Subscriber Only

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%.

Problems like unaffordable housing, uneducated people, pollution, and lack of neighborhood sustainability – each putting a drag on businesses and the economy – can be connected directly to HOLC's racist decisions 86 years ago.

Trivia question: What was the formal name of The El?

Brenda Tomasetta closed her father's Sena's Barbershop on Grafton Hill and has now moved and joined forces with Kelly Collins at her barbershop, Studio C Hair Artistry, on Massasoit Road in Worcester.

Increased values make renting or purchasing a commercial building more expensive, and rising housing costs make purchasing or renting less affordable, driving some long-time community residents and businesses out of the city.

We must recognize and embrace the power of nature-based solutions to combat many climate challenges.

What happens when it comes time to make a monumental choice to change the course of how your company operates for years to come?

My dream was to create a culture where our team would want to be at work, together with each other, not dread coming to work.