关于
关于
Community Event Celebrating "in-between" Cultures
Role: Research, service design, coordination, event operations
Project type: Public-space service intervention
Timeline: ~5 weeks
Team: 3 collaborators
Location: East Somerville, Massachusetts
Challenge:
Brazilian immigrants in Somerville face systemic invisibility—despite being Massachusetts' largest immigrant group (15% of all Brazilians in the U.S.), they remain underrepresented in public spaces and city services, creating barriers to community integration and cultural expression.
Research Question:
How might we create culturally-responsive community interventions that surface the needs of immigrant populations while celebrating their cultural identity?
Research Approach
Stakeholder Mapping
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Identified 4 key user groups: Local Brazilian Business owners and residents, City of Somerville, Harvard University (academic)
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Conducted stakeholder analysis to understand power dynamics and service gaps
stakeholders that we mainly engaged with
Primary Research Methods
1. Contextual Field Research
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Full-day ethnographic study on Broadway Avenue, East Somerville
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Direct observation of business districts and community gathering patterns
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Site selection rationale: Historical isolation (Interstate 93 construction in 1970s) created concentrated immigrant business district
Businesses and religious spaces around Broadway Avenue that support the Brazilian community.
Images we captured of the various small businesses.
2. Participatory Observation
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Attended Portuguese-language SomerViva community meeting
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An immersive research approach to understand communication preferences and community concerns
3. Expert Interviews
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2 remote sessions with SomerViva's Portuguese Services Coordinator
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Interviews with Soccer Without Borders and CultureHouse organizations
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Business owner interviews along Broadway corridor
Images we captured of the various small businesses.
4. Quantitative + Qualitative Surveys
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Online survey distributed to Brazilian residents
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On-site polling during event (Portuguese language)
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Mixed-methods approach to understand event preferences and lived experiences
on-site polling during event.
Key Research Findings
User Pain Points
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Economic & Employment Barriers
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Many undocumented workers unable to secure formal employment
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Multiple-shift work schedules limit social connection time
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Housing affordability crisis specific to Somerville location
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Social & Cultural Isolation
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Limited English proficiency creates communication barriers
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Lack of culturally-specific community events
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Small, insular social networks (primarily church-based)
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Invisibility to American institutions despite population size
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Systemic Challenges
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Limited knowledge of civil and labor rights
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Unfamiliarity with U.S. healthcare system
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Anti-immigrant sentiment affecting mental health
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Time poverty from demanding work schedules
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User Needs Identified
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Cultural recognition: Desire for visibility and celebration of Brazilian heritage
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Accessible spaces: Free, public gathering opportunities that don't require time commitment
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Language accommodation: Portuguese-first communication and services
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Community connection: Opportunities to build broader social networks beyond existing circles
Intervention Design
Design Principles
Based on research insights, we established:
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Accessibility: Free, public space requiring no registration or barriers to entry
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Cultural relevance: Leveraging soccer as universal cultural connector
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Low time commitment: Drop-in format respecting work schedule constraints
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Family-friendly: Multi-generational appeal with kids' activities
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Place-making: Transforming underutilized public space into community asset
designing the event
Solution: Public Soccer Viewing Event
What: CONMEBOL Libertadores final (two Brazilian teams) projected on public library facade
Where: Broadway Avenue, East Somerville—heart of Brazilian business district
When: Saturday, November 30th, 1-5pm (accommodating work schedules)
Experience Components:
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Large screen outdoor projection
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Seating area for passive viewing
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Mini soccer goals + balls for active play (kids)
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On-site feedback collection (Portuguese)
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Community dialogue facilitation
Rationale: Soccer serves as low-barrier cultural touchpoint that requires no language skills, creates shared experience, and attracts multi-generational participation.
Booklet foldout produced for and distributed in the community
Game watch
Execution & Constraints
Process Insights
Timeline Compression
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Standard city permitting: 4-6 weeks
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Actual timeline: 15 business days
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Adaptive planning required to meet regulatory requirements
Regulatory Navigation
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Obtained outdoor event license 3 days before event
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Thanksgiving weekend created additional scheduling constraints
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Last-minute approval required self-sufficient setup (no city electricity, furniture, or data support)
Resource Management
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Self-sourced generator, projection equipment, seating
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Weather contingency planning (temperatures below 40°F)
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Volunteer coordination for 7-hour setup and event duration
project timeline
Impact & Insights
Qualitative Findings from On-Site Research
Translated Poll Results revealed nuanced immigrant experience:
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Challenges:
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Language barriers in daily interactions and social integration
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Cultural differences in American social norms make friendship formation difficult
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Healthcare system navigation complexity
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Adjustment overwhelm in early stages
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Positive Adaptations:
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Wonder and appreciation for aspects of American life (shopping, holidays)
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Recognition that persistence and language learning enable adaptation
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Helpfulness of locals despite communication barriers
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Growing comfort over time with cultural differences
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Validated Design Assumptions
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Public, free events reduce participation barriers
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Cultural relevance (soccer) drives engagement across demographics
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Portuguese-language materials increase accessibility
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Drop-in format accommodates unpredictable work schedules
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Family activities (kids' soccer) enable multi-generational attendance
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one of the translated survey questions
Exhibition in Harvard ArtLab showcasing project and findings
Learnings & Future Recommendations
Process Learnings
1. Regulatory Knowledge: Understanding city permitting processes enables better timeline planning for future community interventions
2. Network Building: Established relationships with:
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Nonprofit organizations (CultureHouse, Soccer Without Borders)
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Government stakeholders (City Hall, Mayor's Office, SomerViva)
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Individual business owners and residents
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Foundation for ongoing community-engaged research
3. Methodological Insights:
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Language-matched research (Portuguese) critical for authentic insights
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Participatory observation revealed needs surveys alone wouldn't capture
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Multi-stakeholder approach provided systemic view of community challenges
Recommendations for Scaling
Short-term:
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Regular cultural event series to maintain community engagement
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Expand feedback mechanisms to capture longitudinal needs
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Partner with local businesses for co-hosted events
Long-term:
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Develop toolkit for other immigrant communities in Boston metro
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Advocate for permanent public gathering infrastructure in East Somerville
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Create participatory design processes for city services targeting immigrant populations
Research Gaps to Address:
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Deeper investigation into healthcare access barriers
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Longitudinal study of social network formation patterns
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Comparative analysis with other immigrant communities in similar contexts
