Our Research

Objective:

The East Boston Spatial Justice Lab aims to explore the role of arts, advocacy, and cultural organizing in bolstering residents' social/emotional wellbeing and facilitating community healing and rejuvenation. While centered in East Boston, the project insights have broader implications for similar urban contexts.

Vision:

The East Boston Spatial Justice Lab envisions itself as a hub for the cross-pollination of ideas, experiences, and skills among residents, artists, legal advocates, service providers, scholars, and community organizers.

Research Goals:

The lab's research plan is centered on understanding the nexus between art, cultural organizing, and legal frameworks in East Boston. The specific research objectives include:

1. Deciphering the role of cultural organizing in shaping collective identities.

2. Evaluating how art's impacts vary across demographics and individual characteristics.

3. Investigating how arts, coupled with legal advocacy, can influence policy changes and community revitalization.

4. Assessing the holistic benefits—social, emotional, and physical—of engagement in arts and cultural organizing.

5. Analyzing how art can empower communities, especially within housing justice, to foster a sense of belonging and understanding of rights and agency.

6. Understanding the underlying mechanisms that foster community belonging through arts.

7. Identifying the necessary learning and support systems to help groups navigate internal conflicts and differences.

8. Exploring the various art forms employed and levels of participation in community initiatives.

In sum, the East Boston Spatial Justice Lab embarks on a comprehensive study to understand the transformative power of art in community building, healing, and policy change, while also serving as a model for other urban areas. This research has been approved by Northeastern University’s Institutional Review Board.

IRB # 23-04-11 Approved 05.09.2023