Rendering courtesy Utile Architecture & Planning
June 27, 2024
Boston, MA — The Boston Zoning Board of Appeal approved plans by the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute (“the Peace Institute”) for a three-story Center of Healing, Teaching and Learning at 30 Westville St. in Dorchester.
President and CEO Chaplain Clementina Chéry co-founded the Peace Institute in 1994 after the murder of her son, Louis D. Brown, gunned down in the crossfire of a gang shootout in December 1993.
“We are grateful to the Zoning Board of Appeal for approving our plans to build a new Center of Healing, Teaching and Learning,” said Alexandra Dorrelus and Rachel Rodrigues, Co-Executive Directors of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. “As we celebrate our 30th year of existence, we look forward to scaling our programs, investing in our team, growing our organizational capacity and leading the movement for peace, right in the heart of Dorchester.”
The project will be funded through the Peace Institute’s Campaign for Peace, a $25 million fundraising initiative led by Co-Chairs Denella Clark, Dr. Keith Motley, Dr. Peter Masiakos and Rick Shea. Investments in the Campaign for Peace will:
- Ensure the Peace Institute can equitably, effectively and sustainably serve every survivor
- Expand the work of Generation Peace, its youth-centered programs and services
- Accelerate expansion of the Community Re-Entry Services Program, in support of men returning from incarceration to their families
- Fund training and education on homicide response, violence prevention and peacebuilding
“Families of murdered victims have a unique understanding of how violence impacts individuals, families and communities,” said Chaplain Chéry. “This is an important milestone toward our vision to create and sustain an environment where families can live in peace and all people are valued.”
“The United Neighborhood Association fully supports building the Center of Healing, Teaching and Learning on Westville Street,” said Theresa Latson, president of United Neighborhood Association. “It will provide an important space for healing in our community. We are eager for this project to be completed.”
The new site is designed to lead visitors through a “pathway of decompression” from Westville Street into the 20,000-square-foot, three-story building, which will feature meeting, meditation and healing spaces, classrooms, offices and an auditorium. Learn more at LDBpeaceinstitute.org/campaign.
Aerial view of 30 Westville Street and surrounding neighborhood. Photo by Luis Antonio Thompson.
Rendering courtesy Utile Architecture & Planning
# # #
About The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute is a center of Healing, Teaching and Learning for families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief and loss. An integral partner with the City of Boston for 30 years, we offer resources for families seeking support and training to providers on best practices in homicide response. Learn more at LDBpeaceinstitute.org.
Contact:
Luis Antonio Thompson, Luisantonio@LDBpeaceinstitute.org
Taylor Lee, Taylor@LDBpeaceinstitute.org