A Voice at the Table is a research initiative that explores the role that affirmative spaces play in promoting community building, empowerment, and resilience for Black womxn in Roxbury, MA.

Affirmative Space // In the context of this study, space is defined as communal spaces—space that is used, shared, and participated in by members in the community outside of the home. Affirmative space describes spaces that are safe and supportive towards Black womxn authentically expressing themselves.

WomXn // Terminology that is inclusive of femme, non-binary, trans, and genderqueer people. We use this language throughout the research to encompass the spectrum of gender identities of individuals represented in this study.

Project Intentions

Recognizing the intersectional framework that Black womxn hold in our current society, this research seeks to empower the Black womxn’s narrative in the realm of urban planning and design both in Roxbury and the design practice at large.

Recognizing the intersectional framework that Black womxn hold in our current society, this research seeks to empower the Black womxn’s narrative in the realm of urban planning and design both in Roxbury and the design practice at large. The intentions of this exploration aim to unpack how planning and design for communities on the margins of society helps us better tackle the deep-seated challenges we must address to create the most inclusive outcomes. The voices shared through this project reinforce that Black womxn are diverse and multidimensional, and therefore the design of our communities should reflect this nature as well. At large, this work teaches us the following key lessons:

  • Embrace eclectic and diverse design standards, challenging existing norms that foster exclusivity through homogeneous design approaches.

  • Emphasize the need to build deep understandings of sociospatial politics in order to create equitable spaces.

  • Elevate the importance of documentation and archival work in Black and Brown communities.

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