“Living in the Transformation”: An Interview with BNCLT Board Member Joceline Fidalgo

While we are excited about all the new energy at our organization, we know that none of this would be possible without the deep roots created by our community-controlled governance. In an effort to celebrate and remember the strong foundation from which we are now growing, we decided to interview one of our wonderful board members: Joceline Fidalgo. Joceline joined BNCLT’s Board of Directors in the fall of 2021. She is a life-long resident of North Dorchester and has been active in local community organizing since she was a teenager.

I understand you have a long connection to BNCLT’s neighborhoods. Could you share a bit about your relationship to this area and the work that you’ve done here? 

“I was really intentional about wanting to come back to the neighborhood where I grew up, and stay part of this community.”

I was born and raised in Roxbury and Dorchester neighborhoods. I still live in Dorchester. My parents came to the US from the Cape Verde Islands, and were immediately involved in the community. My dad had a radio show that was one of the early ways that Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI), one of the few resident-led organizations based in the neighborhood at that time, would share regular updates with community members and invite the Cape Verdean community to events. My parents also owned a local grocery store, which was really more like a community center than a grocery store. There weren't very many places in the neighborhood where folks could get together at the time, or get access to resources or ask questions. So a lot of the time community members were going into the store to ask questions and get connected to different things — from jobs to schools for their kids. And so it almost became like a hub in the neighborhood. 

“I’ve seen how the CLT model can transform a neighborhood. I’m living in that transformation to some extent.”

My parents were leaders through their own businesses but also eventually joined the DSNI board. So, as kids — my 5 siblings and I — we were pretty involved through neighborhood cleanups, volunteering for events, and participating in community meetings. Once I was older, I was part of a group that started the Dudley Youth Council, which was a youth program at DSNI, and I sat on the board. Once I graduated from college, I came back to the neighborhood and ran the mentoring program at DSNI. From there I ended up staying on staff for about 8 years, and was in different roles, mostly focused on development and communications. And then I moved into the deputy director role. 

I was really intentional about wanting to come back to the neighborhood where I grew up, and stay part of this community. I grew up hearing a lot of the same narrative around folks trying to hustle to leave the neighborhood, and that being a sign of like, “Oh, you've made it,” you know. And I wanted to prove that wrong, and show that there was value in staying in the neighborhood, and that the neighborhood needed folks who grew up here and really cared about the neighborhood, and were invested in the neighborhood to stay. We see now, with all the displacement and the housing prices going up, that it's become less of a choice, and folks are being forced to leave. It is meaningful to claim the space and own the space and say, like, “yeah, we belong here. We care about this neighborhood, and want to be part of the continued story, just as our parents, aunts, and siblings are.” So that's why I'm still here, and decided to come back, join the DSNI staff for a number of years, and continue to be involved. I got connected to BNCLT through my time at DSNI, where my passion and excitement for the CLT model was nurtured. I've seen how the CLT model can transform a neighborhood. I'm living in that transformation to some extent. And so I'm really excited about the opportunity to expand the model through BNCLT, and get residents and community members also excited about the work and about the organization.

Based on your experience as a resident and a community organizer, what do you think are the most significant barriers to neighborhood stabilization? What are the best tools and strategies to support neighborhood stabilization? 

“Housing stability affords families with [more than just a house]. Whether it’s being able to put aside some money to do other things like continue their education or giving them access to better jobs because of the public transit system, we can see the impact of housing in so many areas.”

I think right now the biggest barrier is around the cost of living, generally, and housing is a big component of that. To put it pretty simply — people can't afford to stay here anymore and to pay rent, nevermind own property. 

I think the CLT model is the key in stabilizing the neighborhood and providing home ownership or rental opportunities for community members. On the homeownership side — which I'm really excited to see BNCLT move into — owning the property is one component, but I think even bigger than that is what that housing stability then affords families with, in terms of other opportunities. Whether it’s being able to put aside some money to do other things like continue their education or giving them access to better jobs because of the public transit system, we can see the impact of housing in so many areas. The CLT creates a sense of community and ownership, which is invaluable. Because then you see more residents invested in the community and what happens here.

Could you share a bit about your role as a BNCLT board member — how you got involved, and what your responsibility is? 

“I’d love to build momentum in the community with the residents supporting the organization financially, or with their time, as a way for members to show and demonstrate their commitment to the organization and their neighborhoods. So that we don’t have to always be so dependent on donations from other or philanthropic dollars — although still important — and folks from outside of the community.”

My role on the BNCLT board has primarily been as a resident of the community and a former fundraiser. More tangibly, I'm a member of the fundraising committee, which includes everything from planning the annual appeal, organizing events and activities related to fundraising, to supporting site visits with funders. I’d love to build momentum in the community with the residents supporting the organization financially, or with their time, as a way for members to show and demonstrate their commitment to the organization and their neighborhoods. So that we don't have to always be so dependent on donations from other or philanthropic dollars — although still important — and folks from outside of the community. And so I’m excited to build BNCLT’s membership base and group of residents to demonstrate their commitment and support through fundraising. 

What is your hope for the future of BNCLT and the neighborhoods it serves?

On the ground and in the community I'm most excited about the opportunity to fight one of the biggest challenges we're seeing in this neighborhood and across the country: displacement and the high cost of housing. And being able to deeply impact the lives of the community members that have the opportunity to live on the CLT and be part of BNCLT. I think at a higher level, politically, I'm excited about being able to expand the model beyond this community, and work alongside other CLTs across the state and country who want to grow the movement and really change the way we think about housing as a commodity, and change the way we resource CLTs and affordable housing in general. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

“I see my role as being part of those who want to spread and share the excitement with our neighbors and those who have the most to benefit from this work.”

There is so much opportunity here, both in terms of expanding the actual CLT, and just getting more people involved and excited about this work. For those of us that are in it day-to-day, it feels like everyone knows about the CLT model. But when you talk to the average person on the street, they have no idea that this is even possible, and that it exists. I see my role as being part of those who want to spread and share the excitement with our neighbors and those who have the most to benefit from this work.

Thank you, Joceline!