The next Highland Park Neighborhood Coalition meeting is, Tuesday, June 11th at 7 pm
at the Hawthorne Youth & Community Center (9 Fulda St.) and on Zoom Link
Meet The 2023 PRC Committee
The Project Review Committee (PRC) is a committee of the Roxbury Neighborhood Council (RNC) and derives its power and responsibilities from the RNC. The PRC is a public body open to all residents of Highland Park, represented by a voting Committee of elected Members and three Co-chairs. It was formed in 1999 to improve the quality of life of all residents of Highland Park, Roxbury, Massachusetts 02119. The PRC reviews the disposition of city-owned parcels assigned to it for designation from the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH), City of Boston, Massachusetts to achieve long-term sustainability and ensure managed growth while considering the values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). PRC meetings are the third Tuesday of every month and are open to everyone who lives in the neighborhoods of Highland Park. Meetings are held at HYCC, 9 Fulda Street, Roxbury and online via Zoom. To contact the PRC Secretary email: HPPRCsecretary@gmail.com
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Committee Co-Chair
Kevin Hart
Why I want to work on the PRC
As a 60+ year resident of Highland Park I’m interested in joining the PRC to ensure the neighborhood retains its’ residential neighborhood flavor. I’ve seen other communities overrun by college students, whose transient nature generally have no vested interest in the neighborhood. Further, the neighborhood primarily consists of single and multi-family homes and I feel it’s important to maintain this character in lieu of building overcrowded structures and creating intense density to the area.
My Bio
My name is Kevin Hart and I currently reside on Logan Street, Boston, MA. I grew up on Highland Street in the 60s and have lived in the neighborhood for 60+ years. I retired from the Federal Aviation Administration in September 2019 after 42+ years of Government service. My wife and I raised our two daughters here. We both have been stewards, along with several others, of the two vacant lots, Rockledge and Logan Wilds, for approximately 10 years.
Committee Co-Chair
Joan Seamster
Why I want to work on the PRC
I’ve been a Highland Park resident for 8 and a half years. My husband and I love living in this vibrant and diverse community and I want to help maintain the character and friendliness of this community. I want to add my voice to the residents of Highland Park as we work with the city on allocating city-owned vacant lots. I believe in the HP PRC's mission to achieve long-term sustainability and ensure managed growth while considering the values of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). I think this PRC work can make a difference in future housing and open space in Highland Park. I bring facilitation skills, organizational skills, community listening skills, and an ability to work with government committees to this position.
My Bio
My background is in corporate marketing, branding, and communications, and am Faculty Lecturer, most recently at Tufts Gordon Institute Masters of Science in Innovation and Management. I’ve participated in HPNC monthly meetings over the past four years, learning about our neighborhood’s challenges and opportunities, and recently launched the HPNC website and worked on the bylaw revisions with the PRC Bylaws Working Group. My nonprofit work includes consulting on membership issues for Ovations for the Cure, Wellesley Council on Aging, and the American Cancer Society and volunteering on a Community Building Committee, working with residents to assess the reuse of the town’s middle school building. I’ve worked as a community organizer throughout my career, addressing issues as diverse as oil and gas drilling in Detroit neighborhoods, reading programs in Public Schools, and providing summer camp experiences for children in San Francisco and Oakland, CA.
Committee Co-Chair
Rodney Singleton
Why I want to work on the PRC
Sobering Realities, July 26, 2007, Letter to the Editors of the Banner, Rodney L. Singleton: "It’s been said that the antithesis of poverty is justice. We in Roxbury understand that statement far too well because we struggle with poverty every day and think the time is right for some measure of justice now!" Justice is, has been, and will continue to be the prime motive for my civic engagement in our neighborhood. This is what I intend to bring to the PRC. The interest is more intentional.
My Bio
I am very active in the community and have served as President of the Highland Park Community Land Trust, Co-Chair of the Highland Park Project Review Committee, a member of the Plan Dudley IAG, a member of the Bartlett Yard Project Review Committee, and lastly is a member of the Highland Park Neighborhood Coalition steering committee. Mr. Singleton also served as Chair of the Jackson Square IAG/CAC and was a member of the plan Dudley Project Review Committee. I work professionally as a Senior Hardware Verification Engineer with Teradyne Inc. and formally Hewlett Packard/Agilent. I hold a baccalaureate of science degree in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University and am a lifelong resident of Roxbury, where I live with my wife and enjoy gardening, sailing, and cooking.
Committee Member
Katya Dreyer-Oren
Why I want to work on the PRC
As a relatively new resident of Highland Park, I want to ensure that the neighborhood serves the residents who have been here the longest, while remaining a wonderful place to raise a family. I have found the neighborhood to be beautiful, friendly, and welcoming, and would love an opportunity to help retain that character for everyone else. In as dense a city as Boston, land use is of paramount importance. Neighborhood land should be used to make a neighborhood better for existing residents and more welcoming to new ones. In my opinion, it should not be used simply as a wealth builder for outside interest groups hoping to jump on gentrification trends. I would love to have the opportunity to help my neighbors and future neighbors by ensuring that benefits of land modification are retained by the neighborhood.
My Bio
I was born and raised 20 minutes outside of Boston, in Lexington, MA. I attended college at Brandeis in Waltham, studying music and philosophy. After college, I moved to Coolidge Corner and attended New England Conservatory, receiving my master’s degree in vocal jazz performance and met my husband, a jazz saxophonist. After that, we moved to New York City where I worked as a vocalist while transitioning to software engineering as a career. In New York, I worked at several tech companies, in education and health tech. In 2020, I returned to Boston with my husband to be closer to both of our families - his sister and her family also live in Roxbury - and we purchased our home on Highland St. I had my son in March of 2022 and we have loved raising him here in such a walkable area with so many other children. I currently work remotely as a software engineer at Heroku. My husband teaches at NEC Prep, has his own studio of music students, and performs locally.
Committee Member
Gregory Franz
Why I want to work on the PRC
As a resident of the Highlands Park area for six years, I have come to appreciate the diverse and vibrant neighborhood that I call home. The blend of different cultures and backgrounds reminds me of my own South African roots and has helped shape my understanding of the importance of inclusivity and community engagement. I am passionate about developing a balanced, clean, safe, and desirable neighborhood that reflects the needs and desires of its residents. That is why I am excited about the opportunity to join the HP Project Review Committee. I believe that my experience and expertise in project management, problem-solving and finance would make me a valuable member of the committee. I am committed to working collaboratively with other members to ensure that projects are thoroughly reviewed and evaluated. I am eager to work with other members to ensure that our neighborhood continues to thrive and grow, while remaining true to its unique character and diversity.
My Bio
Greg and his husband immigrated to the United States from South Africa in 2017, seeking a new start and community to call home. Greg is a CPA that has spent most of his career in financial services, his husband is a professor in global health working with marginalized communities. Greg has seen first-hand the benefits of creating a workplace that embraces diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. He understands this is even more important for a residential community as it promotes richer, more tolerant, and compassionate citizens. Greg is a practical, analytical, and results-driven individual who appreciates a range of views and is eager to evaluate them to find a compromise that will benefit the varying interests of the Highland Park residents. He is excited about the opportunity to serve his community and make a positive difference
Committee Member
Marilyn Grant
Why I want to work on the PRC
Good day. My name is Marilyn Grant. I am a 39-year Highland Park resident. In my early years as a Highland Park resident (1980s), I worked with Samantha Sadd, then director of the HYCC, as a member of the HYCC Working Group. While I have admittedly lost touch with the development activity impacting the community, I would like a voice in what happens to the empty lots in our neighborhood, many of which have long been neglected or maintained by abutters. Given my recent experience as a resident, being notified of decisions already agreed to, it seems the best way to have a voice is to become a part of the PRC.
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My Bio
I reside in my Highland Park home with my daughter and granddaughter. I am a first-year member of the Grandparents Committee at my granddaughter’s school but do not otherwise serve on any other boards or committees. With a B.S. in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research and an MBA, I work full-time as a Business Analyst in healthcare. In this position, I have an analytical focus on restructuring operations to improve efficiency, overall quality, and results by investigating and troubleshooting problems to determine their cause and recommending viable solutions. I am a result-oriented professional in fact-gathering and documentation. I have experience working in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing.
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Committee Member
Olivia Grant
Why I want to work on the PRC
Olivia Grant was born and raised in the Highland Park/Fort Hill neighborhood of Boston. As a native of the neighborhood, she’s had the privilege of seeing the neighborhood change and evolve over decades. She knows what it’s like to be a child, teen, young adult, and now a mother in the neighborhood and has a vested interest in making sure Highland Park continues to adapt and improve while ensuring the quality of life for all residents. Being in the unique position of having lifelong relationships with veteran residents and building relationships with newer residents thanks to playdates and community events, Olivia is privy to the interests and priorities of long-term and newer residents across age ranges and lifestyles. Hearing her neighbors’ frustrations and having her own it was important to her that she join the committee and speak up about proper land usage and development to help ensure the land will be used for the residents’ greater good.
My Bio
Olivia is currently an arts and culture journalist for The Bay State Banner and a former Emmy-nominated producer with experience in the arts, entertainment, and media industriesAs a result of her work and her studies, Olivia has also lived in New York City, China and Italy. She has first-hand knowledge of the impact that both thoughtful development and careless management can have on a neighborhood and its people in various locales. She plans to bring fresh ideas and use her ability to discuss and negotiate competing priorities across cultural and class lines to the committee. She is a graduate of Boston Latin School, Wesleyan University and currently a Master’s degree candidate in Journalism at Harvard University.
Committee Member
Jan Griffith
Why I want to work on the PRC
I want to see that the disposition of City of Boston land in the Highland Park neighborhood is fair, equitable, and sound on an environmental basis. The City’s program should be well balanced so as to take into consideration both housing needs and the necessity to improve the neighborhood’s sustainability and livability. The people who make Highland Park their home should be able to participate and voice any concerns they have as to what the City proposes to do with City owned land. I see my role as listening to residents, getting their views, and when needed being an advocate for them. I have served on the PRC for nearly ten years and would like to continue service to improve the outcomes that will result from the sale of City lands. I worked with community participants to draft the last Memorandum of Understanding with the City and would be available to help with any amendments or other drafting projects
My Bio
Present Employment: Professor of Law at Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts. Areas of concentration are State and Local Government Law and Property Law. Past Employment includes Employed by governmental bodies (City of New York and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in legal and administrative posts). Private law practice involving public finance. 2020 American Bar Association lifetime achievement award for outstanding contributions to the practice of state and local government law. Graduate of Colby College and the University of Chicago Law School.
Committee Member
Lee Peters
Why I want to work on the PRC
I hope to contribute to the continued success of the Highland Park Neighborhood as home to a diverse community and an evolving fabric of built and natural spaces. Our success is proven by keeping long- time residents here for generations while extending quality of life to the next generation. Highland Park will make progress as it participates with the city in designation of vacant lots around the neighborhood. There’s the beauty of our streets, buildings, public and open spaces – and we know things can improve. New development can support our community by becoming a stabilizing force through affordable options to maintain economic diversity. New projects can also respect open space through good design that strives for a sustainable energy-positive future. I would like to help by sharing expertise and working toward solutions with the community.
My Bio
I moved to Boston to study architecture and fast learned that Boston was a great place to live for its academic and cultural influence, its pace, and civic endeavor. I worked at several architecture firms (as a MA Registered Architect), two of these engaged in affordable housing. At Elton + Hampton Architects I worked on the Back of the Hill Homeownership Project, 24 units on Mission Hill. For the past 15 years I have been teaching at the Boston Architectural College. I still design the occasional residential project. I lived on Mission Hill for 17 years and now at 61 Dudley Street; a house I built 10 years ago. From these experiences, I’ve learned about around zoning, design review, permits, and site utility processes. I’ve been involved in Highland Park, including attending Highland Park Neighborhood Coalition meetings, the PRC, John Eliot Sq Neighborhood Association, Clean-up events at the HYCC and Boston Shines
Committee Member
Colin Redd
Why I want to work on the PRC
As a Roxbury native, it would be an honor to join the PRC because I am passionate about promoting equitable and sustainable development in my community. As a young adult growing up in Roxbury I’ve seen community transformation and I’m very eager to be part of the continued progress and innovation. I feel it is important for there to be a younger voice for the community, as sometimes we are overlooked. My goal would be to ensure that the Highland Park Project benefits the local residents, BIPOC businesses, respects the environment, and enhances the cultural and historical significance of Roxbury. I am excited to collaborate with others in a transparent, inclusive, and respectful process that prioritizes social justice and community empowerment.
My Bio
I am a Roxbury native, having attended New Mission and graduating from Another Course to College. I graduated from Drexel University in 2016 with a dual degree in Marketing and Legal Studies. I previously worked with the largest Black-owned digital media company, Blavity Inc as a Business Development Manager., managing a team of three account executives and maintaining a quota of $2.5 million. I am currently employed at The Bay State Banner, the oldest minority-owned publication in New England, as Director of Sales and Marketing. I mentor teens and young adults through my partnership with the Brighter Horizon Foundation. I have co-founded The Vineyard Legacy, an organization founded in 2017 that hosts networking events and fundraisers for community scholarships. I have a background in both residential and commercial real estate and currently have a Property Management company based in Philadelphia, PA.
Committee Member
Jennifer Rose-Wood
Why I want to work on the PRC
My husband Josh and I bought a house here in 2010 to live in a racially and economically diverse neighborhood with a strong sense of community. One of the first families we met were James and Ruby Hudson who lived in the apartment building called the Rockledge. About 5 years ago the Rockledge changed hands and, after a slapdash renovation, the rents were raised. James and Ruby were forced to move out of the apartment they had lived in for half their lives. They could not fit Ruby's grand piano out the front door so it was chopped up for scrap. I watched with dismay as several new waves of neighbors moved into the Rockledge. To everyone’s relief, James and Ruby were able to find an apartment around the corner, with more space and a view. For me, their move represented a tipping point. I knew I needed to get involved in the fight against gentrification in Highland Park. Without a united effort, this unique community will be destroyed and chopped up for scrap. Just like Ruby's piano.
My Bio
I have attended HPNC meetings on and off since moving here and have most recently served on the Honoring Henry Hampton Committee. Some of my proudest accomplishments include helping plan a series of community dialogues around gentrification, organizing a meet and greet for college student tenants to get to know local residents, and supporting the successful fight to preserve the mature tree canopy along Melnea Cass Boulevard. While my children attended the Nathan Hale School on Lambert Ave, I served on the Family Council as well as the Citywide Parent Council. I am a recent graduate of the Perrone-Sizer Institute for Creative Leadership and have worked in Boston Public Schools and now am a classroom teacher at Boston Arts Academy. At BAA I serve on the Inclusion Planning Team helping the school to better serve neurodiverse and multilingual students. I am deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in all parts of my life.