Neighborhood Name Change 2019-2021
While working on a class project on her neighborhood’s namesake, Maya Counter (who was a CRLS student at the time and is currently a Harvard University student) discovered that Louis Agassiz’s theories on polygenism are rooted in white supremacy. With this knowledge, Maya proposed renaming the neighborhood, first posting on the social media app NextDoor and then bringing the issue to the Neighborhood Council in January 2020. Since Maya presented this proposal to Cambridge City Council, she and ANC representatives have worked with the City on a process to discover how residents feel about potentially renaming the neighborhood.

Next Steps

• January-February 2021 – Collect submissions, including additional name suggestions, for digital “context library” of reactions, ideas, art, and resources. The deadline to suggest a name and submit to the context library was February 22, 2021
• Early March 2021 – Flyer neighborhood and invite all residents to view digital library and complete a survey about the name
• Mid-March 2021 – Process survey results
• April 13, 2021 – Discuss survey results at ANC Meeting
• May-June 2021 – Share survey results and ANC discussion with Cambridge City Council, in concert with a report on the process by Cambridge Community Development
• August 2021 – Discussion at Cambridge City Council Special Meeting
• August 2nd – Cambridge City Council votes to endorse renaming the neighborhood for esteemed African American educator Maria L. Baldwin, (b. 1856 / d. 1922)
• September-December 2021 – Council Members discuss Neighborhood Council name
• December 2021 – The Neighborhood Council votes to rename to Baldwin Neighborhood Council
• 2023 – ABC Board votes to rename organization the Maria L. Baldwin Community Center

Archive
Catch up with what has occurred thus far by downloading selected Whistler newsletters, slide decks presented at recent ANC Meetings, the flyer (distributed by interns from Cambridge Community Development), a summary of survey results and more.

• Neighborhood Name Process – Welcome to the Baldwin Neighborhood – September 2021 Meeting slide deck
• Cambridge Community Development Letter to City Manager June 2021
• ANC Letter to Cambridge City Council June 2021
• May 2021 Whistler
• March/April 2021 Whistler
• Neighborhood name survey results summary
• Neighborhood Name – Next Steps – April 2021 ANC Meeting slide deck
• March flyer to neighborhood
• February 2021 Whistler
• Neighborhood Name – Next Steps – February 2021 ANC Meeting slide deck
• November / December 2020 Whistler
• View Submission Guidelines
• Neighborhood Name – Next Steps – October 2020 ANC Meeting slide deck
• September / October 2020 Whistler
• City Council Order
• February 2020 Whistler
• ANC Letter to Cambridge City Council January 2020
• January 2020 Whistler

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Sacramento Field Renovation
Between 2015 and the fall of 2016, the Neighborhood Council and the City of Cambridge hosted numerous meetings and discussions regarding renovations to Sacramento Field, a playing field and community space located on Sacramento Street, adjacent to Riverside Health/The Guidance Center and the Sacramento Street Community Garden. Frequent users and stakeholders, including abutters, neighbors, the Maria L. Baldwin School community, Agassiz Baldwin Community, and plot-holders in the Sacramento Street Community Garden engaged with Cambridge City staff and the City Manager’s office to discuss desires for the field and work through issues. The information below comprises some of those discussions. Additional information can be found on the City of Cambridge website.

Neighborhood Development & Projects 2018
Click for Information and Correspondence

Neighborhood Development & Projects 2017
Click for Information and Correspondence

Neighborhood Development & Projects 2016
Click for Information and Correspondence

Meeting Minutes & Correspondence Available in The Whistler Newsletter
Meeting Minutes and Correspondence Published in The Whistler

Historical
Sacramento Field Eminent Domain Deed March 31 1980

More Information About Sacramento Field
More information is available on the City of Cambridge’s website:

Department of Public Works project page: bit.ly/dpw_sacramento_fld

Cambridge Community Development project page: www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Projects/Parks/sacramentofield

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Other Resources in the City
The City of Cambridge has official Boards and Commissions that address many issues and topics related to development, zoning, and civic engagements. Residents and those interested may find it useful to contact a specific Board or Commission if they can’t find what they’re looking for on our website. Click to see a list of Cambridge City Boards and Commissions.

CoUrbanize
coUrbanize is an online platform that features information about real estate development and urban planning projects. Some developers and planners use coUrbanize or similar platforms to post information and host online conversations about their plans with community members. Click to read about nearby projects in Cambridge.