Charlie Gargiulo's memoir of growing up in a working-class family in Lowell, Mass., is a poignant story of heartaches and triumphs. He saw the Little Canada neighborhood he grew up in get demolished for urban renewal. When he was an adult, when the same plans of demolition and displacement were announced for the Acre neighborhood of Lowell, Charlie organized the Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA) to successfully prevent this and to then lead the renewal of that neighborhood for people of lower incomes including many immigrants. CBA continues as one of the most effective community development organizations in the state. Charlie's story is one of leadership, commitment, resilience, and vision to provide thriving and affordable neighborhoods.
--Lew Finfer, Massachusetts Communities Action Network
--Lew Finfer
