Explore resident ideas
Every idea residents submitted to Ideas in Action in 2024–25, 2025–26 and 2026–27. Search the words residents used, or narrow by cycle, theme, neighborhood, language or how the idea was submitted.
Themes grouped with AI from resident idea text. English titles and summaries written with AI.
3,748 ideas
- Outreach and caseworkers to guide residents to programsResident asks for more education about existing programs and more community meetings and public places where caseworkers guide people through available resources.2024–25City-wideLibraries, digital & civic life
- Community clinics and mental health servicesResident asks to expand free or low-cost community clinics and fund counseling and support groups, prioritizing areas with health disparities.2024–25City-wideHealth care access
- Vocational training for formerly incarcerated peopleResident asks for funds for vocational training and job placement for formerly incarcerated people, believing it supports a fresh start and mental stability after release.2024–25City-wideAdult jobs & small business
- Renovate affordable housing and prevent displacementResident asks to renovate affordable housing, support homeless housing and services, prioritize marginalized families, and adopt anti-displacement policies against gentrification and rising costs.2024–25City-wideAffordable housing & rent stability
- Help getting ID after release from incarcerationResident asks for a place with guides who help people through the process of getting an ID after returning home from jail or prison.2024–25City-wideOther or unclear
- Grant writing workshopResident asks for an educational workshop on how to write grants.2024–25City-wideLibraries, digital & civic life
- Food stipends for families of returning incarcerated peopleResident asks for food stipends for families whose loved ones are returning home from incarceration.2024–25City-wideFood access
- Harm reduction resources including safe injection sitesResident asks for harm reduction resources such as safe injection sites.2024–25City-wideMental health & substance use
- Halfway houses for reentry beyond substance useResident asks for halfway houses not limited to substance use so people returning from prison without addiction issues still get housing support.2024–25City-wideHomelessness & shelter
- Job training and small business grantsResident asks for job training and placement in growing industries and grants for local entrepreneurs, targeting high-unemployment areas with living-wage career paths.2024–25City-wideAdult jobs & small business
- Renovate affordable housing and support homeless servicesResident asks to invest in renovating and maintaining affordable housing, support organizations serving people experiencing homelessness, and fund job training and small business grants.2024–25City-wideAffordable housing & rent stability
- Review and renew Commonwealth Avenue roadwayResident asks for $2 million to review past plans, assess conditions and involve residents in renewing Comm Ave from Packard's Corner to the Newton line, inspired by Olmsted's inclusive vision.2024–25BrightonStreet & sidewalk repair
- Community policing, safety programs and better lightingResident asks for investment in community policing, safety programs, better lighting and pedestrian-friendly streets, prioritizing neighborhoods with higher crime and safety concerns.2024–25City-widePublic safety & crime prevention
- Job training and minority-owned business supportResident asks for job training and placement in growing fields like tech and healthcare, plus grants and technical help for businesses owned by people of color.2024–25City-wideAdult jobs & small business
- Mini grants for school family engagement eventsResident asks for mini-grants helping schools cover costs of family engagement events and educational activities that build relationships among students, parents and teachers.2024–25City-wideYouth programs & schools
- Repave streets and sidewalksResident asks for repaving of streets and sidewalks, which are tripping hazards for seniors and like obstacle courses for drivers, calling it a safety issue.2024–25City-wideStreet & sidewalk repair
- Ease the benefits cliff for familiesResident asks for a program letting families gradually move off public assistance with a financial cushion, citing a Cambridge example, because the benefits cliff discourages higher pay.2024–25City-wideOther or unclear
- Connect protected bike lanes through Mass Ave and ColumbiaResident asks to extend protected bike lanes through the large Mass Ave intersection and down wide, poorly paved Columbia Street, bringing Dorchester similar quality to wealthier neighborhoods.2024–25DorchesterPedestrian & bike safety
- Subsidize public galleries in vacant storefrontsResident asks the city to subsidize public art galleries in empty storefronts, giving communities access to art and reducing blight.2024–25DorchesterArts & culture
- Signage explaining two-way bike lanes to driversResident asks for clearer signage so drivers understand how to interact with two-way bike lanes, as cyclists report many near-collisions in this area.2024–25RoxburyPedestrian & bike safety
- Better bike lanes on Columbia Road to the beachResident asks for improved, clearly marked bike lanes on Columbia, especially at the highway ramps junction, so residents west of 93 can safely reach the waterfront.2024–25DorchesterPedestrian & bike safety
- Free 12-week trauma and addiction recovery courseResident proposes a free 12-week course on trauma and addiction recovery open to all Boston residents, to help people with mental health struggles regain confidence and stay on a recovery path.2024–25DorchesterMental health & substance use
- Tool lending library programResident asks for a city program lending home improvement and gardening tools and items like sewing machines, removing cost barriers to equipment used infrequently.2024–25City-wideLibraries, digital & civic life
- Nutrition and cooking classes for seniorsResident asks for classes teaching low, middle and working seniors to eat healthy on limited incomes, stretch meals and store food, possibly taught by hospital or college staff.2024–25City-wideFood access
- Protected bike path from Roslindale to Forest HillsResident asks for a protected extension of the Southwest Corridor into Roslindale so cyclists can ride to Forest Hills safely, giving more clean transit options.2024–25Jamaica PlainPedestrian & bike safety