Bostonians from all backgrounds and every neighborhood are registering for the

City-Wide Dialogues on Boston's Ethnic & Racial Diversity.

Here is what they’re saying:

“Being a senior member of a bi-racial family, I not only see through my eyes but through the eyes of 4 grandchildren.  I am a grandmother of 4, ages 35 to 19 and great-grandmother of one 10 & one 8.  I want to work on more than just tolerance.”

“I look forward to the dialogue particularly in Mattapan. There are many issues involving Race/Ethnicity that aren't addressed properly.”

“Looking forward to participating in this initiative in order to learn more about myself and the people that live with me in my community.”

“I hope to be a part of these dialogues to increase my understanding of race relations in the communities where my students live.  More importantly, I hope to find solution-oriented ways for young people to create a more socially just Boston.”

“In living the lifestyles and gaining the positive outcomes Bostonians can and will live, I would love to play my part and get involved. I truly see this as a mandatory project and for myself it's something I've yearned for living here since the summer of 1999. Please inform me of any and every possibility for involvement. Thank You.”

“I am very interested in participating because I believe strongly that local people coming together to work on local challenges is the best way to effective action.”

“I am a nurse who formerly worked for 15 years at Boston City Hospital and a mother of 3 children, all educated in the Boston public schools. I am troubled by the often negative, one-dimensional stereotype of Irish Bostonians.”

“I'm looking forward to participating in these forums.  It's important to talk about the tough things, too.  And in Boston, people don't like to talk about stuff like this.”

“I recently moved to Boston upon my graduation from college. I am astonished in relation to the segregation that I have observed within the lower income communities, as well as the inflated prices for below-standard housing. This place is in definite need of a make-over, rent control, and more diversity forums similar to the dialogues being put together. I applaud this effort and I hope that it will ignite change.”

“These issues are ones that have haunted me for as long as I've lived in Boston, and I am so excited that finally this initiative is underway to provide an opportunity to talk about them!  These talks are exactly what is needed in this city; thank you.”

“I just read about your org. in the JPBulletin, and it seems so logical.  Exposure to diverse race/ethnicities really is the best way to promote peace among us in this city. That's what busing was all about; exposing children to other races/ethnicities to dispel the myths their parents, community may have spoken of to them. I have seen it work.  I hope it works with adults.  I would love to participate.”

“Why hasn't this received more media attention?  It sounds great, and long overdue.”

“I was born and raised in JP, lived all over the city, and finally bought a house in Roslindale.  Race relations haven't improved much over the years.  What's up with that, anyway?”

“It's important to me to continue to learn from other Bostonians about the gifts of diversity and the challenges.”

“I am new to the Boston community, but very interested in participating in discussions on racism and diversity, feeling the need to work towards a more equitable world.”

“I have engaged in Dialogue groups before and am eager to have an opportunity to participate in one which connects me to the community in which I live. I also am a certified Sign language Interpreter, and if you have interest from Deaf people I would be very excited about helping to make such an event accessible to them.”

“I was born, raised and educated in this city, nearly seventy-one years ago.  I would love to be a part of this mission.”

“It is always important to debate the issue of race and ethnicity by comments and questions.”

“I am very excited about this opportunity, it is something that has been really important to me personally.”

“I would like to attend the dialogues in an effort to educate myself personally about the concerns and values of the diverse communities in Boston.”

“I'm very interested.  I've been involved in some anti-racist work and other social justice work from a Jewish perspective.’

“I am particularly interested in dialogue about race with respect to children and teens, and about multi-racial/ethnic families in Boston.”

“I just found out about this group through a letter in the Boston Globe.  I hope there is still a chance to participate; this is a great idea! I have lived in Dorchester for 20 years and have had three kids go through the BPS; but in many ways I still find it challenging to connect w/ my community. Thank you.”

“Harbor Point is a community of several thousand people and would greatly benefit from these efforts. The racial tension is so thick here you could cut it with a knife.”

“Having resided in the Boston area for nine years first as a student and now working in the private sector, I have long felt that the community needed a dialogue such as this.  As a trustee of two Boston-based arts organizations, my particular interests are in understanding the deterrents and seeing more balanced participation by people of color in leadership of the arts.”

“I think it is an excellent program to improve race relations in Boston.”

“I have been involved in several anti-racism initiatives over a number of years.  I very much appreciate the diversity Roslindale and Boston offer, and look forward to the possibility of being involved in a neighborhood dialogue.”

“Sounds like an important and timely project; look forward to learning more.”

“I'm very excited to participate in dialogues of issues that are indicative to my way of life and are in line with what I envision my future to aid in materializing.”

“I am so happy to see that this effort has been organized and am looking forward to participating.”

 “I love JP because not many other places I can raise my children bilingually --key concerns: Latino voting power, health care and education”

“I am really looking forward to having a really inspiring, moving, and intellectual dialogue.  Thank you.”