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.
July 29 • 4 to 6 p.m., Westfield Boys & Girls Club, Westfield
July 30 • 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Chicopee Public Library, 499 Front Street, Chicopee
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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Massachusetts House primary spotlights Lowell's growing Cambodian political influence
State Rep. Tara Hong is challenged by former Lowell Mayor and current Lowell City Councilor Sokhary Chau for the 18th Middlesex District seat. -
Haverhill culinary program cooks up opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities
Organizers say adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are an untapped pool of talent often overlooked in the workplace. -
Haverhill’s shoe-making history now on display in downtown exhibit
Haverhill was once known as “Queen Slipper City.” Now, Historic New England's new exhibit features designs by high school juniors and seniors from the state’s 26 Gateway Cities. -
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.
