Why Roxbury? To smash stereotypes and see the motives behind philanthropic efforts

By Megan Donovan

Raised-beds hoist sustainability in Dudley

By Megan Donovan

ROXBURY – Behind a blue house off Dudley Street, green leaves and yellow flowers have sprouted in the soil of a three-by-eight foot garden. The raised-bed garden is an enclosed frame made out of 2x6 wood filled with compost. By mid-June, the plants, which now look like weeds, will produce strawberries.

These raised-bed gardens are part of The Food Project’s Build-a-Garden plan which encourages residents of Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Jamaica Plain to grow their own food. Nearly every other house in the Dudley neighborhood has some sort of garden bed, and requests for more raised-beds continue. This year, The Food Project plans to construct some 200 garden beds in these neighborhoods.

“Our focus is on food access and helping people grow their own food in Boston,” said Michael Iceland, the outreach coordinator for The Food Project.

The Build-a-Garden initiative began as a response to large amounts of lead in the soil of the Dudley neighborhood. Over time, lead from paint on houses had ran off into the soil, making it dangerous to grow crops.

The solution was a raise-bed garden, made out of four pieces of wood from local sources with a weed mat as a base. The base is then filled with 4 to 6 inches of compost on top of the lead-ridden soil.

Since it began in 2008, the Build-a-Garden project has built more than 400 beds, providing enough food to feed over 700 people.

The Food Project constructs and delivers the beds, along with soil and seedlings at a cost of about $250. The average applicant only pays about $40 for the bed because of the programs “pay what you can” philosophy.

“I think only a couple people have paid in full,” said Danielle Andrews, the community food organizer of The Food Project’s Boston office.

The Food Project began with a few acres of farm land in Lincoln and has since taken up projects in Boston. With the acquisition of 1.6 acres of land off West Cottage Street, granted by the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, the program began to educate locals about agriculture and sustainability. Since then, The Food Project has acquired two more plots of land in Roxbury and has launched a new farm in Lynn, which employs youth in the summer.

The Food Project’s latest community plan is to use another space acquired by the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative as a greenhouse that would cultivate crops to be locally sold year round.

For the time being, the 10,000 square foot greenhouse is being used as a space to build and store more raised-bed gardens.

Somali community comes together in Roxbury Crossing

By Megan Donovan

ROXBURY – Since it opened 10 years ago, Butterfly Coffee has become more than a place for Somali men and women to gather over lattes and scones. Located directly off the Orange Line at Roxbury Crossing, it has become a sanctuary for Somali refugees.

“It is a lifeline to those who wish they could be here,” said Abdillahi Abdirahman, owner of Butterfly Coffee and and its adjacent money-wiring service.

Political instability and civil war has caused many Somalis to seek refuge in America. Since the 1990s, more than 6,000 Somalis have come to the Boston area.

Roxbury Crossing in particular has become a cultural center for Somali refugees. Somali-owned businesses and a mosque are major draws to the neighborhood.

Abdillahi, also known as “Mash”, came to the United States in ’83 and opened his business in 2000. He opened Butterfly Coffee as a backdrop to his money-wiring service, the only one in the New England area, which allows Somalis to send money directly to refugee camps in Africa. Without his business, Somalis wouldn’t be able to send as little as $50 to $200, which can last an individual in Africa about a month.

Mash, a Roxbury resident for more than 25 years, also serves Somalis living in Boston as president of the Somali Development Center in Jamaica Plain. Founded in 1996, the Center helps Somali refugees through the naturalization process.

“We are working to build both cultures together,” Abdillahi said.

Every year, between 500 and 1,500 immigrants depend on its services. Besides providing English language and citizenship classes, the Somali Development Center helps refugees find housing and jobs, provide health assistance and legal counsel.

“Some have adapted more than others,” said Ahmed Gedi, a friend of Mash’s who wears a pink Ralph Lauren oxford.

In order for a Somali refugee to begin the naturalization process, they must first be a living in the United States for a year. After one year, the law states that one may apply for a green card. After five years, the individual may apply for citizenship.

“We work with an individual well passed the six years it takes to become a citizen,” said Abdirahman Yusuf, the executive director at the center.

The Somali Development Center has three locations outside of Boston, including Springfield, MA, Chelsea, MA, and Manchester, NH.

Somalis account for the third largest nationality seeking refuge in the United States, after Afghanistan and Iraq. Abdillahi used this as an example of why Somalis are easily accepted.

“Because America is so diverse, you can work your way up the ladder fast simply if you are determined and work hard,” Abdillahi said, “that isn’t true of any other country.”

Somalis have also been drawn to Roxbury Crossing as a place of congregation and worship since a mosque opened last June. Religious holidays, celebrations and funerals bring the Somali community together, even from those living outside Massachusetts.

Mash says many will make a long trip into Roxbury from out of state on a weekly basis to wire money to family, pray and converse about politics over a cup coffee.

Restuarants that can take the heat could see upturn

By Megan Donovan

ROXBURY – After a pipe burst and caused severe water damage, a 30-year-old southern style staple, Mississippi’s, was no more. Owner Jim LaFond-Lewis saw the damage as a symbol he should get of the business, so he took the insurance money and put his popular cafeteria style restaurant up for sale.

“I had fallen out of love,” Lewis said.

Lewis says his interest in Mississippi’s began to dwindle as his restaurant’s sales declined. That was in March 2009.

Nationwide sales in the service sector dropped in 2008 and 2009. Figures from the US Department of Labor showed more job loses than gains per month during those two years. But according to the latest reports from the U.S. Department of Commerce, an increase in sales revenue and jobs has been shown in January and February 2010.

Massachusetts is projected to register $12.4 billion in sales for year ending 2010, but only those who have survived months of losing sales will benefit from a projected turnaround.

Lewis cites significant drops in his customer base, the majority of which comes from corporate catering jobs, during 2008 and 2009. With no partners or peers in the business, Lewis could only draw from himself to motivate his employees and finance developments within his restaurant.

“There are expectations in a restaurant, especially in a one-of-a-kind restaurant,” said Lewis. “If you aren’t continuously expanding and planning new ventures, you’re business will suffer.”

Other business owners in the area have seen a decline in customers. Butterfly Coffee has been serving muffins and lattes to fewer and fewer students and commuters, who account for 80 percent of its business.

“Over the summer it’s dead,” said Amelia Walker, barista at Butterfly Coffee.

Abdillahi Abdirahman, owner of the coffee house, says he has struggled with bills, even though he has close ties to his customers.

“Sometimes I can’t make payroll,” Abdirahman said. “I give them what I can under the table, until we make the money back.”

Abdirahman says he works up to 18 hours everyday and makes other sacrifices to cut costs.

“I haven’t gotten paid in months,” Abdirahman said. “It’s as if I am running a non-profit for the community.”

When asked why he started his business, he replied: “That’s what I ask myself.”

Some businesses say they are fairing well, though, amid tough economic times. Restaurants who have focused on take-out and delivery are some who have been able to tough out the last two trying years.

Jasvin Saini, a manager at AK’s Take Out & Delivery, which has three locations, one in Roxbury Crossing, says business has slowed significantly, but they are still able to pay bills.

“It’s very bad, but we are surviving,” Saini said.

Ideal Sub Shop on Dudley Street, which has been co-owned by Antonio Rosa for 35 years, says they are as busy as ever. One of their secrets: using family as labor.

“It keeps wages low and allows us to spend more on the best meat and best ingredients,” Rosa said.

Roxbury Community College sees steady enrollment rate

By Megan Donovan

ROXBURY – At a time of recession and increasing unemployment, community colleges across the country have seen jumps in enrollment. Though most have seen increases of at least 5 percent, at Roxbury Community College, the number of students taking courses for credit has increased only 3.5 percent from 2007 to 2008.

“We still have classes that are vacant during the day,” said Walter Clark, dean of enrollment at Roxbury Community College.

Community colleges such as Capital in Hartford, Conn. and Bunker Hill in Charlestown saw enrollment from 2007 to 2008 increase more than 5 percent and have since put caps on admission. Roxbury Community College, though, is seeking more students to enroll in classes.

“Our demographics are different. There is a lot of hand holding,” Clark said. “Out of all the individual community colleges in Massachusetts, we serve students who are the most economically depressed.”

More than two-thirds of degree-seeking Roxbury Community College students are part-time. Most work jobs during the day and take classes at night. Many are also the first in their family to attend college.

“There is a lot of anxiety for adults seeking to earn a degree,” Clark said. “Students right out of high school are used to theory, but adult learners are a little different. They question: ‘How can I use this information in my job?’”

Every semester, the college holds a career fair, making up to 40 employers accessible to students, alumni, and the surrounding community. The fairs aim to connect students to higher paying jobs.

“When employers commit to do the fair, they commit to hiring someone,” said Irina Galatskaya, fair organizer and career placement and planning counselor at Roxbury Community College.

The career center holds resume and interview workshops in order to prepare those heading out into the job market. The center is also responsible for attracting new students. They attend every area high school’s college fair and have made efforts to simplify the application process in order to attract students.

“We just ask for a high school diploma, application and $10,” said Gloria Castro, an admissions counselor. “We will not look at GPA or transcripts.”

The average age of a student at the college is 28, and almost 70 percent are women. Clark said those factors, along with other sociological reasons, skew retention rates when compared with four-year colleges.

“Mothers can’t find day care for their children and are forced to withdraw,” Clark said.

Because of lack of support and financial inadequacies, some students still find accessibility to college life difficult.

“My 6-year-old son has a computer, but my students don’t have a laptop, desktop, anything,” Clark said.