Boston's HD-OD project engages residents, business owners, local community organizations, regional planning entities, municipal government and others who have a stake in the future development of Boston Chinatown to actively participate in decision-making that affects their homes, their families, and the entire community. The project will work with the upcoming Chinatown Master Plan process to transform it from a periodic, planning-oriented exercise into an ongoing, action- and outcome-oriented tool for effective community development that serves all the stakeholders in this dynamic neighborhood. The HD-OD project is ideally timed during a period of significant change to protect and improve our unique and important neighborhood. The Boston HD-OD framework connects individuals to resources and information, and will publish individual and community reports to evaluate neighborhood change.

Neighborhood residents visiting the Community Change Center (CCC) will work with HD-OD staff to learn about changes taking place in the neighborhood and what resources exist that may directly benefit them. At the CCC the Human Capital Coordinator will create an integrated Human Capital Development Plan containing an evaluation of which resources are most relevant to the resident. The Human Capital Coordinator will maintain relationships with partner social service, economic development and public health organizations and a directory of available resources, and will evaluate and track CCC client progress.

The HD-OD project will evaluate neighborhood change by tracking the experience of residents who use the CCC, records of partner agencies, and third party records. This information will be combined to create Individual Evaluations, Community Report Card, and a detailed annual Community Baseline Study. These reports will provide residents and stakeholders a detailed and unique view of the neighborhood. These reports will track community-selected indicators to evaluate neighborhood change.