We are busy putting together Greater Boston’s first ever noise report card and despite more all-nighters than I care to count, it is slowly coming together. When I first started here at Harvard, a mentor I admire tremendously told me to start a journal, documenting all of my dreams and questions and goals. He warned me that the work load here would be other worldly (it is, absolutely) and the majority of my time would be spent trying to make sense of the demands. But he also knew of my background as an artist, of the importance of living an inspired life, and the inability to be able to live a life without purpose.
So, I kept that journal and as look back over the pages, I see that one of the first notes I made to myself was to think of ways to grade neighborhoods on their noise exposure. Fast forward some four years later, I’m so happy to be working towards this goal and am super excited to share with you a sneak peak of what is a monumental task. While I am not married, preparing for this seems much like I imagine preparing for a wedding would be. I’m picking out colors, trying out graphics, deciding on fonts. I must have made this very map I’m sharing with you in, like, a million different color combinations.

2016 Greater Boston Noise Report, view HERE
However, I’m not working alone. I have a team of amazing people—two artists and a geographer—helping me realize this goal. I will introduce you to them shortly! However, do let me give you a piece of unsolicited advice: besides dreaming further than the horizon before you, surround yourself with those who believe in your ideas, too!
If you haven’t already, add yourself to our email list so that you can be the first to know about our launch.