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: The Cape Verdean community of New Bedford socializes and gathers at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Parish, the Nazarene Church, the Bisca Club, the Cape Verdean American Veterans Association, Montes Park, and NAACP Center.

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: The Cape Verdean community came to New Bedford through the whaling industry in the 1800s and founded the first Cape Verdean Catholic Church in the Americas, Our Lady of the Assumption. Generations continued to come to the area from the Cape Verde islands. Newer generations of Cape Verdeans continue to immigrate to New Bedford. The Ernestina is a historic ship that is anchored in the New Bedford port. Many sites in New Bedford are named after Cape Verdeans: Judge George Leighton US Post Office (Anglo-cized), Alfred J Gomes School, Joe Goncalves Way, Manuel Costa Street, Ben Rose Gardens, John B DeValles School. Representative Thomas Lopes was the first Cape Verdean State Representative.

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: Many Cape Verdean residents of New Bedford are currently employed at Joseph Abboud clothing manufacturing, Titleist, and in the healthcare industry (home health aides, nursing homes, St. Luke's Hospital), housekeeping, educators in the schools (teachers/administrators).

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 is home to newer waves of immigrants that still include Cape Verde but also Central America. English language needs of the community continue to grow. Despite the amount of immigrants, there is a need for more diversity in City leadership, in the school system, among small business owners. Much leadership is still White male. All 5 State representatives are White male. The leadership does not represent demographics of the City. New Bedford has historical significance as "the City who lit the world" with whale oil in the 1800s, a home to Frederick Douglass and Polly Johnson, and a part of the Underground Railroad, yet the current view of the City does not match in significance.