Casa Del Sol

 
In 1974 I (Carlota Duarte)  joined the RSCJ community living at Casa del Sol, 10 Pembroke Street, in the South End of Boston. The intention of the rscj was to live in the neighborhood, without a project, but rather to learn from their neighbors in what way the nuns might serve.  
Prior to rscj presence, in 1968, the Puerto Rican community living in what was designated Parcel 19 of the South End, began their struggle against displacement, resulting in the establishment of the Villa Victoria housing complex, which included Pembroke Street. The rscjs joined in the housing efforts, the Casa del Sol living room often serving as the meeting place for community participants. In addition, the nuns served their neighbors in other ways. This included the start of a job training program for women, featuring childcare in one room while the mothers learned office skills in another room. 
With support from small grants, Susie Halligan and I worked with local women to create an artisan project to provide income for women in the neighborhood, who worked at home and later participated in the silkscreen workshop that became part of the project. At first Susie and I coordinated the program, including marketing the women’s work at craft fairs, and later other women managed the activities. 
My involvement in Casa del Sol and in the neighborhood, both while living there and later,  consisted of a range of varied activities, including art workshops with residents in the senior citizen facilities that are part of Villa Victoria.  (From an account written by Carlota Duarte in 2018.)