The increasingly immigrant workforce as well as its active and vibrant population make Lawrence, Massachusetts an ideal site for a national CBPR model to protect workers’ safety and health. Lawrence has many characteristics that make the city ideal for community-based partnerships:
- The population is more than 70% Hispanic, mainly from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
- Seventy four percent of Lawrence residents speak a language other than English at home.
- Lawrence is rich in organizations and individuals that work together to address community issues.
- At least 20 major jobs valued at over $100 million will be developed in Lawrence.
- Projects such as road, bridge modifications, construction and expansion of biomedical facilities and conversion of some of Lawrence’s of abandoned mill buildings into offices and condominiums are scheduled in the next years.
Lawrence residents, local government agencies, and community-based organizations have joined to improve the physical environment, bring new jobs, and foster economic development.
