Community sustainability, from the roots
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Abstract
This thesis explores the nuanced intersection of community identity, grassroots movements and experiences of climate change (CC) within the Dudley neighborhood, nestled between Roxbury and Dorchester in Boston. While existing academic literature explores urban experiences to CC, this study offers an intimate perspective by examining how the history and unique structures of the Dudley community shape the experiences of the residents' and their reactions to CC stressors. This work is accomplished through an interdisciplinary lens incorporating foundations from urban planning, environmental development, public health, and social sciences.This research is framed as a case study and explores Dudley's transformation in the late 90s, community members organized and obtained unprecedented rights over their community, sowing new norms of land stewardship and agency. My research poses the primary research question, how does a neighborhood on a community land trust (CLT) respond to CC and CC stressors, and how does its unique structure impact community well-being?
I build my argument in three parts. First, I contend that historical neglect and disinvestment have left Dudley vulnerable, causing residents to prioritize immediate needs over explicitly addressing CC. I argue that there emerges a role of a "community liaison" within the community. This role bridges community members and organizations, enhancing community sustainability. Second, I deduce that Dudley's narrative has become a folklore, fostering social action, stewardship, and agency over the land and futures. Lastly, I examine policy initiatives concerning CC in Boston. I recognize that there seems to be a disconnect between communicated community needs and the needs identified within the governmental decision-making processes.
Building from my fieldwork and participant observations, and interviews, this thesis identifies grassroots movements as crucial avenues between communities and policymakers. I argue that participants in grass roots movements have the potential to act as forecasters for anticipated stressors within the community. This type of small-scale organization and the relationships build by shared knowledge demonstrates the significance of storytelling and “origin” narratives in facilitating community empowerment and activism, ultimately shaping a unified sustainable Dudley body. This entity creates the Dudley body as a whole through its unique structure and story, which lends itself to serve as a model for further research in CC and the use of urban CLTs as tools for fostering resiliency within the community. This research also identifies the Dudley community as a model for examining the complex interplay between human needs, policy, and environmental challenges in marginalized urban landscapes.
Description
2024