On a recent Friday afternoon, Urban Edge’s ground-floor community space was packed with nearly 30 leaders-in-training to kick off their participation in E.L.I.T.E. – Emerging Leaders Inspiring Transformative Engagement. Over the next two days, participants – selected from a pool of more than 130 applicants – took part in an immersive workshop, learning how to translate their lived experiences into action by strengthening their ability to organize, build relationships, and lead change in their communities
“The room was filled with a real cross-section of the communities we serve – across age, race, and socioeconomic backgrounds. These are people showing up to learn how their ideas can become opportunities for change,” said Emilio Dorcely, CEO of Urban Edge.
E.L.I.T.E. is a six-month leadership development program created in collaboration with The Arc of Change, and adapted from the work of Marshall Ganz at the Harvard Kennedy School. Participants were recruited across Boston, with a focus on those living in the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park, and Jamaica Plain. Interest was high, with more than 100 additional applicants beyond available slots.
Through hands-on workshops and interactive training, participants are developing an organizer’s approach to leadership – building the skills needed to lead effectively while staying rooted in the issues that matter most in their communities. The program focuses on helping residents strengthen their voices, build relationships, and organize around shared goals.
Participants are introduced to core organizing skills, including how to:
These skills are already being applied to some of the most pressing challenges facing Boston residents today. Rising housing costs were a central topic of discussion, as participants explored how rent burden and displacement are affecting families, seniors, and workers across the city. Many residents are making difficult choices – working multiple jobs, delaying retirement, or struggling to save – just to remain in their homes.
These challenges are not felt equally. Rent burden continues to disproportionately impact communities of color, making housing affordability a critical issue for both economic and racial equity.
Participants also engaged with ongoing conversations around rent stabilization in Massachusetts, including proposals like the Keep Massachusetts Home campaign, which aims to limit annual rent increases and create greater housing stability.
With the rising cost of living and a continued shortage of affordable housing, the need for community-led solutions has never been greater. While policy change takes time, programs like Urban Edge’s E.L.I.T.E. are helping ensure that residents are not just part of the conversation – but leading it.
