Calderón-Rosado Receives Community Honor for Housing Advocacy

Dr. Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, CEO and President of Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA), received the 2025 Arthur Howe Award from the Ellis South End Neighborhood Association on May 20. The award recognizes individuals who improve quality of life in Boston's South End while maintaining the area's historic character.

Calderón-Rosado was honored for her leadership in affordable housing, education, arts, and civic engagement. Under her direction, IBA has grown into Greater Boston's largest Latino-led nonprofit, managing 667 affordable housing units across the South End's Villa Victoria development, Roxbury, and Mattapan.

"This award is a testament to the power of community," Calderón-Rosado said, emphasizing the importance of preserving the city's history and culture for future generations.

Founded in 1968 to combat displacement of low-income families in the South End, IBA now serves as a national model for community development. The organization provides affordable housing and support programs including early education, youth development, financial services, and arts programming to more than 5,000 individuals annually across Greater Boston's diverse communities.

The award ceremony took place during the neighborhood association's annual meeting, where attendees celebrated the achievement with refreshments and community networking.

This article was prepared with information from The Castle Group