On October 7, 2020 the Membership hosted Wine Down Wednesday devoted to Block Clubs.  The purpose was to have a conversation with block club leaders to share common concerns and information

• Historic Boston Edison Association (HBEA)

1. Who are we?

2. What do we do?

• Block club priorities, issues, concerns

• BLOCK CLUB LEADERS SPEAK-UP

• HOW BLOCK CLUBS AND HBEA WORK TOGETHER

• HBEA MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN

• COMMITTEE SIGN UP

• BLOCK CLUB

On October 7, the Membership Committee kicked off its Fall Membership Campaign, “Each One, Reach One.”  We are asking every board member, committee chair, and block club leaders to recruit 3 residents to become dues paying members of the Historic Boston Edison Association.  Next, we encourage each resident to encourage 1 resident to join.   Please help us maintain our community clean-ups, alley clean-ups, flowerbed maintenance, house concerts, Oktoberfest, holiday home tour and so much more.  This year due to unforeseen circumstances, our fundraising was really impacted, so your dues will help us sustain our programs and events and remain a great place to live, work and play!  Last, you should have received a Membership Dues and  Giving Letter, if you have not contributed please consider doing so or for your convenience you can pay on line at www.historicbostonedison.org.

Is it a boy or is it a girl?

BREAKING NEWS! According to reliable sources, new residents are on their way to Boston-Edison in the near future.  Our source estimates there may be an increase of approximately seven on the way.  So be on the look out for pink or blue gender reveal parties and/or baby showers celebrations.   We extend best wishes to all the expectant parents and look forward to welcoming them to Boston-Edison.  Amid, our new normal, during this pandemic, it is refreshing to wonder how many baby girls or baby boys are coming…

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

The August 2020 newsletter has been mailed. If you live in the neighborhood and didn't find one in your mailbox, let us know!

You can also read the August newsletter (and back issues) here on our website.

My arborist, who I hired to trim branches, was down on his hands and knees by a tree, digging around it. “What are you doing?” “I’m exposing the root flare of this tree?” “Why?” “Because the tree has a beautiful root flare. Look.”

The root flare did indeed make a very attractive pattern at the base of the tree. The tree had toes! “Look at that! Who knew?!!” “I did. I wanted to show you.”  

Around all of my trees, the grass and soil had grown over and wholly or partially obscured the root flare. I dug around the base of my other trees to expose their root flares. I love it. You might, too.

Addendum:  When is the best time to plan a tree? Twenty years ago! Second best time? Now! Then in 20 years there will be trees. Don’t wait. If you don’t plant them for yourselves, plant them for the house, for the residents over the next 100 years, for the neighborhood ambiance. Trees are good.

As the head of HR at the Fortune 500 company BorgWarner, with 29,000 employees, she was interviewed about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and her work within her company to increase diversity in her world wide company.

Click here for Crains Detroit article

In a challenging time, Boston-Edison neighbors came together to spread love and cheer with art and positive messages. In late June sixty bags of sidewalk chalk were distributed to children and adult artists in the neighborhood.

The result was awesome! Nearly every block had at least one house with a colorful front sidewalk! There was lots of creativity - hopscotches, geometric pathways, ocean scenes, hearts and rainbows, famous characters, and messages of love, safety, and equity.  Walkers, bikers, and other passersby enjoyed pieces for over a week before the rain.

A selection of the art is below for your enjoyment online. Thank you to all participants! Cassi Meitl

Click here to see slideshow of pictures 

If you missed the 2020 Annual Meeting or would just like to review the materials again, see below for the presentation:

Something special and humane happens when people come together—barriers are broken, and hearts and minds become more open.

As the world grapples with the acts of the killings and injustice against George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and countless others before them, and, as we witness the stark inequities that have led to the disproportionate impact of this pandemic on the lives and deaths of Black individuals, the Historic Boston Edison Association Board wants to assert in the clearest possible terms our support for our Black neighbors, families, friends, and associates.

We stand in solidarity with our community as we demand justice and seek healing.

Parts  of our mission are to encourage a greater community bond among neighbors; and, promote culture and civic engagement for residents who  live within the District and beyond; therefore, we recognize that during the most challenging of times we need to focus on bringing our community made of people of all colors together to heal through the power of shared experiences

Our future as a community and as a society relies on doing this work. It relies on understanding — on a willingness to understand — the intricate hurdles faced by Black people in this country and the injustice woven into the core structures of our society. There is no one way to do this. There is no simple path. However, we must take the first step of being unafraid to be uncomfortable. We have seen some glimmers of hope these past weeks as people have come together to kneel in solidarity, to march peacefully together in protest, and to use our American right to speak out for freedom for ALL. We need to ensure that this moment will lead to lasting change and real action and that we do not retreat into our places of inward-looking comfort.

The Historic Boston Edison Association Board is dedicated to pressing for lasting change. We are actively listening and learning so we can better understand how to play a more positive role in eliminating all forms of racism, bigotry, and hatred. We understand bringing permanent change to a systemic problem will require our continued involvement and commitment which we must demonstrate with our words and actions. The previously established Diversity and Inclusion Committee within our Association’s operational structure will be activated to support these efforts. If you wish to join this Committee, please let us know. The Board is invested in modeling and providing an environment that allows for the positivity and connectedness our community requires to sustain our efforts to ensure our neighbors are supported in healing and learning to better incorporate an understanding and deeper tolerance of uniqueness.

Let us meet these current unprecedented crises with our unprecedented actions and help change the world for the better – TOGETHER!

We, the Historic Boston Edison Association Board of Directors stand with open minds and hearts. We are here for all our neighbors to listen, to stand together, and work together for change.

In Unity, the Historic Boston Edison Association Board of Directors

We hope that you are well and staying safe during the COVID-19 health crisis.

Recently we received an update on the percentage of Census Information returns. The May 4, 2020 report below represents District 5 Census Standings:

Although we are at 50 percent return, we can and must do better.

If you have not completed your census, do so immediately. Encourage your neighbors to complete the census right now. Also encourage your family and friends to do the same, no matter where they live.

This is way too important for our future and it does not take a long time to complete. We hope that when we receive the next update we will be approaching a 100 percent return.

We're all counting on you.