UMass Boston

Just days after the second anniversary of the January 6 coup attempt at the U.S. Capitol, Brazil experienced an insurrection of its own this past weekend. Supporters of the far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro stormed Brazil's capital buildings in protest of Bolsonaro's loss to the recently sworn-in Lula da Silva. Eduardo Siqueira, professor of environment and public health and coordinator of the Transnational Brazilian Project, joined GBH to discuss the attack on Brazil's capital buildings.

New Report Addresses Barriers Faced by Massachusetts Latinos ›

While the diverse Latino population in Massachusetts continues to struggle through the pre-pandemic issues of reduced educational and economic opportunity, and health care disparities, there is reason for optimism, according to a new report. Even though Massachusetts is among the nation’s wealthiest states, Latino communities have struggled economically relative to Latinos nationwide, according to the report by the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy, Boston Indicators, and the Latino Equity Fund.

Candidates Appeal to Latino Voters ›

Making up just over 15 percent of the city’s electorate, Latino voters could be a major influence in deciding who sits in the mayor’s office next. At the same time, low voter turnout and diverse political leanings across the community could prove a challenge to campaigns in coming weeks. “Their participation rates have been going up in the midterms and the general election … The problem is that this particular election is an off year,” said Luis Jiménez, an associate professor of political science and researcher on Latino voting habits across the Bay State. He said successfully engaging Latino voters — or any voting bloc — could sway November’s outcome if the turnout remains low. “I think Latinos have the potential to have a huge impact, because of very low participation. I mean, I expect that anything can make the difference, really, when you have such few votes,” Jiménez said.

Why a Guaranteed Minimum Income Makes Sense for the State’s Hardest Hit Communities ›

Mauricio Gastón Institute Research Assistant Bansari Kamdar shares that by the end of 2020, Latino workers in Massachusetts were still twice as likely as white workers to be unemployed.

UMass Report Explores How Bostonians Experience Aging ›

Six institutes and centers at the UMass Boston each contributed to a new report entitled “Aging Strong for All: Examining Aging Equity in the City of Boston.” The new report documents disparities across three dimensions that impact our quality of life — economic security, health, and social engagement — and also identifies opportunities for stakeholders to promote an environment in which “aging strong” is possible for all Boston residents.

What Kind of Boston Will the Next Mayor Be Inheriting? ›

Associate Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Lorna Rivera, tells The Boston Globe that she thinks the city needs to continue to find ways to fund essential programs and services despite the pandemic-induced economic uncertainty.

Op-Ed: Mass. Latinos Grow in Visibility, Influence as Part of the New Majority ›

In this op-ed on how Massachusetts Latinos have made gains in visibility, influence, and representation in 2020, the author points to the appointment of Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, the first Latino to lead a campus in the state’s public university system. UMass Boston is close to reaching the 25 percent benchmark for becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution, making this a key higher ed appointment. The author also mentions that the Gaston Institute released a first-of-its-kind mapping and report of Latino nonprofits, with recommendations on how to build capacity for these organizations to broaden their reach and ensure they can grow strategically.

Trump Improves With Massachusetts’ Latinx Voters ›

Joe Biden won Massachusetts handily in the presidential election, but President Donald Trump did better than a lot of people were expecting in communities with large Latinx populations, including cities like Lawrence and New Bedford. GBH All Things Considered host Arun Rath discussed the Latinx vote with Assistant Professor of Political Science Luis Jiménez, with the college's Gaston Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy.

Latino Voters’ Turnout Could Be Critical In 2020 Election ›

The gap between Latino voter turnout and that of other groups is significant both in Massachusetts and nationwide. A new report from the Gastón Institute at UMass Boston found that though Latino turnout saw a spike in the 2018 midterm elections, it still trailed that of white voters by 16 percentage points and Black voters by 4.3 percentage points.

Boston Is Usually Undercounted in the Census: This Year May Be Worse ›

A UMass Boston study of barriers to census participation commissioned by the city of Chelsea found that even some community leaders in the city wouldn’t necessarily recommend their constituents participate because of deportation concerns.