MetroBridge Fall 2021 Recap: Students Support Local Government and Community Partner Needs
During the fall 2021 semester, students at Boston University partnered with local governments and community-based organizations through the MetroBridge Program to address real-world urban challenges. MetroBridge is the Initiative on Cities’ experiential learning program that enables students to meet the distinct needs of local partners through research on topics like racial equity, sustainability, and civic engagement. Under faculty guidance, students in five graduate and undergraduate courses completed projects in fall 2021 to support cities across Massachusetts.
Exploring Enforcement Options of Bus and Bike Lanes on Allston-Brighton’s Western Avenue
Increased development in the Allston-Brighton area is straining the neighborhood’s existing infrastructure and public transit. Amid a rezoning process, the Allston-Brighton Health Collaborative’s (ABHC) Transportation Committee hopes to ensure compliance for new bus and bike lanes on Western Avenue without the use of police. Assistant Professor Yuhei Miyauchi led a course on Urban and Regional Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences, in which undergraduate students researched the burdens facing the area and analyzed peer city case studies. The students identified strategies for encouraging appropriate road use, such as digital imaging technology, and analyzed the costs and benefits for stakeholders. To share their research and provide strategic recommendations, the students created summary memos and reports to present to the ABHC and City of Allston-Brighton.
Proposing Solutions to Homelessness in Downtown Framingham
The COVID-19 pandemic and difficulties coordinating with social service agencies posed barriers to helping populations experiencing homelessness in the City of Framingham. Lecturer Kaytlin Eldred led a course on Cultural Humility, Racial Justice, and Health in the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation, in which undergraduate students performed best practices research for Framingham. The research aimed to better understand downtown chronic homelessness and identify intervention strategies for the City with an emphasis on racial equity and marginalized identities. After meeting with community leaders at City Hall, the students produced a summary memo outlining the main risk factors that contribute to homelessness and three tiers of intervention strategies. In their final consulting report and presentations, the students provided detailed recommendations for Framingham based on peer city case studies.
The City of Framingham’s Racial Equity Vision calls upon all residents to partake in community and civic engagement. Associate Professor Katherine Levine Einstein led a course on Inequality and American Politics in the College of Arts and Sciences, in which undergraduate students researched methods of enhancing equitable public participation in the city. The students conducted targeted interviews and analyzed meeting minutes, voting data, social media, and journalistic accounts to provide recommendations for more effectively engaging marginalized populations. In particular, the research considered inclusive survey methodologies, effective models of outreach and community engagement in Latinx communities, and the City’s new position of Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer.
Understanding Curb Usage in Boston’s West Broadway Corridor Through Observational Research
In the City of Boston, there is a gap between current demand for curb space and existing regulations. Graduate students researched illegal uses of curb and street space in South Boston to measure unmet demand through Senior Lecturer Yesim Sungu-Eryilmaz’s course on Urban Research Methods in the Metropolitan College. The students collected data through direct observation of illegal parking activity in the West Broadway corridor, entered their data into a custom ArcGIS form, and interpreted the results to make strategic recommendations for the City. One team of students was responsible for developing the study’s methodology, and they received the $500 MetroBridge Student Prize for their outstanding efforts. This prize is awarded each semester to an individual or group whose final project exemplifies a high quality of research and interpretation, thoroughness of final deliverables, impact on community, and contribution by all team members.
Assessing Public Perception of Culturally-Relevant Hydrangea Plantings
The Creative Arts Network is a nonprofit organization in Fall River that works to increase public awareness around the arts and drive economic growth and tourism. Hydrangeas were planted in Fall River to honor the area’s large Portuguese population, create a sense of mental wellbeing for residents and visitors, and increase the use of city parks. Undergraduate students partnered with the Creative Arts Network to assess public perceptions of the “Hortensia” Hydrangea Project through Senior Lecturer Brenda Phillips’ course on Social Experimental Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. The students used principles of environmental and social psychology to develop a community survey and summarized their findings in presentations and a project memo. Students found that a majority of respondents were enthusiastic about the efforts to incorporate flowers of cultural significance into existing public and green spaces in Fall River.
Interested in registering for a MetroBridge spring 2022 course? Find the course list here!
Stay tuned for more about the MetroBridge Program, as we will highlight some projects in more detail during the spring 2022 semester. To stay up-to-date, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, or subscribe to our newsletter.