Chelsea Black Community marks over a decade of neighborhood programs and a new office

Joan Cromwell, president of the Chelsea Black Community, told host Marne McAlpine that CBC was officially formed in 2013 and has grown from monthly library meetings into a resident-led nonprofit that runs year-round programming and neighborhood outreach.

"CBC is Chelsea Black Community and it was officially formed in 2013," Cromwell said, recounting the group’s origins and its intention to make long‑time residents visible in city affairs. She described the organization’s mission as inclusion-focused: "we uplift blackness," while also working across Chelsea’s many immigrant communities.

The group moved into its first brick‑and‑mortar office at 56 Washington Avenue about three years ago, Cromwell said, which she credited with increasing the organization’s visibility and capacity to host programs and partner with other groups. "Since we've moved into 56 Washington Avenue, that's our first brick and mortar as a black organization in this city forever," she said.

Programs highlighted in the interview include workforce development launched after the COVID pandemic to help residents reskill for trades and other jobs; a Saturday children’s program for ages 5–10 that provides breakfast, lunch, arts and field trips; and classes such as coding and an aeronautics class developed with local schools. Cromwell said CBC also offers language supports and Spanish classes to improve cross‑community engagement.

Cromwell described a youth arm, the Chelsea Young Adult Alliance, that she said helped draft a 71‑point resolution after the George Floyd protests. She said the resolution focused on housing, health, public safety and education and contributed to the creation of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officers in city government and the school system. "We came out with this beautiful 71‑point resolution and it brought DEI to the city," she said.

The organization operates largely with volunteers and small grants, Cromwell said, and has partnered with groups including the National League of Cities and municipal grant programs to pilot and scale projects. She named outreach to specific immigrant communities — including Haitian, Eritrean/Aritrian and Somali residents — and cooperation with local institutions such as schools, a temple and neighborhood nonprofits.

Cromwell invited residents to get involved by volunteering, proposing programming ideas, or visiting the CBC office. She gave a mailing address (CBC, PO Box 505299, Chelsea, MA 02150) and said the group maintains a website and social media presence for more information. The episode closed with the host encouraging listeners to learn more about local organizations and neighborhood resources.

The interview focused on community programs and outreach rather than public policy actions or votes; Cromwell repeatedly framed CBC’s work as resident-driven and collaborative.