Gastón Institute

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Gastón Institute We inform policymakers about issues vital to the State’s Latino community & provide this community

The Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy was established in 1989 at the University of Massachusetts Boston by the Massachusetts State Legislature at the behest of Latino community leaders and scholars in response to a need for improved understanding of the Latino experience in the Commonwealth. The Institute honors the memory of Mauricio Gastón, a Cuban native and a long-time community activist in Boston who taught in the Community Planning Center at UMass Boston’s College of Public and Community Service from 1980 to the time of his death in 1986. A hallmark of the work of the Institute has been its consistent attention to the information and research needs of and about the Latino community. The Institute has consistently documented the Latino experience in Massachusetts through research and publications directed at scholarly audiences as well policy makers and Latino community leaders and institutions. A strong set of community partnerships supports the planning and execution of key public events such as the biennial Statewide Latino Public Policy Conferences. An Advisory Board made up of UMass Boston faculty and Latino community leaders from throughout the state, guides the research agenda of the Institute. The Gastón Institute is a member of the Inter-University Program for Latino Research, a national membership organization of university-based Latino research institutes.

Latino voters represent an untapped opportunity to strengthen democracy in the Commonwealth.Our new report, developed in...
10/08/2026

Latino voters represent an untapped opportunity to strengthen democracy in the Commonwealth.

Our new report, developed in collaboration with the Latino Equity Fund, highlights the growth of Latino voting in the state, as well as opportunities to increase outreach, civic engagement, and voter participation.

Read here: https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/415/

Foreign-born Latinos in MA are a vital part of our local communities and economy.Our latest report examines their contri...
10/06/2026

Foreign-born Latinos in MA are a vital part of our local communities and economy.

Our latest report examines their contributions, the harm of the current immigration agenda, and how policies supporting immigrants uplift the Commonwealth as a whole.

Read Here:

This report provides a descriptive snapshot of selected demographic, economic, educational, and social indicators of foreign-born Latinos in Massachusetts. In 2024, there were 467,751 foreign-born Latinos in Massachusetts. Of this population, 64.8% are noncitizens, and FOREIGN-BORN LATINOS IN MASSAC...

10/01/2026

On Oct 21, 2026, at 3 PM join the Disasters, Education & Community Resilience workgroup led by UMB Prof. Melissa Colon for a webinar on disaster response in minority communities, and why community knowledge matters in school-based disasters.

Click Here:

Join us on October 5th, 2026, at 10 AM for a virtual webinar organized by the Latino Equity Fund that focuses on Latino ...
10/01/2026

Join us on October 5th, 2026, at 10 AM for a virtual webinar organized by the Latino Equity Fund that focuses on Latino voters in MA. Our Latino Policy Analyst Rafael Pérez Medina will be joining the panel with introductory remarks by Dr. Lorna Rivera.

Register Here:
https://tinyurl.com/3d9psk7b

Check this report on Wage Theft, showing its effects on low-wage workers and the barriers they face in seeking justice. ...
09/23/2026

Check this report on Wage Theft, showing its effects on low-wage workers and the barriers they face in seeking justice. This is a collaboration between the institute and the Brazilian Worker Center (braziliancenter.org).

Link Below:
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/414/

Wage theft is a widespread form of labor exploitation that disproportionately affects immigrant and other vulnerable workers. This report examines the scope and impact of wage theft in Massachusetts by analyzing case data from the Brazilian Worker Center (BWC) alongside wage and labor enforcement da...

Learn about Latino SNAP recipients in Massachusetts in our new report, which highlights that most recipients are employe...
08/18/2026

Learn about Latino SNAP recipients in Massachusetts in our new report, which highlights that most recipients are employed, with Latina women making up the largest share. The report also underscores the program's importance in promoting household stability and social mobility. Link:
https://lnkd.in/eyXaD3w4

Check out our report focused on Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in MA. It presents data on student enrollment, stud...
08/18/2026

Check out our report focused on Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in MA. It presents data on student enrollment, student outcomes, and faculty and staff composition. It highlights the role of HSIs in supporting Latino students within the state's higher education landscape. Link:

scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/347/

06/18/2026
Our new report focuses on the Latino presence in rural areas of MA through analyzing their demographics, individual char...
06/01/2026

Our new report focuses on the Latino presence in rural areas of MA through analyzing their demographics, individual characteristics and contributions to the workforce and their respective communities.

Check it out now!

Link to View:

In previous reports, the Gastón Institute has noted that the Latino population is dispersed across the state, but mainly to urban areas. In 2024, Latinos living in Massachusetts rural areas1 numbered 38,500, or 3.6% of the state's overall Latino population. Although Massachusetts is the third most ...

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100 William T Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA
02125

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+16172875790

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