The Human Rights Committee discussed plans to hold educational programming on housing policy before Town Meeting so residents can better understand pending votes on the town’s base plan and related housing proposals.

Members said a primer for residents would be useful ahead of the warrant vote and suggested inviting speakers familiar with the MBTA Communities Act, affordable-housing preservation and municipal planning. Names mentioned as potential resources included Abundant Housing Massachusetts and Welcoming Neighbors Network; a member offered to contact the Abundant Housing executive director and other local groups.

Why it matters: Committee members said clearer public education could help community members weigh trade-offs and reduce confusion about zoning changes and housing initiatives on the warrant. Members noted that the neighborhood plan is not on the current warrant but the base plan will be, so timing an educational event in April before the May Town Meeting would be preferable.

Committee members also discussed potential outreach strategies to broaden participation beyond regular volunteers and to invite people who opposed or had reservations in prior local housing debates, with the goal of presenting factual background and multiple perspectives.

Ending: Members agreed to identify speakers, target April for public education events, and coordinate logistics through existing town volunteer networks and community groups.