The Boston College Neighborhood Center is committed to supporting the Allston-Brighton community by sponsoring programs, connecting residents to resources on our campus, and providing funding to local nonprofits. Learn about our services, grants, and resources below.
Services
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Neighborhood Center services are available during the academic year (September - May).
October through April, we offer free, conversational, virtual English classes through Neighborhood Center for advanced beginner and intermediate levels.Ìý
Please note: Our English classes end on May 1, 2025. To sign up for notifications about our Fall 2025 English classes, please complete form below. We do not have summer classes.Ìý
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If your child needs tutoring, we can help. Our volunteer tutors are available to assist your child/childrenÌýin various subjects for one hour per week after school, at no cost to you.
Please note: We are no longer accepting tutor requests for the Spring 2025 semester. Please check back with us in the fall.Ìý
Grants
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$3,000 Program/Project GrantÌý
(Available twice per year—Fall & Spring)
Next Cycle: Fall 2025
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The mission of the Allston/Brighton--Boston College Community Fund is to support programs and services that are available to the people of Allston and Brighton.Ìý The Fund Committee seeks applications from organizations, associations, programs, or initiatives based in Allston and Brighton. The Committee gives special consideration to the benefit of the potential award on the youth, senior citizens, and the needy in the Allston and Brighton neighborhoods. Beautification projects are also encouraged.
The Fund was established by the late Mayor of Boston, Thomas M. Menino and former Boston College President, Rev. J. Donald Monan. The President of the College, Reverend William P. Leahy and the Honorable Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston continue to support this cooperative effort between Boston College and representatives of Allston and Brighton.Ìý
The purpose of the awards is to supplement existing budgets of established organizations and agencies in order to promote a program or service for which financial support is not otherwise available. The Fund Committee also considers and makes awards to independent groups who present a worthy proposal or sponsor a worthwhile event.
The Fund aims to create good will and harmony among the people of Allston and Brighton, and seeks to improve the physical appearance of the neighborhood. It is expected that both goals will enhance the quality of life of the neighborhood. A particular impact of the Fund and its activities is the fostering of an improved and beneficial relationship between the people of Allston, Brighton and Boston College.
Interested groups may apply for funding either during the fall or spring cycle.
Please Note:Ìý Only one grant per group or agency will be awarded per year.Ìý
Spring 2025 Grant Recipients
For the Spring 2025 cycle of the Allston Brighton/Boston College Communty Fund a total of $42,178Ìýwas distributed to the following 16 organizations:
- Allston Brighton Food Pantry:ÌýBeautifying Green Space in Brighton Center
- Allston Brighton Little League, Inc: 2025 Skill and Development Expenses
- Allston Brighton Yoga Collective: Spring/Summer 2025
- Brazilian Women's Group:ÌýSEmergency Food Assistance for Immigrant Families in Allston-Brighton
- Brazilian Worker Center, Inc:ÌýImmigrant Youth Leadership Development in the Allston Brighton Area
- Brighton High School.:ÌýSupporting Our Newest Community Members this Winter at BHS
- Brighton Branch - Boston Public Library: Intergenerational Gardening Club & Serenity Garden Support & Beautification
- Community Rowing, Inc:ÌýYouth Summer Rowing Programs
- Economic Mobility Pathways, Inc. (EMPath): Community Beautification & Reflection Garden ProjectÌý
- Penniman Road Community Garden:ÌýProcurement of Tools & Materials to Support Healthy Gardens
- Road to the Right Track:ÌýSummer Events
- Shaloh House School:ÌýSchool Vegetable Garden & Micro-Farm Educational Programming
- Spark a Life with Art:ÌýThe All-Brighton Creative Collective - A Creative Workshop Series
- The Common Room, Inc.: Scholarship for Supporting Social, Recreational & Cultural Experiences
- The Fishing Academy, Inc: 21st Season Summer Support
- The Women's Table, Sisters of St. Joseph, Boston: Supportive Circles
- West End House Camp, Inc: Project Camp 2025
- West End House Girls Camp: Camper Scholarships
Boston College Neighborhood Improvement Fund (91¸£Àûµ¼º½NIF)
(Established in 2015)
Please direct inquiries to:
Anabela GomesÌýorÌýJeanne Levesque
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Beginning in the spring of 2015, as part of a package of public benefits related to its Institutional Master Plan, Boston CollegeÌýestablished a $2,564,000 Neighborhood Improvement Fund (NIF) grant for projects that enhance the public realm and for which public sources of financing may be unavailable or inadequate.
The NIF grant may be used by public or private non-profit entities to implement improvements on public property.ÌýProjects may include improvements in public parks and open space, neighborhood beautification, transportation and roadway improvements, public safety projects, public art, and other projects that achieve the objectives of the fund.
Projects should be of broad public benefit to the Allston-Brighton neighborhood, with particular emphasis on the areas of Brighton closest to Boston College (e.g. Lake Street, Foster Street, Cleveland Circle, Commonwealth Avenue, Brighton Center). Applicants will be expected to garner and demonstrate broad community support for their projects as part of the application and review process.
2018-19 RecipientsÌý
$1,104,095 will be awarded to the following organizations:
Allston Village Main Streets: Allston Village Lights Project - $60,000
Allston Brighton CDC & DPW: Bench Project - $20,000
Artists for Humanity: Artistic Bike Racks - $42,846
Boston Parks & Recreation: McKinney Playground Improvements - $750,000
Boston Transportation Department: Two BlueBike Stations - $106,250
Brighton Gateway & Brighton Marine Health Center (Fiscal Agent): Gateway Improvement Project - $100,000
Gardner Pilot Academy & Boston Educational Development Fund (Fiscal Agent): Community Garden & School Grounds Improvement Project - $24,999
2016 RecipientsÌý
$325,798 was awarded to the following organizations:
Artists for Humanity:ÌýBrighton High School Sculptural Art Work - $30,798
Allston Village Main Streets:ÌýTree Pit InitiativeÌýÌý- $36,000
Jackson Mann Community School & Council:ÌýPlayground InitiativeÌý - $100,000
Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation: Chestnut Hill Reservation & Reservoir Improvements - $59,000
VFW Post 669 & Boston Parks & Recreation (Fiscal Agent):ÌýMajor General George W. Casey BronzeÌýRelief - Casey Memorial AmphitheaterÌý- $100,000
2015 Recipients
$446,138 was awarded to the following organizations:
Allston-Brighton Veterans & Brighton Marine Health Center (Fiscal Agent):ÌýMedal of Honor Statue for Private First Class Ernest W. Prussman killed during WWII - $90,000
Boston Transportation Department-Boston Bikes:ÌýTwo Hubway Bike-Share Stations - $95,600
Boston Police Department, District 14:ÌýTwo Speed Alert Display Board Units - $40,000
Brighton Main Streets, Inc.:ÌýGateway signage and an interactive kiosk that will provide information about local businesses, access to public transit, and a community calendarÌý- $100,000
Friends of Chestnut Hill Reservation & DCR (Fiscal Agent):ÌýTwo solar-operated trash and recyclable compacting stations and an outdoor drinking fountain (also pet friendly) - $25,000
Friends of McKinney Park & Boston Parks & Recreation (Fiscal Agent):ÌýAutomated, solar-powered scoreboard, three concrete chess tables, and transformation of the street hockey court so it can also be used for soccer and basketball - $95,538
Resources
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Alumni Association
Resources for 91¸£Àûµ¼º½ alumni.
Information on Boston College athletic games and ticket purchases.
Information on employment at Boston College.
Information on Boston College libraries.
Details on Boston College art exhibits.
Robsham Theatre Arts Center
Boston College performance schedule and ticket information.
Office of Governmental and Community Affairs
Special events and projects happening at Boston College.
The site to access if you have an apartment listing or are seeking an apartment in the Allston Brighton area.
Volunteer and Service Learning Center
Additional volunteer opportunities through Boston College.
Information about programs, events, and support for women at Boston College.
Community Calendar:Ìý
Community Support:
Citizenship & Immigrant Information:
City Services:
Allston Brighton Neighborhood Info and Services:
Health Information:
Elder Information:
Mentoring Information:
Community Sports/Recreation: