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Jamaica Plain plans to hold summit for community to voice concerns

BOSTON. Expanding civic engagement has been a hot topic in the Hub in recent weeks, and this weekend, Jamaica Plain will hold its own summit for residents to voice their opinions on everything from housing to public safety.

Roughly one-quarter of Jamaica Plain residents, like those in several other Boston neighborhoods, were born outside the United States. Embracing that diversity and addressing topics common to all Jamaica Plain residents — such as business and education — will play a key role at the event, organizers say.

“We’re trying to gather people along many lines that often divide people to talk about where we’re at now and moving forward,” said Chris Ney of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation, one of the summit’s sponsors.

The morning events will include a keynote address by Rubén Lizardo, associate director of PolicyLink, an Oakland, Calif.-based research institute that focuses on economic and social equity.

Afternoon workshops will focus on topics such as CORI reform, the foreclosure crisis and improving schools.

In the last few weeks, the city held its Boston Civic Summit, and Boston University later held a similar event.

“We want to have people meet residents they may not talk to otherwise,” Ney said. “We hope this will give people the opportunity to get information about what it’s like to be in a community where you can make choices about its future.”