Turning '21: with State Representative Mike Connolly

ABOUT THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE:  Mike Connolly is a community organizer, renter, and proud progressive serving his third term representing Cambridge and Somerville in the Massachusetts House. His commitment to social and economic justice stems his background: he was raised in public housing by a single mother who struggled with health issues, spent time in foster care and benefited from a Head Start program and other social services as a young child. Now on Beacon Hill he is fighting to affirm housing as a human right, for a fair and equitable taxation scheme where large corporations and wealthy individuals pay their fair share, and for a robust social safety net during and after the pandemic.

ABOUT TURNING ’21:  This series is to answer questions for the community and the region. The theme is resilience – “the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, and systems within a city to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience.”  [Rockefeller Foundation's 100 Resilient Cities project.]   Attendance is free and open to the public but registration is required.   Turning ’21 is sponsored by Winter Hill Bank 
 
WHY SOMERVILLE?: Somerville is: the most densely populated city in New England; closer to downtown Boston than most of the City of Boston; and in the Brainpower Triangle of MIT, Harvard and Tufts.
 
WHY ’21?: In 2021, Somerville’s 4.2 square miles stand to be the leading edge of Greater Boston’s urban resilience. Few, if any, little cities in the world will see the incredible concentration of urban development in just 12 months as here.  In early 2021, Somerville will open a $256M high school.  During the year, Puma’s North American HQ will open.  Urban life sciences and mixed-use developments will break ground, while others will cut ribbons, in Boynton Yards, Union Square, McGrath Highway, Assembly’s Edge and Xmbly.  Brickbottom master planning will begin.  A new community path to Boston will open.  A renovated Somerville Museum for art, history & culture with access for all will be completed.    By year’s end, 85%+ of Somerville residents will live within walking distance of a mass transit station on Orange, Green, or Red line.  Somerville is best positioned to pioneer the region’s resilience.  Let’s get started.