Getting to Know the Boston Neighborhood Associations

Nov 27,2023

Getting to Know the Boston Neighborhood Associations

Boston Neighborhood Associations are a welcome contrast to the often daunting bureaucratic and government departments that govern local Boston communities. Although they are generally not affiliated with city or town governments, neighborhood associations can have a significant influence in the communities in which they are located. There are at least twelve such neighborhood associations in the Greater Boston Area, which are identified below. While each specific neighborhood association may be different, they share the general goal of representing the interests of their residents, advocating on their behalf, and improving the neighborhood.

The more involvement a neighborhood association has from its residents, the greater the impact it can have on the neighborhood, and the wider range of activities and outreach in which it can be engaged.

Generally, neighborhood associations are represented and governed by a Board of Directors or Executive Committee. Unlike homeowner’s associations, membership in such neighborhood associations is completely voluntary for residents.

Neighborhood associations can be involved in a number of areas affecting the community, including public safety, zoning/planning, parks, traffic/parking, and fundraising. Some, like the Bay Village Neighborhood Association, have committees dedicated to serving these specific areas. Some, like the Beacon Hill Civic Association, also put together social events for their residents.

There are numerous benefits to participating in such a neighborhood association, including meeting and interacting with fellow neighborhood residents, forming connections with and influencing local government organizations, such as the zoning board, planning board, and historical commission, assisting with neighborhood projects, and sharing information.

Generally, any resident of a neighborhood can join that neighborhood association. The more involvement a neighborhood association has from its residents, the greater the impact it can have on the neighborhood, and the wider range of activities and outreach in which it can be engaged.

Even in Boston neighborhoods without a formal neighborhood association, Boston Neighborhood Services has neighborhood liaisons for each Boston neighborhood, such as Jamaica Plain, and even for certain groups not based on geography, such as the Haitian Community Liaison. All such liaisons can be found on the Boston Neighborhood Services website, which is linked below.

A non-exhaustive list of neighborhood associations in the greater Boston area, along with available contact information for each, is as follows:

Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay

Representative: Elliott Laffer (Chair), Nancy Gertner (President)

Website: https://nabbonline.org/

Email: info@nabbonline.org

Phone Number: (617) 247-3961

Beacon Hill Civic Association

Representative: Meghan Awe (Chair), Joshua Leffler (President)

Website: https://www.bhcivic.org/

Email: info@bhcivic.org

Phone Number: (617) 227-1922

Bay Village Neighborhood Association