The atrium at United South End Settlements (USES), which USES board chairman Carl Long referred to as "the neighborhood's living room," was a fitting venue for "Do We Like What We've Become?", a conversation about the evolution of the South End from its hardscrabble past to the present-day patchwork of low-income housing and luxury real estate. On Thursday, November 5 at 6:30, neighbors from across the neighborhood gathered for a panel discussion a group of community activists, with guest Sylvie Tissot, a French sociologist and author of "Good Neighbors: Gentrifying Diversity in Boston's South End". State representative Byron Rushing moderated and members of the public took the mic to share reminiscences, opinions and suggestions.

In his welcome, Long cited the wide array of social services, educational and training programs and recreational activities that USES offers to newcomers to the South End and the US, to seniors, adults and youth, prompting his characterization of the Harriet Tubman House's spacious gathering space.

The panel comprised the Rev. Tim Crellin, vicar of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church on Shawmut Avenue and executive director of St. Stephen's Youth Programs; Sylvie Tissot, sociologist, author of "Good Neighbors" and professor of political science at the University of Paris; Chris Cato, a South End native, USES board member and Green Initiative project manager at YouthBuild USA; Joyce King, a lifelong South Ender and community activist along with her husband, Mel King; and Stephen Fox, chairman of the Rutland Square Neighborhood Association and of the South End Forum.

Rushing began by introducing the panelists and framing the scope and theme of the discussion. "We are here because most of us live in the South End, have lived in the South End and are concerned about the South End. We will see if we can answer in the conversation this evening, 'Do We Like What We've Become?' In answering that, we will also be asking and answering, What else do we want to do? What else do we want to be?" Many in the audience had read the book, which drew a contentious response from South Enders at Tissot's September 1 author talk at the Harvard Book Store. By comparison, the USES discussion was even-tempered. Rushing pointed out that the research for the book was conducted between 2004 and 2010, and said that comments on the book and author were welcome, but that the conversation was guided by the questions he posed.

Panelists' remarks began with Crellin, who reflected on the traditional role of churches as "anchors of the neighborhood, providing not only Sunday services but human services" for seniors, youth, the poor and the homeless and addiction-recovery groups. Crellin wondered who will take on these roles as churches are repurposed, increasingly as ultra-high end housing as in the case of the Jesuit Urban Center, New Hope Baptist Church and the former Trinity Church. Cato recalled growing up one of 8 children in the Cathedral (now Ruth Lillian Barkley) apartments and remarked on the strong sense of kinship in the old South End. "It wasn't just my parents who raised me: the South End raised me," he said. He fondly recalled churches, the Blackstone Community Center and USES's Camp Hale as safe places for children. Bringing up a hallmark of the South End's past, Cato mentioned the custom of greeting people and stopping to chat on the street. "I find myself having to train newcomers that this is how we do it here," Cato said. The same sentiment was echoed by José, a former South Ender in the audience who said, "Just to acknowledge someone's presence makes a difference." Both men felt it was an important element of community-building.

King emphasized the importance of defining diversity in relation to the South End. "Diversity is not just a word for me, it's a behavior; a way of thinking, feeling, being." King feels that this manner of diversity has diminished in the South End over the years. Rushing also addressed the issue of South End diversity and its uniqueness, emphasizing that the South End has always been a diverse population and asserting that "For most white people in America, going to work in the morning and seeing a person of color is exceptional." Later in the discussion, Tissot wondered whether America's concern with diversity obscures the focus on other social problems such as access to medical care, housing and equality.

Referring to the portrayal of neighborhood associations played in Tissot's book, Fox remarked, "I'm the neighborhood [association] guy and I'm feeling like the skunk at the garden party. I wanted to participate in large part because the glass is half full rather than half empty" with respect to the role that neighborhood associations currently play. Fox pointed to the associations' focus on issues that affect quality of life such as safety, sanitation and coping with the neighborhood's high concentration of social services. He cited as an advantage that in addition to the individual associations address needs specific to their areas, there is now an umbrella group, the South End Forum, that advocates for the entire neighborhood with city services such as public works. Longtime Helaine Simmonds had a less sanguine view of neighborhood associations, recalling a meeting about a year ago at which a developer was asked whether there would be any Section 8 residents in his proposed project and he replied, "No, only nice people." She continued, "When you hear the president of the association say, 'We don't want them because they are old, they are poor, because they are women.' This is what made me less likely to go to the neighborhood association meetings." Simmonds also said that South End Landmark District Commission requirements such as wrought-iron fences and railings are cost-prohibitive for some homeowners. Fox responded, "Through gentrification, there has been insensitivity," and that some developers have come into the South End focusing on their potential profit at the expense of concern for housing options and "the overall fabric of the South End." Fox maintained he has never seen that endorsed by neighborhood associations.

Herb Hershfang, who bought his house at auction 50 years ago, said that he and his wife were the only white people on their block at that time but now his neighbors are the only black household on the block. Hershfang is "very critical of the book", specifically that Tissot made no reference to children, whom he called the "glue" and the "salvation" of the neighborhood. Hershfang said the city should change the public school assignment process so that South End children can go to neighborhood schools such as Hurley.

Bridget Long, wife of the USES board chairman, said that an aspect of the South End she loves is "not only racial diversity, but occupational diversity. When you walk down the street, you should see people of all sizes, shapes and colors. I'm growing increasingly disappointed that we seem to be losing that." Mrs. Long joined Hershfang in lamenting the lack of choice to send children to public schools in the community, forcing children to leave the neighborhood for school and other youth programs and straining the hectic schedules of working families.

Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, chief executive officer of IBA (Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción), which oversees Villa Victoria housing complex and operates a broad complement of social services and educational and cultural programs, said that diversity is more than a cultural issue, but a socioeconomic and class issue. "Most families of color in the neighborhood are families of color," she said. She pointed out that those families have a lot of bread-and-butter demands on their daily lives, and setting aside time to go to neighborhood association meetings can be difficult. Calderón-Rosado suggested that neighborhood associations advocate more strongly for housing development that is accessible to low-income and middle-income people who are above the income limits for affordable housing but unable to afford market-rate housing. She also called on neighborhood associations to support and advocate for neighborhood public schools.

The South End News requested follow-up comments from moderator Rushing and panelist Fox. Rushing, who was out of town, did not respond by press time, but Fox offered reflections on the November 5 public forum. Fox wrote, "My hope is that South Enders in every economic bracket can continue to work together without resentment or blame and lobby government for sensible mixed income development and insist that developers understand that all South Enders are united in our desire to preserve the welcoming diversity of our exceptional neighborhood." Fox said that he hopes that Thursday night's talk is "an introductory dialogue; just the beginning. I would like to see neighborhood associations." He said further, I would like to see neighborhood associations with welcoming attitudes, strengthened and more inclusive. It's the best structure for creating positive change and a common voice."