A Legislature-backed Commission on Poverty in Massachusetts aims to address the state’s historic wealth gap.

The commission will study demographic disparities and existing programs to reduce poverty over the next decade, and has been holding public hearings to gather feedback.

State Sen. Sal DiDomenico – D-Everett – said Massachusetts has the highest median wage for workers in the nation, but one of the greatest gaps between wealthy and low-income individuals.

“So we know we have much work to be done in this commission,” said DiDomenico, “to bring more equity to the table when it comes to residents across the Commonwealth.”


According to a 2022 report, about 24.2% of Latinos in Massachusetts live in poverty, which is almost 5 percentage points higher than the national Latino rate. This is also more than 6 percentage points higher than the state’s Black poverty rate and more than three times higher than the state’s white poverty rate.

DiDomenico said it’s unacceptable that roughly 70,000 Massachusetts children live in what’s considered “deep poverty” – or 50% below the federal poverty level.

He said efforts to undo those numbers should be a top legislative priority.

Sixty years after the launch of President Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty,” community action agencies in Massachusetts say data reveal which policies are most effective.

Expanded tax credits and stimulus payments were shown to help cut childhood poverty in half during the pandemic, and efforts continue to grow guaranteed basic income programs.

Laura Meisenhelter is board president of the Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP), a coalition of more than twenty community action agencies.

She said they’re responding to local needs while working for systemic change.

“We confirmed,” said Meisenhelter, “both large and small changes to public policy and programs and practices can have an enormous impact.”

Meisenhelter said agency staff visit clients at nursing homes, aid parents in buying Christmas gifts, and help ensure that people’s basic needs such as food, clothing and diapers are met.

She said that need is increasing as the poverty line set decades ago has not kept pace with the increasing standard of living.

The Commission on Poverty’s next public hearing will take place later this year in the Fall River and New Bedford area.


Publisher’s Notes: MA Commission on Poverty tackles historic wealth gap was first published by Public News Service and was republished with permission.

Part of LNN’s mission is to amplify the work of others in providing greater visibility and voice to Hispanic, Latino communities.

Education is the key to unlocking countless opportunities and achieving personal and professional success. However, only some have equal access to quality education, which can hinder their chances of reaching their full potential. Recognizing this disparity, the Hortencia Zavala Foundation (HZF) was established to empower students and provide them with the necessary resources to overcome educational barriers.

Since its inception in 2017, HZF, a nonprofit organization, has worked with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) and its local professional chapters to identify worthy candidates for scholarship awards. In 2023, Ignacio Dominguez-Coronado, a student at California Baptist University, became the twelfth student to receive the award.

Ignacio Dominguez-Coronado

In 2021, the Hortencia Zavala Foundation expanded its support of young journalists to include a 12-week journalism camp. Covering race, ethnicity, and culture: a guideline for fair and accurate storytelling, led by Hugo Balta, twice president of the NAHJ and Publisher of the Latino News Network (LNN), is designed to go beyond the inverted pyramid of basic news writing in examining the terminology, usage, and word choice of stories providing greater visibility and understanding of deep-rooted inequities in all aspects of society.

Journalism Camp: Meet The Fellows

“Every conversation was insightful and provided different perspectives,” said Daniela Sandoval (an aspiring journalist from Southern California and one of the six Fellows participating in the 2021 camp). “I always looked forward to our meetings and lectures, and I always left every meeting feeling inspired and energized.”


You can make a donation via:

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/HortenciaZavala

GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/5d6b2e07


Next year, HZF will sponsor a paid internship with one of the LNN’s seven affiliates. An internship is a golden opportunity for students interested in journalism and media, offering a unique and valuable experience that can shape their future careers and open doors to endless possibilities. “Working with the Latino News Network will provide students real-world experience in news reporting, writing, editing, and multimedia production,” said Balta. “They will have the chance to contribute to creating impactful stories, honing their storytelling abilities, and enhancing their journalistic skills.”

Hortencia Zavala and Hugo Balta, 1980s

Named after Balta’s late maternal grandmother, the Hortencia Zavala Foundation advocates for equal educational and training opportunities, working tirelessly to bridge the gap and level the playing field for these deserving individuals.

BOSTON—Juan Perez passed out homemade empanadas and Joumou, a Haitian stew, to his fellow classmates in a technology class for senior citizens in the South End Community Center.  He scanned the room and greeted everyone with a warm smile. 

On the last day of the course Sept. 30, the 75-year-old artist showed his appreciation the best way he knows how to: by giving back to his community.   

“I am so blessed to have this space, so I can see my artwork,” Perez said, who has been an artist in the South End and Fenway area for decades.  

Perez, who moved into his studio in December, has been giving back through the years.

He offers free art lessons at the Community Art Studio to young students ages 6 to 8 years old. Perez said he appreciates drawing with only pen and paper and he teaches his students “contour drawing,” which is a specific sketching technique.

“I teach only 10 children at a time, just a small amount,” Perez said. 

The children sketch different objects in front of them, such as fruits and vegetables that Perez brings them from the market.

“The kids come running in from the bus stop and knock on the door, which is beautiful,” said Perez. “It’s such pure and honest energy. The children bring me back to my childhood.”

Juan Perez smiling and sitting in the Community Art Studio in Boston’s South End. Photo by Eloise Lushina.

The Community Art Studio on 607 Columbus Ave., is a welcoming and bright space. Perez’s original artwork hangs from the walls and they are for sale. 

Perez said he knew he loved drawing when he was a sophomore in high school. Originally from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, he moved to New York City when he was only 9 years old.

“We didn’t have running water or electricity. That’s where I came from,” Perez recalled. “We had a backyard, and what we ate was what we raised.” 

As a teenager, Perez enrolled in The Arts Students League of New York in Manhattan, where he studied closely with the renowned Gregory D’Alessio, whose work was featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of the City of New York.

“I had to take two buses and two trains just to get to the Arts Students League. I had no money,” Perez said. 

During those long hours of commute, Perez would draw other passengers across from him, mainly to pass the time.

“New Yorkers don’t like to be stared at. So, the lesson is, you look, you remember, and then you draw,” said Perez. “I constantly drew from memory.” 

D’Alessio gave Perez many opportunities that he didn’t give his other students, said Perez, recalling how D’Alessio took him to special events at the Russian Tea Room and gifted him his first ballpoint pen and pad of paper. 

Now, Perez passes on the lessons he has learned from art school to curious students who share the same passion. As a volunteer, he teaches students of all different cultures in the South End, including Northeastern University graduate students.

 “You have everybody here,” he said. “You should love your neighbors like you love yourself.” 

Community Programs Director Sage Carbone at Fenway Community Development Organization said she first met Perez at a food distribution event during the first couple of months that the community studio was operational. 

“Juan is warm, knowledgeable, and very engaging,” she said. “His art is fantastic and highlighted in many spaces around the Fenway neighborhood.”

The organization owns most of the buildings on the block, including the Community Art Studio, and donates art materials for the students to use, such as watercolor sets, pads of paper, and pencils. 

Through art—and food—Perez said he hopes to inspire.

Volunteering makes Perez think of his grandmother, who taught him at a young age to give back to his community.

“My grandmother taught me to share,’’ he said.  “That’s part of my culture.”


This report was published in collaboration with the Boston University School of Communications School of Journalism. The journalism student is a member of a Reporting in Depth class taught by former Boston Globe reporter Meghan Irons.

Eloise Lushina is a junior studying Journalism and Film & TV at Boston University. She is from Chicago, Illinois, and was a previous professional actor in television, musicals, and film. Now, her interests lie in broader storytelling, from writing, creating films, and producing.

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