Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - Where do people in your community gather or socialize?
  - How and where does your community access services (healthcare, transportation, educational services, etc.)?

Examples of activities and services: Shopping areas, schools and universities, libraries, parks, lakes, rivers, places of worship, healthcare services, public transport, local nonprofit organizations, etc.

Your response: This area of New Bedford has gathering spaces in parks such as Montes Park, Harrington Park, Hazelwoord Park along with the beaches, along with the Cape Verdean Veterans Hall, Doug's House of Harmony. The downtown areas is also included with recreation and arts activities, along with the Boys & Girls Club and Dennison Memorial. Churches also remain a central gathering spot, particularly Catholic Churches, with a growing presence of immigrant independent Protestant churches.

Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - What are the cultural bonds in your community?
  - If your community has a shared history, what is it?

Examples of cultural or historical interests: Religious groups, ethnic groups, languages, age groups, immigration status, historic or arts districts, etc.

Your response: This area of New Bedford is increasingly diverse. It has a shared Portuguese history, with immigrants from Portugual, particularly the Azores. Cape Verdean immigrants also have a shared history with the whaling and fishing industry rooted in New Bedford. New Bedford was called "The City that Lit the World", with whaling oil sent globally. Newer immigrant communities from Guatamela and additional Central American countries, Haiti, Dominican Republic compose a growing number percentage of the population. Portuguese Feasts happen such as the Day of Portugal, the Cape Verdean Independence Day festivities. Our Lady of the Assumption is the first Cape Verdean Catholic Parish in North America.

Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - Where are residents employed?
  - If there are environmental concerns in your community, what are they?

Examples of economic or environmental interests: Tourism industry, agricultural workers, mining town, manufacturing center, polluted natural resource, unemployment problem, etc.

Your response: Major employers in the areas include the Acushnet Company/Titleist, Joseph Abboud clothing company, and the fishing industry such as the Blue Harvest Fisheries. New Bedford remains the number one fishing port in the United States. Many people are also employed by the City of New Bedford within this district and SouthCoast Health (St. Luke's Hospital), and the downtown district (restaurants, museums, etc)

Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - What should politicians and/or map drawers know about your community?
  - What are the needs of your community?
  - Is there anything else you want to tell us about your community?

Examples of needs or concerns: Keep community in the same district or separate into multiple districts, shared policy concerns, need for a social service, relationship to other nearby communities, issues with current district lines

Your response: New Bedford has 5 different state representatives, in a population of 100,000. Some of them do not always represent the communities' needs and views in favor of surrounding cities and towns that tend to be White and wealthier. There is interest by City leaders in increasing the district's tourism and attracting residents from Boston to live in the City. However this is resulting in gentrification and increased costs of living, particularly with housing.