UMass Boston

In the Media

Despite concerns, Hispanic and Latino cultures continue to thrive across the commonwealth

GBH | November 10, 2023

This week on Basic Black, we celebrate the historic and cultural contributions from the Hispanic and Latinx communities thriving in Boston's Latin Quarter and across the commonwealth. On our panel with host Kristen L. Pope to discuss the issues, concerns and opportunities in the Hispanic and Latino community: Dr. Celina Miranda, executive director of the Hyde Square Task Force; Dr. Lorna Rivera, director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development & Public Policy at UMass Boston; Beyazmin Jimenez, director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Culture at Northeastern University; and Betty Francisco, CEO of Boston Impact Initiative, and co-founder of Amplify Latinx.

Why many Latino nonprofits struggle to make ends meet

GBH | September 29, 2023

Latinos make up one of Massachusetts' largest ethnic groups, and the last few years has seen significant growth in the widely diverse Latino communities with roots in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. While Latino workers are considered by many to be the backbone of the local economy, they are disproportionately low wage workers. "There still are very real challenges around poverty rates that are really disturbing," said Dr. Lorna Rivera, director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute. But she said there are signs of improvement: "For second generation Latinos, we are seeing more positive outcomes. So, we do have some hope there for the next generation."

Why Boston needs a Latino and Caribbean affairs office

The Boston Globe | September 8, 2023

The Institute's work was cited in this article to talk about the need and importance of a Latino and Caribbean affairs office.

Massachusetts to change how Asian, Black, and other populations are counted in 'most expansive' effort in country

The Boston Globe | August 21, 2023

Director Lorna Rivera and Director Paul Watanabe of the Institute of Asian American Studies at UMass Boston discussed how Massachusetts is planning to change the way they look at population data. 

The mighty Latino institute punching above its weight

The Boston Globe | September 8, 2023

The Gastón Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston is truly one of the best-kept secrets in the state. Officially named The Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy, it’s the only research body in the Commonwealth that churns out and contextualizes data about the area’s growing Latino population with the ultimate goal to inform and shape public policy. “All of our work is free (to the public) because we were founded by the state Legislature to provide this public service,” Lorna Rivera, the institute’s director, said in an interview. But it seems like the institute’s research, which includes periodic demographic profiles of selected Latino subgroups in the state and where they live in the state, is underutilized to drive policy.

Brazil’s ‘Copycat’ Coup Swiftly Condemned — Unlike in the US, Local Expert Says ›

GBH | January 11, 2023
Just days after the second anniversary of the January 6 coup attempt at the U.S. Capitol, Brazil experienced an insurrection of its own this past weekend. Supporters of the far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro stormed Brazil's capital buildings in protest of Bolsonaro's loss to the recently sworn-in Lula da Silva. Eduardo Siqueira, professor of environment and public health and coordinator of the Transnational Brazilian Project, joined GBH to discuss the attack on Brazil's capital buildings.

New Report Addresses Barriers Faced by Massachusetts Latinos ›

Associated Press | May 11, 2022
While the diverse Latino population in Massachusetts continues to struggle through the pre-pandemic issues of reduced educational and economic opportunity, and health care disparities, there is reason for optimism, according to a new report. Even though Massachusetts is among the nation’s wealthiest states, Latino communities have struggled economically relative to Latinos nationwide, according to the report by the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy, Boston Indicators, and the Latino Equity Fund.

Candidates Appeal to Latino Voters ›

Bay State Banner | October 12, 2021
Making up just over 15 percent of the city’s electorate, Latino voters could be a major influence in deciding who sits in the mayor’s office next. At the same time, low voter turnout and diverse political leanings across the community could prove a challenge to campaigns in coming weeks. “Their participation rates have been going up in the midterms and the general election … The problem is that this particular election is an off year,” said Luis Jiménez, an associate professor of political science and researcher on Latino voting habits across the Bay State. He said successfully engaging Latino voters — or any voting bloc — could sway November’s outcome if the turnout remains low. “I think Latinos have the potential to have a huge impact, because of very low participation. I mean, I expect that anything can make the difference, really, when you have such few votes,” Jiménez said.

Why a Guaranteed Minimum Income Makes Sense for the State’s Hardest Hit Communities ›

The Boston Globe | May 12, 2021
Mauricio Gastón Institute Research Assistant Bansari Kamdar shares that by the end of 2020, Latino workers in Massachusetts were still twice as likely as white workers to be unemployed.

UMass Report Explores How Bostonians Experience Aging ›

Dorchester Reporter | March 08, 2021
Six institutes and centers at the UMass Boston each contributed to a new report entitled “Aging Strong for All: Examining Aging Equity in the City of Boston.” The new report documents disparities across three dimensions that impact our quality of life — economic security, health, and social engagement — and also identifies opportunities for stakeholders to promote an environment in which “aging strong” is possible for all Boston residents.

What Kind of Boston Will the Next Mayor Be Inheriting? ›

The Boston Globe | February 18, 2021
Associate Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Lorna Rivera, tells The Boston Globe that she thinks the city needs to continue to find ways to fund essential programs and services despite the pandemic-induced economic uncertainty.

Op-Ed: Mass. Latinos Grow in Visibility, Influence as Part of the New Majority ›

Boston Business Journal (paywall) | January 05, 2021
In this op-ed on how Massachusetts Latinos have made gains in visibility, influence, and representation in 2020, the author points to the appointment of Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, the first Latino to lead a campus in the state’s public university system. UMass Boston is close to reaching the 25 percent benchmark for becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution, making this a key higher ed appointment. The author also mentions that the Gaston Institute released a first-of-its-kind mapping and report of Latino nonprofits, with recommendations on how to build capacity for these organizations to broaden their reach and ensure they can grow strategically.

Trump Improves With Massachusetts’ Latinx Voters ›

GBH All Things Considered | November 10, 2020
Joe Biden won Massachusetts handily in the presidential election, but President Donald Trump did better than a lot of people were expecting in communities with large Latinx populations, including cities like Lawrence and New Bedford. GBH All Things Considered host Arun Rath discussed the Latinx vote with Assistant Professor of Political Science Luis Jiménez, with the college's Gaston Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy.

Latino Voters’ Turnout Could Be Critical In 2020 Election ›

WBUR | October 29, 2020
The gap between Latino voter turnout and that of other groups is significant both in Massachusetts and nationwide. A new report from the Gastón Institute at UMass Boston found that though Latino turnout saw a spike in the 2018 midterm elections, it still trailed that of white voters by 16 percentage points and Black voters by 4.3 percentage points.

Boston Is Usually Undercounted in the Census: This Year May Be Worse ›

The Boston Globe | July 27, 2020
A UMass Boston study of barriers to census participation commissioned by the city of Chelsea found that even some community leaders in the city wouldn’t necessarily recommend their constituents participate because of deportation concerns.

Report Examines COVID-19 in Latino Community ›

BNN News | July 08, 2020
Gastón Institute Director Lorna Rivera and Associate Professor of Environment and Public Health Eduardo Siqueira discuss their new report outlining the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the Latino population in Massachusetts, as well as recommendations for curbing the spread of new infections.

COVID-19 Disproportionately Impacting Hispanic Communities in Massachusetts ›

WWLP | July 01, 2020
According to a study from the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy at UMass Boston, Latinos in Massachusetts account for 30 percent of all COVID-19 cases even though they account for just over 12 percent of the population.

Chelsea Residents’ Needs Will Be Overlooked Without Accurate Census Count ›

The Boston Globe | June 21, 2020
Lorna Rivera, director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy, announced that the institute partnered with the City of Chelsea help the Latinx community complete the 2020 census so the community can receive the support it needs.

Researcher at UMass Boston Awarded $100,000 Leadership Prize ›

The Boston Globe | May 26, 2020
A UMass Boston researcher who works to protect marginalized communities from being disproportionately affected by climate change has been awarded a $100,000 prize to advance her work. Sustainable Solutions Lab Director Rebecca Herst has received the 2020 Zuckerberg Endowed Leadership Prize.

Preliminary Data Show Coronavirus Hitting Blacks in Boston More Than Other Groups ›

Medical Health News | April 10, 2020
Paul Watanabe, director of the Institute for Asian American Studies and professor of political science, and Lorna Rivera, director of the Gaston Institute for Latino Public Policy, join new COVID-19 Health Inequities Task Force.

Brockton Vigil Sends Prayers to Puerto Rico ›

The Enterprise | February 25, 2020
A study from the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development found there are around 10,000 Latinos who live in Brockton. The biggest group among those are Puerto Ricans.

Talk of the Neighborhoods: UMass Boston Gastón Institute/Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley ›

Boston Neighborhood News | February 20, 2020
Lorna Rivera, director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy, talks about the institute's work on Latino community development and policy issues and its 30th Anniversary breakfast celebration coming up on March 12.

Latino Pay Disparity Is an Issue for Us All (Editorial) ›

The Republican | February 11, 2020
The Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy's new study finds that Latinos are paid better in Massachusetts than across the country, but they still earn less than their non-Latino counterparts regardless of educational background. Phillip Granberry, the lead author and a Gastón research associate, said, "Every way we looked at an explanation for why Latinos make lower wages, we couldn’t find one."

UMass Boston Study Finds Significant Wage Gap for Massachusetts Latinos ›

The Republican | February 05, 2020
The Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy's new study finds that Latinos are paid better in Massachusetts than across the country, but they still earn less than their non-Latino counterparts regardless of educational background.

How Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia Found Her Voice ›

The Boston Globe | January 13, 2020
Lorna Rivera, the director of UMass Boston’s Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy, says new Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia "can speak across social classes.”