News & Updates

Boston Planning & Development Agency announces community engagement team to further agency’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals

Aug 31, 2021

The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) today announced a team of Community Engagement Managers serving neighborhoods across the City of Boston. The Community Engagement Managers are part of the BPDA’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion under the direction of Director Barry Reaves, and further the BPDA's mission to create a community-led, planning first agency, that supports growth reflecting the unique needs of each neighborhood.

The BPDA’s Community Engagement Managers are responsible for assisting BPDA staff members with the coordination of all outreach efforts related to the agency’s work throughout Boston’s neighborhoods. BPDA Community Engagement Managers (CEMs) support the Agency’s three main pillars of community process: Planning Initiatives, Article 80 Review, and Disposition. CEMs are responsible for ensuring each BPDA external process actively reflects the community’s goals. CEMs support the Planning, Development Review, and Real Estate departments through designing and managing engagement strategies appropriate for each project or initiative.

Arreen Andrew
Arreen Andrew is the Community Engagement Manager for the West End, South End, Newmarket, Back Bay, Downtown, Chinatown, Beacon Hill, and South Boston Waterfront neighborhoods. A passionate supporter of the arts, when not attending a cultural event, you can find her discovering new restaurants in the city.

You can contact her at [email protected]


 

Kenya Beaman
Kenya Beaman is the Community Engagement Manager for Mattapan, Hyde Park, and Roslindale. She is a lifelong resident of Mattapan and since her childhood has advocated for her community. She has worked for the City of Boston since 2015, but has spent the past two and a half years at the BPDA. Kenya’s previous experiences and work has been as an administrator in various capacities and in human services. 

You can contact her at [email protected]





Jamarhl Crawford
Jamarhl Crawford is the Community Engagement Manager for the communities of Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Longwood, and Mission Hill. He is a lifelong Black Bostonian (he coined the term Blackstonian) and grew up in both Mattapan and Roxbury. Jamarhl currently resides in Dorchester and looks forward to serving the community and residents of Boston. 

You can contact him at [email protected]  





Mark McGonagle
Mark McGonagle is the Community Engagement Manager for Allston, Brighton, South Boston, Savin Hill - Columbia, Glover’s Corner, and Neponset - Port Norfolk. Mark is a lifelong resident of Boston and lives in the Ashmont area of Dorchester with his wife and two children. Mark has been with the BPDA for seven years and previously worked in youth development and at the Boston City Council.

Mark remains active in neighborhood activities and non-profit organizations particularly in his hometown of South Boston. He previously served as President of the Dorchester Heights (South Boston) Civic Association, coached South Boston & Dorchester Youth Hockey, and currently serves as Board Member Emeritus of SPOKE, an arts based non-profit, and as President of the Condon Community Center Council.

You can contact him at [email protected]




Jason Ruggiero
Jason Ruggiero is the Community Engagement Manager for the North End, Charlestown, and East Boston. He is a lifelong resident of East Boston whose passion is helping others and serving the community he loves.

You can contact him at [email protected]


 

Christopher Worrell
Christopher Worrell is the Community Engagement Manager for the neighborhoods of Fenway, West Roxbury, as well as parts of Dorchester, and has lived in Dorchester all his life. He has previously served as the Director of Constituent Services for the 1st Suffolk District. He also coaches Pee-Wee basketball at the Perkins Center in Dorchester. Christopher is passionate about serving both the youth and elderly communities. He loves where he is from and feels privileged to serve these communities.

You can contact him at [email protected]




The BPDA’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) is responsible for supporting the Director and Leadership Team by leading diversity and inclusion management within the BPDA. The ODEI will focus on five pillars of diversity and inclusion management: Workforce Diversity, Supplier Diversity, Community Engagement and Language Access. Commitment and Communication are necessary for building a more equitable city for all, especially Boston’s Black communities and communities of color.
 

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