The Boston City Council passed a resolution Wednesday to recognize Jan. 18 as “Day of Care” and discussed displacement resulting from plans for future housing development.
The “Day of Care” resolution was offered by Councilor Julia Mejia to honor the life of Kyre Ambrose and his contributions to the Boston arts community. Ambrose, a 19-year-old Boston Arts Academy graduate, was fatally stabbed at his mother’s Brockton residence Jan. 4 while he was home from college.
Kyre Ambrose was a dancer for several Boston dance groups, including Boston University’s “Reach” and the Boston Celtics’ “Phunk Phenomenon” dance team.
The resolution was inspired by students who were able to “celebrate with one another the life of someone who they all loved” and uplift the dance groups that came together despite their competition to honor Ambrose, Mejia said.
“[Ambrose] shared with the world 19 years of love, passion, dedication to people and dance,” Mejia said. “His unwavering commitment has touched countless lives and has left a lasting impact on the community.”
Mejia also recognized Kyre Ambrose’s parents, Rina Ambrose and Kyron Smith. Kyre’s grandmother, Kesha Brown, accepted the citation on Kyre’s behalf, joined by Rina Ambrose and Kyre’s dance groups.
“He is a person who defied expectations as a male artist of color,” Rina Ambrose said. “He broke barriers and stereotypes — being the first male dancer of color to take on a primarily female role in ‘The Urban Nutcracker,’ showing pride and donning the leotard and dancing with the girls.”
Councilor Enrique Pepén also offered an order during the meeting requesting for a hearing to discuss the displacement of Bostonians resulting from an ongoing housing crisis.
“Urban development has historically been accompanied by displacement, and concerns and fears about it are real and valid,” Pepén said.
Pepén said there is not enough supply to meet housing demands within the city and offered solutions for housing displacement caused by urban development.
“If we make more room for people to call Boston home, the current practices that cause displacement in Boston will be weakened, and we won’t have to say goodbye to our beloved neighbors and small businesses,” Pepén said.
Mejia joined this hearing order, voicing similar concerns about rising costs pushing out longtime Boston residents, working-class families and cultural communities.
“The city of Boston needs real anti-displacement protections and a full funding of protections,” Mejia said.
Mejia ended her statement by acknowledging that Boston’s housing crisis is “interconnected with decades of neglect.”
“Boston is one of the safest cities now in the country,” Mejia said. “I’m curious to know if it’s because half of the people who lived here in the city of Boston have been displaced.”
