Our monthly Longwood Happenings newsletter is the perfect way to get important, streamlined information about the LMA sent straight to your inbox. From travel advisories to upcoming Outside// events and everything in between, our newsletter has you covered! We'll keep you up-to-date on all you need to know about the Longwood Medical and Academic area.

Click here to check out our March edition.

A Message from the President 

Dear Longwood,

I am pleased to share our Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report that celebrates the hard work and accomplishments of Longwood Collective in service to our member institutions and district.

The LMA is an economic powerhouse that drives our local economy. Employing 73,000 workers, educating 24,000 students, and seeing 3.8 patient visits annually, the LMA is a critical district in the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – and it is our job to steward the LMA to excellence. Through direct services, strategic planning, championing of issues, and more, Longwood Collective is dedicated to making Longwood the best place to learn, work, and heal.

In the last fiscal year, we have carried out our mission by working behind the scenes to anticipate challenges while simultaneously responding to present needs every step of the way. We have enhanced the experience of a variety of our services, introducing new technology for our shuttle passengers and bringing on a new service provider. We’ve grown our TMA and Outside// programming, improving the day-to-day experience of workers, students, and patients in the LMA. What’s more, we’ve set our sights on the future of Longwood, conducting a hazard vulnerability analysis report, wayfinding study, and parking study, all with the intention of better preparing and planning the next phase of development in Longwood.

We’re proud to work alongside fellow leaders in the City and the Commonwealth who support and bolster Longwood’s ability to be a world leader in health care and education. I look forward to the prospects and possibilities for the upcoming year and feel confident in our ability to navigate whatever lies ahead. 

Sincerely,

David Sweeney

President & CEO

Read the report here. 

Taking a Look Inside

Keeping Longwood Moving Across All Modes

In FY24, we brought new resources online, improved infrastructure, and expanded our programming to serve Longwood commuters. Our Annual Report focused in on a few of these successes, including our new LMA Shuttle Interactive Map, thought leadership, and bike infrastructure.

Created by our Operations team using ArcGIS technology, the LMA Shuttle Interactive Map is a new tool that makes it easy for commuters to learn about our shuttle system. The Interactive Map comprehensively displays the routes offered by our LMA Shuttle and uses a commuter icon to depict shuttle stop locations from an on-the-ground perspective.

Longwood Collective worked with the Boston Streets Cabinet to install and enhance public infrastructure to support cyclists. This included the installation of 34 new bike racks and the replacement of broken bike delineators on Brookline Avenue.

To underscore the valuable resource that TMAs are in promoting carpooling, cycling, and walking, and serving as a clearinghouse for information about the MBTA and other transit options, our TMA Program Manager authored a piece in the Boston Globe under the banner, “There’s a better way to commute and Transportation Management Associations can help.”

Enhancing the Quality of Life in Longwood 

In the past fiscal year, we worked to enhance the quality of life in Longwood through both physical assets and seasonal programming. This included a remarkable summer Outside// season and fresh installations such as newly branded gateway banners and accessible furniture.

The Outside// 2024 season was a success, offering a variety of music, food, games, and activities all throughout the district.

In total, the summer season brought to the LMA...

Beyond Outside// programming, Longwood Collective works to enhance the district through the installation of permanent outdoor assets that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. At Smith Plaza and Blackfan Circle, we installed “Extremis Gargantua” picnic tables and “Extremis Romeo and Juliet” benches, which are more accessible than traditional benches and tables, offering variable seat heights. What’s more, the benches feature built-in planters, expanding opportunities for green beautification in these urban spaces.

ICYMI

NIH Funding Drives Research in Longwood

To showcase the impact of National Institute of Health (NIH) funding on health innovations in Longwood, we compiled a few key figures that speak to the significance of NIH in the district.

In total, $1.2 billion in NIH funding supported research in Longwood in FY24. To put that into perspective, if the LMA were its own state, it would rank 9 nationally in total NIH funding, behind Illinois and ahead of Washington. These dollars have funded groundbreaking discoveries in the LMA historically, contributing to understanding of heart disease, brain tumors, and neurodegenerative diseases.

In FY24 alone, NIH dollars funded projects to advance leukemia vaccines, investigate the connection between air pollution and Alzheimer's, and understand antibiotic resistance, to name a few.

Read the full memo on our website to learn more.

Mark Your Calendar

Red Sox Season Opener: April 4th 

Spring is in the air in Boston and that means it is time for the Red Sox to return to Fenway Park! The first home game of the season is on Friday, April 4th at 2:10pm.

As neighbors of Fenway Park, it is important to keep in mind the impact of Red Sox games on traffic, parking, public transit, and shuttle service during gamedays in the Longwood Area. Be sure to check out the channels below for up-to-date information on LMA Shuttle detours.

Introducing LMA Shuttle Madness

To tap into the March Madness competitive spirit, the Longwood Collective TMA is holding its first ever Shuttle Madness competition. Shuttle riders are invited each week in March to fill out a survey, or poll on Instagram, to cast their vote for their favorite shuttle route. Results are updated weekly, and all participants are entered to win a $25 REI gift card raffle.

Click here to cast your vote and stay tuned for bracket updates. May the best route win!

Transit Driver Appreciation Day 

March 18th is national Transit Driver Appreciation Day. We recognize this celebration each year by giving thanks to our WeDriveU drivers who get our passengers on our shuttles from point A to point B safely and on time.

Be sure to take an extra moment on your commute to say thank you to the people who keep Longwood moving on March 18th!

Final Winter Bike Tune Up

Thursday, March 27 will be our final tune up of the Winter Bike Longwood season. With warmer weather moving into the district, we will be exiting the garage and returning to the 375 Longwood Avenue Plaza for bike servicing outdoors!

There are a few spots still available so be sure to reserve your spot to get your bike ready for the spring.

Reserve your spot. 

In Photos

Capturing Community Joy at Shapiro Plaza 

Last month, Longwood Collective invited members of the Longwood community weekly to Shapiro Plaza for our inaugural Winter Wednesdays series. Each Wednesday, we worked to bring the Longwood culture of care outside, brightening up the plaza with art, music, refreshments, and connection. Over the four weeks, four different ice sculptures were carved in real time alongside live music and free coffee and hot chocolate. With over 1,000 attendees throughout the month, this series was a huge success, and brightened the district despite winter temperatures.

A patient and their parent warm up with complimentary hot chocolates.

Dana-Farber researchers pose with Valentine's Day themed sculpture.

Longwood visitors mingle as they wait for espresso drinks poured by The Coffee Trike.

After an appointment at BCH, a patient and their parent visit freshly carved ice skates.

A brass quartet performs beside an ice sculpture throughout the event.

Thank you to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for allowing us to use their space, and other Winter Wednesday Outside// co-sponsors including: Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Center for Life Science Boston.

Sharing the Love with Member Raffles 

In February, Longwood Collective organized winter raffles through both Winter Wednesday and the TMA to engage the community and offer an incentive to partake in programming. For Winter Wednesday, attendees were encouraged to share images to social media with the ice sculptures on display at Shapiro Plaza and tag Longwood Collective for the chance to win a gift card to REI, which is located just half a mile from the heart of Longwood. A winner was randomly selected this week and came by our office to receive her prize.

Shiji, an administrator at Boston Children's Hospital, came by to collect her gift card.

To celebrate commuters who continued to travel to Longwood by bike throughout the cold winter months, a "Pedal Through Winter" raffle for a REI gift card and winter swag bag was held by the TMA. Dana-Farber physician Doug bikes from Cambridge, even in 10° weather!

Doug's prize included a gift card to REI, a bike light, hand warmers, hot cocoa, and more!

In the Neighborhood 

Following a slew of winter activations across Longwood Collective, we're excited to share some great features of our winter programming included in recent editions of The Huntington News and The Fenway News, both local, independent publications which cover the Longwood neighborhood.

The Huntington News, Northeastern University’s student newspaper, attended our final Winter Wednesday event last week. Coming off the tail end of our Winter Wednesday series, news correspondent Leona Gagalac captured the essence of our off-season Outside// programming, writing,

"Despite February's signature high-speed winds and snow, the Longwood Colective's seasonal Winter Wednesdays offered a preview of spring."

Read the Article 

The Fenway News shared information on both Winter Wednesday and Winter Bike Tune Ups with the community in their March print edition, writing,

"The Collective’s placemaking initiative, called Outside//, sponsored “Winter Wednesday” ice carving events—ideal for last month’s unusually cold temperatures. Other Outside// programs include free bike safety checks, live music, and free coffee."

Read the Article 

LMACCC Offering Child Care Discount

The Longwood Medical Area Child Care Center is currently offering a discount with 10% off three months of care! LMACCC offers child care to the LMA that prioritizes…

💙 intellectual growth

💙 emotional support &

💙 positive communication

Openings are currently available for full-time and part-time care for children aged 2 months to 5 years. Visit lmaccc.org to enroll today!

Food Trucks at 2 Blackfan Circle 

With spring just around the corner, we have updated our seasonal food truck schedule. The current rotation includes...

• Lordya Gourmet Haitian cuisine on Tuesdays
• Chicken & Rice Guys Halal cuisine on Thursdays

We're excited to see Longwood coming alive at lunchtime and trying out all the options our food trucks have to offer. Stay tuned for updates on our social media, and enjoy!

Getting Around 

MBTA Updates Near the District

Green Line

• Due to accessibility upgrades, commuter parking will be temporarily reduced at Chestnut Hill, Waban, and Eliot. Alternative parking is available at Riverside or the Woodland Garage.

Red Line

• All train service at Quincy Adams will operate on a single track, from 8 PM to the end of service, through Friday, March 7, for signal work. Riders may experience longer wait times during this work.
• Shuttles will replace service between JFK/UMass and Braintree, the weekends of March 8-9, 22-23, and 29-30 for signal upgrades. Commuter Rail service between Braintree and South Station will be fare-free during this work.

Longwood in the News

Brigham and Women's Hospital Collaborates with Apple in Health Study

CNBC

The study will analyze how data from devices such as iPhones, AirPods and Apple Watches can monitor, manage, and predict changes in users' health. It will also explore connections between different components of health, such as how mental health affects heart rate. Brigham and Women's is collaborating with Apple on the 5-year long study.

Aura Unites with Boston Children's Hospital to Address the Role of Technology in the Crisis of Wellbeing Among American Children

PR Newswire

Aura, the leading AI-powered online safety solution for individuals and families, announced a collaboration with Boston Children's Hospital to better understand and address the impact of technology on children's mental health. In addition to making a donation to support the ongoing work of Boston Children's and its Digital Wellness Lab, Aura CEO, Hari Ravichandran will join the Boston Children's Hospital Trust Board and Aura will sign the Inspired Internet Pledge to help create a healthier and safer digital ecosystem for young people.

Wentworth Plans Residence Halls, Academic Buildings in 10-year Vision

Boston Globe

During the next decade, the university plans to replace outdated dorms with three residence halls, creating 935 net new beds. Two of the dorms — a proposed 21-story, 672-bed tower and another 13-story, 522-bed facility— would be built on Huntington Avenue on either side of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design’s orange-and-green Tree House dorm. Wentworth also plans to build an athletics field house, a welcome center, and new homes for its schools of architecture and design, engineering, and management, according to an institutional master plan filed with the Boston Planning and Development Agency.

Experts from MGH, BIDMC, Tufts, and Harvard Medical Raise Alarms About Nation's Readiness to Respond to the Bird Flu

Boston Globe

Several of the state’s leading infectious-disease experts painted a sobering picture of the nation’s readiness to combat a strain of avian influenza, known as H5N1, that has infected dozens of people nationwide and is showing no signs of abating. A human pandemic is no longer remote, said the experts, members of a Harvard Medical School-led team called the Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness, and inadequate testing and difficulties in accessing federal data could hinder efforts to contain it.

At the Gardner, Fabiola Jean-Louis Channels Ancient Vodou Spirituality

Boston Globe

"Lwa" is Fabiola Jean-Louis' softly menacing effigy of a Haitian deity. It is the centerpiece of “Waters of the Abyss: An Intersection of Spirit and Freedom,” Jean-Louis’s first major museum exhibition, just opened at the Gardner. Jean-Louis, who emigrated to Brooklyn as a child with her family and still lives there, was an artist-in-residence here in 2023; the Gardner proposed the exhibition shortly after, and Jean-Louis got to work. The show now occupies all three of the museum’s temporary exhibition spaces, including its towering facade commission.

New Brigham and Women's Study Sheds Light on Circadian Rhythms, Weight, and Eating Habits Among Teens

Boston Globe

An internal, biological clock may play an important role in shaping eating habits among teenagers, a new study from Brown University and Mass General Brigham suggests. Findings from the study could help clinicians with how to counsel adolescents about health and weight management.

Efforts to Understand Rare Breast Cancer Bring Together Residents and Researchers

Dorchester Reporter

Several Dorchester and South Boston residents who are members of IBC New England were participants as the group made donations to two local hospitals to support efforts to research and enhance understanding of breast cancer. Grants of more than $12,000 each were given to the Diane Connolly-Zaniboni Fund for Breast Cancer Research at Tufts Medical Center and to the Inflammatory Breast Cancer program at Dana Farber Cancer Institute.