Established by the state legislature in 2009, Gateway Cities were imagined as mid-size economic hubs that provide a stepping stone — or gateway — to the American Dream. The cohort includes 26 cities where more than a quarter of all Massachusetts residents, and about 40% of the state's foreign-born populations, live.
Join GBH News at an upcoming listening session. We want to hear what matters to you, what keeps you up at night, and what makes you proud.
June 9 • 5 to 7 p.m. Fall River Public Library, Fall River
June 30 • 3 to 5, Worcester Public Library, Worcester.
July 26 • 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Salem Summer Jam, 165 Fort Ave., Salem
From Springfield to Chelsea, these communities face many economic and social challenges. They also are lively, diverse areas that often are left out of the headlines except for breaking news. GBH News and its Equity and Justice Team are focusing on Gateway Cities— getting to know 26 cities in the year 2026 (our “26 in 26” project). We are hosting listening sessions to hear from residents, and, with the help of on-the-ground reporting, expert sources, and data-driven research, we are producing multi-media stories to provide a clearer picture of these key communities in our state. We’d like to hear from you. Reach out to us at equityandjustice@wgbh.org or fill out this questionnaire.
Gateway Cities Unlocked
What are community listening sessions?
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Elderly, disabled public housing residents in Salem slam city over broken elevators
The city recently spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to modernize elevators. But residents say they remain unreliable. -
Lunar New Year to be recognized as a school holiday in Quincy
After a 6-0 vote from the school board on Wednesday, the city of Quincy will now recognize Lunar New Year as a school holiday beginning in 2027. -
Students sue Massachusetts, claiming ‘intensely segregated’ school districts
The lawsuit, filed in Suffolk County Superior Court Wednesday, alleges that state policies have led to tens of thousands students concentrated in racially segregated school districts. -
Why the state’s planting trees in people’s yards in Gateway Cities
“The resources aren’t there to put them back, which is a reason why we’re here operating in the city.” -
Malden’s unique mix of restaurants and gaming grew out of its immigrant population
More than a quarter of Malden's population is now Asian, and you can see it in the downtown businesses that have emerged. -
Salem passes first-ever override tax hike to build new high school
With a turnout of 19% of the city's voters, 57.4% of voters approved a plan on Tuesday to add around $700 a year to the median tax bill in order to pay for a new high school. -
Salem is the second Gateway City this year to ask residents to consider a tax override
On May 5, voters decide whether to add hundreds of millions of dollars to their property taxes to help fund a new high school. -
Artists find affordable housing in Fitchburg amid city effort to welcome creatives
A new development allows artists to find places they can afford to live, part of a growing effort in Gateway Cities. -
Malden faces ‘painful’ cuts after voter reject first-ever tax override
With a turnout of 15% of registered voters, the $5.4 million override option fell short by just 124 votes. -
Malden residents vote down first-ever tax override
Tuesday's vote was the first in a Gateway City in 17 years to attempt a Proposition 2 ½ override tax hike.
