The North End in Context

Setted in 1636 and established in 1852, the City of Springfield in the third largest urban center in Massachusetts. Dese no its significant architecture and innovative business ventures, Springfiski has earned wveral distinct claims including the title of the "City of Firsts" Many well known companies have roos here and have made Springfield an important base for their operations. These companies mclude Massachusetts Munuail Lafe Insurance Company, Friendlyb lec Cream Corporation, Milton Beadley, Peter Pan Bus Company, and Smith & Wesson. Amongst these is the Bay State Medienl Cemer, a well-recognized teaching and research facility that has a significant history in the Springfield area and particularly in the North End neighborhood. However, in spite of Springfield's history of Neighborhoods of the City of Spongick The Nordis in nd Context Springfield Massachusetts United States 19.3% 6.7% 9.2% 33.0% 10.1% 13.6% 53.6% 28.5% 20% of households bulow poverty laval % of children under 18 below poverty level % of Hispanic households below poverty.level economic vitality and innovation, poverty is an increasing concern with almost twenty percent of Springockd families living below the foderal poverty level. The North End The North End is a neighborhood with approximately 10,000 residents. The neighborhood was split into two sides, known as Plainfield of Brightwood on the west and Memorial Square on the cast, by the construction of Interstius 91 in 1961. Dutined by the borders of the Connecticut River, downtron and an industrial arca to the sooth, the North Eoid is mordy residential. Since the early 1960s, the North End community has attracted a large Puerto Rican population: in 2004 over 75% of the residents in the North End are of Puerto Rican beritage The first Puerto Rican residents were attracted to Springfield and the North End community in particular because of migrant jelas quailable m the Connecticut River Valley farms. Within this North End commsanity, increasing numisers of Paerto Ricans moved Springfield to reunite with friends and family and to work in local farms and Springfield'y manufacturing industry. However, the North Eind that Puerto Rican migrants encountered in the 1960s is different than the North End that exists today. Many of the challenges that are currently facing the City of Springfield as a whole are mirrored and even magnified in the two neighborhoods of the North Eind Plainfielel and Memorial Square. Econonsic and health data shiven to the right illumrate the depth of the poverty Despite is current economic and health challenges, the North End in 2004 displays many wonderful qualities. In the 1990 cспвия, 68% of families reported temure of over ten yeus in the community. Family structares are strong with many mutually supportive extended families. Puerto Rican culture, particularly through music, food and dance, maintains its prominence within the community and is seen as a source of pride. Vorer participation entes reach forty percent for hoard okctions of the local citizen's council. Ceren Schal mam mar Socio-Economic Characteristics of the North End The poorest census tract in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts A 50% high school completion rate (a statistic which is even lower for males) The lowest educational attainment in the City of Springfield A population of which 10% passes through the Hampden County Correctional Center each year High rates of asthma and diabetes • Other health related challenges, including high teen birth and infant mortality rates aa well as low child immunization rates German Gerena Magnet School With a strong spirit of community involvement and the desire to change, organizations in the neighborhood came together in 1995 and looked to the past for answers. The comminee of organizers came to the conclusion that in order to put a stop to the negative trends existing in the community the active participation of all residents would be needed. The key to change would depend on the shility to motivate those previously uninvolveő nesidents to become part of this process. Although many organizations cast throughout the Noris End, the residents lack a community center for activities to take place. Many remembered that the desire for a community center has been an ongoing struggle over the part 25 years and that a community center of activity once existed within the Gerena School in the 1980s