Winter 2012
Complete Issue 
Contents
Early Childhood Education: Springfield Tackles a Benchmark
by Irene Sege, Strategies for Children
Being able to read at grade level in third grade is correlated with future success. That's the rationale for a unique program currently being tested in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The Disability Housing Market in New England
by Charles D. Hammerman, Disability Opportunity Fund
A new community development financial institution focused on housing for people with disabilities is partnering with groups outside the traditional disability field to help more people live independently.
Successful Development of Local and Regional Food Systems
by Jeffrey O'Hara, Union of Concerned Scientists
There's a kind of direct marketing that can be good for your health. Read about the myriad of new ways that New England farmers are distributing food directly to consumers.
Neighborhoods: Foreclosure's Silent Victims
by Hannah Thomas, Brandeis University
When a Massachusetts judge halted foreclosures for faulty paperwork, the process ground to a halt statewide. That was good news for homeowners in default, not so good for neighborhoods.
Mapping New England: 2011 Foreclosure Rates
by Ana Patricia Muñoz, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Total foreclosures in New England increased 17 percent year over year in July 2011. Maine and Vermont have higher rates than the national average.
Lead Exposure and Academic Performance
by Jessica W. Reyes, Amherst College
The author's research answers the question, "Can we see improvements in children's cognitive performance as a consequence of their lessened exposure to lead?"
Aging in Place
by Jean Lawe, Aging in Place in Norwich, Vermont
Today's seniors seek better housing options than nursing homes. With a little help, many are able to manage perfectly well in their own homes. Volunteer organizations are making it work.
From Burma to Waterbury, Connecticut
by John Giammatteo
Members of a minority group that has long resisted the military government of Burma
(Myanmar) are now part of the U.S. State Department's refugee program. Some have made a new life for themselves in Connecticut.
Collaborating to Revitalize Northern Forest Tourism
by David Vail, Keith Bisson, Kate Williams, and Mike Wilson
New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine have traditionally trumpeted their own tourist attractions. But today a new, regional approach is proving that collaboration lifts all canoes.
Neighborhood Stabilization: The Rural Story
by Erica Bradley, NeighborWorks America
The author reports on how federal Neighborhood Stabilization funds were disbursed in the rural Northern Tier of the Boston Fed district.
Articles may be reprinted if Communities & Banking and the author are credited and the following disclaimer is used: "The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston or the Federal Reserve System. Information about organizations and upcoming events is strictly informational and not an endorsement."
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