Javier Panzar’s reporting on Brockton’s response to unspeakable violence captures the essence of a resilient community that has earned the moniker City of Champions (“Brockton looks inward,” Metro, Aug. 26). Brockton welcomes families from around the world escaping poverty and traumatic environments. It works hard to give these immigrants a fighting chance at the American dream; a lot of the most innovative education and youth development programs in the state come out of Brockton.
In your average struggling city, crimes such as those that Brockton endured last month might invite pessimism and self-doubt.
As the Globe's reporting reveals, like true champions, the city's residents and community leaders aren't suffering that distraction. They are looking for ways to do even more youth job training and violence prevention.
State agencies are getting better at tracking the outcomes of the modest line items in the budget that support these initiatives. If new data can corroborate the impact of these programs, then, as a Commonwealth, we should make sure that more of these resources are available.
Brockton embodies what we as a region have begun to refer to as "Boston strong." Coming together to make Brockton stronger is an investment we can all support.
Advertisement