepreneurs in the revitalization of three Boston neighborhoods. All of these neighborhoods had undergone economic decline but rising immigrant populations in each have postively impacted their revival. In particular, the study looks at the role of immigrant entrepreneurs and their connection to Boston's community and economic development. It identifies the specific ways in which immigrant entrepreneurs contribute to the revitalization of their neighborhoods, centering on the perspectives of the immigrant entrepreneurs themselves. Business start-up, business operations, neighborhood relationships and future plans were covered in 35 interviews, augmented by input from key informants and census data. All in all, the immigrant businesses have proven to be engines of change that contribute to a feeling of stability. One is let with wonder and appreciation for what they have achieved for themselves and their communities

The Latino Population in Massachusetts: Selected Economic Indicators

This report highlights economic indicators for the Latino and total population in Massa- chusetts, including income, poverty, education, and occupation in 2008. As allowed by the data, the report compares indicators for the cities of Lawrence, Lowell, and New Bedford, and the Metropolitan Statistical Areas of Boston, Springfield, and Worcester. The informa- tion was drawn primarily from the 2008 American Community Survey of the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, although selected data for Lowell and New Bedford was drawn from the aggregate 2006-2008 American Community Survey in order to achieve an adequate sample size.The report compares economic conditions in the Latino population with the total population, as well as comparing conditions within the Latino population across cities, age, or gender. The 2008 data does not capture the full impact of the current recession, and the 2009 data was not yet available at the time of this report

Latinos in Massachusetts: Selected Economic Indicators

This brief presents an analysis of various economic indicators pertaining to the Latino population in metropolitan areas of high Latino concentration in Massachusetts. It includes information on and comparisons of the Primary Metropolitan Areas of Boston and the Metropolitan Statistical Area of Springfield and when available the Primary Metropolitan Area of Lawrence. The information comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey of 2004

Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Neighborhood Revitalization: Studies of the Allston Village, East Boston and Fields Corner Neighborhoods in Boston

Although somewhat later than other major urban areas, Boston has been experiencing fundamental demographic changes. The 2000 Census reported that for the first time non-Hispanic whites constitute a minority of the city’s population. Subsequent Census estimates confirm an even stronger trend toward a rapidly diversifying population. Immigration has been a major factor in this growth and diversification. A recent report shows that over the last 15 years more than 22,000 new immigrants have annually settled in Massachusetts. The foreign-born as a percentage of the population has grown from 9.4 percent in 1980 to 14.3 percent in 2004

Global and Local Youth Unemployment: Dislocation and Pathways

The impact of economic recessions is not felt uniformly across demographic groups, and the detrimental effects of the one-time dislocations can significantly shift the long-term prospects of human development for many years to come. The current recession has been hard on young people in the United States between the ages of 16 and 24, especially minorities (Latino or African American). Labor force participation rates have dropped dramatically and unemployment has reached as high as 30% in some states. Long spells of unemployment and adverse conditions for labor market incorporation further increase the likelihood of other poor life outcomes, such as problems with the legal system, low-wage employment, and little socioeconomic mobility. Preventing such eroding effects requires legislative and programmatic interventions to help youths into positive labor market and education pathways, among them workforce development, enhanced vocational training, and reduction of education costs. The article outlines some of such interventions and programs in Massachusetts and in other countries

Analysis of Worcester\u27s Youth Employment Sector

Overall, the employment rate for Worcester youth has improved since 2000; yet mirroring the nation, Worcester continues to have a smaller share of youth 16-24 employed. This situation is intensified for youth of color and young people facing barriers such as homelessness, exiting foster care, juvenile justice involvement, and limited English proficiency. Mass, Inc. estimates that in Worcester there are 3400 disconnected youth—756 are between 16-19 and 2644 are between 20-24. From the youth employment program inventory, we learned that the city’s programs offer many opportunities for “first job” experiences; has some exemplary programs that integrate youth development and workforce development; and is rich in non-profit and government partners to support youth employment. Through the Job1 initiative, the city is attempting to leverage the WIOA framework to increase the region’s collaborative efforts for youth employment and readiness, especially as it relates to private sector engagement. We also learned that there are some significant gaps in the youth employment sector. For example, private sector involvement is limited; pathways to an appropriate postsecondary education track is not clear after youth complete their “first job” experience; there are limited training, credentialing, and apprenticeship opportunities for disconnected youth that lead to living wage career options; systems to monitor and evaluate local labor market trends, programmatic efforts and youth’s individual progress are largely missing; questions were raised about whether youth see summer employment as ‘real jobs’ and whether they are authentic work experiences; and while the city is rich in partners, there are some key actors who are not currently at the Worcester Youth Jobs Task Force table (e.g. several WIOA funded partners, Quinsigamond Community College, and private sector actors). Taken together, this analysis on the local youth workforce, labor market, and current programs offer a robust foundation on which to build new strategies to increase the employment prospects of our city’s 1 With support from Clark University’s Mosakowski Institute

Latino Business Owners In East Boston

The main objective of this research was to investigative the contribution of Latino immigrant business owners (or entrepreneurs) in East Boston. Twelve Latino business owners in East Boston were interviewed and supplementary interviews with public officials and other key informants served to further document the contribution of Latino entrepreneurs. The main finding of the report is that Latino business owners have made, and continue, to make extremely important contributions to East Boston’s economy and neighborhoods

Immigrant Workers in the Massachusetts Health Care Industry: A Report on Status and Future Prospects

Given the vital picture of foreign-born health care workers, this study has the following objectives: To document the labor market position of foreign-born workers in the sector at various levels (national, statewide, sub-regional) including patterns of occupational concentration during the last decade or so, prospects for occupational mobility, wages, geographic concentration, employment by type of establishment (hospitals, community health centers, etc.) and workforce development opportunities; To document, whenever possible, the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of foreign-born workers in the sector, including country of origin and gender among others; To document the qualitative contribution of foreign-born workers in the health care delivery environment, especially through cultural and linguistic competence as well as cross cultural communications; To document promising institutional practices in Massachusetts (mainly collaborations and workforce development activities) aimed at improving or modifying the conditions for foreign-born workers and enhancing the labor pool for employers; To document the important role that institutions (universities, research organizations, hospitals, unions and professional associations, government and the non-profit sector) play in shaping the labor market prospects of foreign-born workers in the health care sector; To document critical shortages in some health care professions and occupations; To outline public policy recommendations for broad dissemination

Immigrant Workers in the Massachusetts Health Care Industry: A Report on Status and Future Prospects

Given the vital picture of foreign-born health care workers, this study has the following objectives: To document the labor market position of foreign-born workers in the sector at various levels (national, statewide, sub-regional) including patterns of occupational concentration during the last decade or so, prospects for occupational mobility, wages, geographic concentration, employment by type of establishment (hospitals, community health centers, etc.) and workforce development opportunities; To document, whenever possible, the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of foreign-born workers in the sector, including country of origin and gender among others; To document the qualitative contribution of foreign-born workers in the health care delivery environment, especially through cultural and linguistic competence as well as cross cultural communications; To document promising institutional practices in Massachusetts (mainly collaborations and workforce development activities) aimed at improving or modifying the conditions for foreign-born workers and enhancing the labor pool for employers; To document the important role that institutions (universities, research organizations, hospitals, unions and professional associations, government and the non-profit sector) play in shaping the labor market prospects of foreign-born workers in the health care sector; To document critical shortages in some health care professions and occupations; To outline public policy recommendations for broad dissemination