Boston Residents To Share Personal Stories Of Economic Hardship

BOSTON/Dorchester - Massuniting a grassroots coalition of community groups and concerned neighbors and a recent addition to a growing list of Boston area social justice organizations collaborating across various political economic and environmental issues is facilitating a public speak-out in Dorchester on Wednesday July 20. The community gathering sponsored by the four month old organization comes as Congress and the Obama administration debate massive budget cuts - possibly never before seen in American history - that will have repercussions throughout the city and state. In an interview this week Jason Stephany Massuniting Communications Director indicated that city neighborhoods have reached a critical juncture and that people are eager to speak out about the persistent social and economic problems in their communities. "What we've seen in the Dorchester area in particular is there has been a lot of economic challenges and those challenges have led to a recent increase in crime. People are really concerned about the underlying issues that have created an incubator for that crime...people want to speak out want to take action they want to do something to better their own community." Neighbors says Stephany will be encouraged to tell their own stories of economic survival. Other local groups such as the Jamaica Plain based housing advocates City Life/Vida Urbana have long demonstrated the benefits of personal testimony as a way of forging networks between people otherwise too scared or ashamed to talk about their economic troubles. Wednesday's event begins at 6pm at Prince Hall on Washington Street in Dorchester. Following the speak out participants will have an opportunity to gather and protest at the home of a Dorchester resident facing foreclosure on her home. OMB Audio: (duration: 5:10) Conversation with Jason Stephany Massuniting Communications Director and spokesperson on WMBR 88.1fm Cambridge. Bookmark/Search this post with: Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Reddit Newsvine Facebook Google Yahoo Technorati