Diversity & Inclusion

As part of the then-new Federal Housing Administration’s effort to give out more home loans, a 1936 assessment of the neighborhoods in Worcester was commissioned by the Home Owners' Loan Corp.

In 1936, seven white men judged which neighborhoods of Worcester were not viable for real estate financing. Today, as rising costs overburden half of renters in the city, those impacted the most are from those neighborhoods still suffering from lack of investment.

As the cost of leased housing has risen and wages have stayed relatively stagnant, the portion of Worcester renters who are overburdened by the cost of their homes has risen to 51%.

WBJ is conducting its annual Economic Forecast survey, gauging readers' opinions about what 2023 will bring. Those who fill out the survey by Dec. 19 will be eligible to win one of three $50 gift cards.

“Grace” Jinliu Wang, who on Nov. 7 was selected by WPI to be its 17th president, believes in and embodies this concept of combining theory and practice to fuel innovation and to apply that innovation to have maximum impact on the world.

By purchasing well-established marijuana stores, Sean "Diddy" Combs is buying into already profitable establishments with a proven track record. His investment creates the first minority-owned, vertically-integrated multi-state cannabis operator in America.

Batista, who had been serving as acting city manager was approved for the role permanently after the City Council on Tuesday night voted 8-3 to appoint him as Worcester city manager.

Major healthcare providers in Massachusetts and across the country have started taking steps to rectify racial discrepancies in healthcare services and outcomes.

Worcester’s largest landlord is stepping up its fight to increase housing stock for not only the city residents most in need, but for all residents who find themselves stretched thin by the region's rising housing costs.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute has named “Grace” Jinliu Wang as its 17th president, becoming the first person of color to lead WPI and succeeding Laurie Leshin, who left WPI for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in May.