The Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MAHA) held its 17th annual Taste of Dorchester event at the IBEW Hall on Freeport Street last Thursday night (April 24), with a healthy crowd of friends and supporters diving into cuisine from the most popular spots in the neighborhood.
The popular event attracted several hundred over the evening to socialize and sample food, drinks, and desserts – while also raising money for 40-year-old Dorchester Ave-based MAHA, which educates and mobilizes individuals and communities to increase affordable and sustainable homeownership across the state.
Director Symone Crawford, noting that housing efforts are “under attack” by the federal government, said that homeownership is still the best way to promote stability and security – as well as equity that generates wealth.
“The road to housing equity now is not easy, but together we can still help realize that dream for so many families,” she said.
The purveyor participants this year included Chill on Park, Chubbs Taco & Tequila Bar, Clarke’s Cakes & Cookies, DJ’s Market & Deli, DW Brewpub, El Barrio Mexican Grill, Fresh Food Generation, home.stead bakery & café, Irie Jamaican Restaurant, Lucy’s American Tavern, McKenna’s Café, Murl’s Kitchen, Restaurante Cesaria, Shanti Indian Cuisine, Shea Butter Smoothies, Sweet Teez Bakery, Tavolo Ristorante, The Bowery Bar, and Yellow Door Taqueria.
Pedro Martinez and Belle Valdez.
Jonathan Wright, of Fields Corner, and Peter Hollands, First Citizens.
Lorenzo Whitter of Fields Corner and Nichole Donald, of Mr. Cooper.
John Cantalupa and Paul Driscoll, of Massachusetts FAIR Plan.
Haleigh St. Hilaire, state Rep. Brandy Fluker-Reid, her husband Omar Reid, and Mikayla Smith.
Sponsors Desmond Roach and Keisha Campbell, of the Carpenters Union.
Paola Guzman, Xavier, Lisa, and Lexie Fisher. Seth Daniel photos
Tara O’Riordan and Sean Clasby of Tavolo Ristorante.
Shirley Jones, of Meetinghouse Hill, and City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune.
