When people ask me why it was that the Brockton Housing Authority chose the Pleasant Prospect area to be the first
neighborhood in which we accomplished significant renewal and revitalization, I say to them: “We had no choice.”

If Brockton’s neighborhoods were truly to experience a renaissance, then work had to begin in the most neglected and least inviting streets and blocks. As the Pleasant Prospect community dissolved, so did the vital bonds that prevented it from fragmenting into a place of indifferent strangers. So we listened. We learned.
And we acted.

In order to rebuild this community, we built partnerships with the Mayor’s Office, the City Council, the Brockton Redevelopment Authority, the Brockton Interfaith community, the Old Colony YMCA, South Shore Habitat for Humanity, neighborhood groups and private developers. We built the first new home in the neighborhood in 65 years, which ultimately led to millions of dollars of public and private investment. Last year, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) recognized our work as the leading example of neighborhood revitalization in the country. Our work, however, has just begun.
We understand fully that Brockton’s problems are of our own creation. They are answerable, therefore, to our own skills. Over 2000 years ago a great philosopher said, “People come to cities in order to live. They remain together in order to live the good life.” Brockton is rich in tradition and culture. It is abundant in resources and wealthy, above all, in extraordinarily diverse people.

Let us be measured by how much of the good life we give the next generation. Let us be judged on our ability to liberate talent, imagination and energy into Brockton’s neighborhoods.