As of Thursday, November 1, 2001, The Greater Boston Urban Resources Partnership will no longer be located within City of Boston Environment Department. The new location and contact information are the following:

Stacey Compton-Maga, Executive Director
The Freedon House
14 Crawford Street
Roxbury, MA 02119
Att: The Greater Boston Urban Resources Partnership
(617) 445-3700
(617) 442-6201
Email: stacey@freedomhouse.com

The Greater Boston Urban Resources partnership (GB-URP) is a coalition of community organizations and agencies, business, and federal, state, and local governments. The Partnership's mission is to help urban communities carry out strategies that link social, economic, and environmental concerns. To this end, the Partnership's members work together to develop stewardship and support services and coordinate and provide expertise, funding, and in-kind services to community-based organizations and local governments through Greater Boston.

Funding is provided by the US Department of Agriculture (Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service), the US EPA (Urban Environmental Initiative), and the City of Boston.

The goals of the GB-URP are:

• A healthier, safer, more economically sustainable, urban environment.
• Economically sustainable projects and initiatives that enhance the quality of life and foster diverse community involvement through innovative agency and organization collaborations.
• A teamwork approach to delivering services and mobilizing leadership in support the urban environment.

History of the GB-URP

The Greater Boston Urban Resources Partnership grew out of a realization on the part of various agencies and organizations that there was a need for effective, sustainable development in communities through the use of environmental resources. Since March 1, 1995, a growing number of Partners have contributed time and effort to seeing the Greater Boston Urban Resources Partnership assist and support under-served communities to develop and sustain a functioning ecological area in which to live.

The Network

One of GB-URP's highest priorities is to build, expand and strengthen a network of community, business and government organizations committed to our mission. In particular we emphasize bringing traditionally disenfranchised groups to the table as full partners and leaders. All partners participate actively in strategic planning, developing programs, evaluating proposals and providing financial and/or technical assistance to community based organizations. This is the essence of who we are: a strong coalition of equal partners committed to social, economic and environmental improvement for now and for the future.

Technical Assistance

The different public, private, and non-profit sector organizations and agencies involved in the Greater Boston Urban Resources Partnership each bring a particular expertise to the table. The Partnership uses this expanse of knowledge in its provision of technical assistance to community based organizations in Greater Boston. Everything from legal advice to environmental education to soil testing, the Partnership is able to locate pro-bono services for community organizations working to improve their urban environment.

Financial Assistance

Under the auspices of the US Department of Agriculture (Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service), the US Environmental Protection Agency - Region 1 (Urban Environmental Initiative), and the City of Boston, funding is provided to the Greater Boston Urban Resources Partnership to support community based organizations' projects that:

• Foster community involvement, serve community needs, and provide community benefits.
• Foster cooperation among residents and government officials for the enhancement of the urban environment.
• Serve and involve low-income and minority communities that have traditionally had little access to environmental resources.
• Plan for long-term sustainability and improvements by community needs and activities.

Success Stories

Current Partners

Local Non-Profit

• Chelsea Community Connections Coalition
• Chelsea Greenspace and Recreation Committee
• Chelsea Human Services Collaborative
• EarthWorks Projects
• East Boston Recreation, Master Planning, Land Use Advisory Council
• Neighborhood of Affordable Housing
• STRIVE/Boston Employment Service, Inc.

Regional Non-Profit

• Appalachian Mountain Club
• Boston Natural Areas Fund, Inc.
• Boston Schoolyard Funders Collaborative
• Community Outreach Group, Inc.
• Environmental League of Massachusetts
• Garden Futures
• Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
• The Food Project
• The Watershed Institute
• Boston GreenSpace Alliance

Private Sector

• Andrew Klein, P.E., Environmental Engineer
• The BSC Group
• DJT Enterprises
• Greenleaf Composting
• Jennifer McGraw (Policy analyst)
• The Synergy Organization, Inc.

Academic

• Roxbury Community College, Center for Environmental Education
• UMass Boston, Urban Harbors Institute

Local Government

• City of Boston; Environment Department, Parks and Recreation Department, Sustainable Boston, Department of Neighborhood Development
• City of Somerville; Department of Public Works

State Government

• Massachusetts Bays Program
• Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Program
• Massachusetts Department Fisheries, Wildlife and Environmental Law Enforcement
• Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management - Urban Forestry Program
• Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Federal Government

• US Department of Agriculture-Forest Service
• US Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service
• US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1 - Urban Environmental Initiative
• US Department of Housing and Urban Development

For More Information Contact:

Ali Noorani, GB-URP Director
C/o Boston Environment Department
Boston City Hall, Room 805
Boston, MA 02210

Phone: (617) 635-2518
Fax: (617) 635-3435
Ali.Noorani@ci.boston.ma.us