10000 BCE
Beginning of Migration
Built Environment
Social
Native American
1500
Spread of Disease by European Settlers
Built Environment
Social
Native American
1600
Displacement of Native Communities in Metrowest
Built Environment
Food Access
Social
Native American
1638
Enslavement Starts in Massachusetts
Economic
Built Environment
Education
Food Access
Health Care Systems
Social
Black
1641
Massachusetts Is First Colony to Legalize Slavery
Economic
Built Environment
Education
Food Access
Health Care Systems
Social
Black
1651
Natick is Founded as the 1st Praying Town
Built Environment
Social
Native American
1675
Praying Indians Banished to Deer Island in Boston
Economic
Built Environment
Food Access
Social
Native American
1706
Onesimus: Public Health Pioneer Against Smallpox
Health Care Systems
Black
1781
Two Court Cases Push For Abolition
Economic
Built Environment
Education
Food Access
Health Care Systems
Social
Black
1845
Black Families Advocacy Pushes MA for Universal Access to Public Education
Education
Social
Black
1848
The First Female Medical College Established
Education
Women
1850
Irish Community Begins Settling in Framingham
Social
Irish
1854
Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison Burns US Constitution at Framingham Rally
Built Environment
Health Care Systems
Social
Black
Women
1861
MA General Law Chapter 115 Establishes Department of Veteran's Services
Economic
Food Access
Health Care Systems
Veterans
1864
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler Becomes the first Black Woman MD
1881
Hygiene Village: Star of a Scientific Food Movement?
Built Environment
Food Access
1886
Westborough State Hospital Opens for Patients with Mental Illnesses
Built Environment
Health Care Systems
Low Income
Uninsured
Veterans
1900
Irish community Continues Integrating into American Culture
Economic
Built Environment
Food Access
Social
Irish
1905
Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Returns to Work at Westborough State Hospital
Health Care Systems
Black
1906
Mother's Rest Association purchases property in Needham
Food Access
Built Environment
Women
1908
Plymouth Hospital Opens as First and Only Black Hospital in MA
Black
Women
1908
Columbus Club Established for Italian community in Framingham
Built Environment
Social
Italian
1916
Tuberculosis Demonstration in Framingham (1st CBPR Study in the World)
Built Environment
Education
Health Care Systems
1918
1918-1920 Flu Pandemic Impacts Framingham
Health Care Systems
1919
19th Amendment: Women in Massachusetts earn Full Voting Privileges
Built Environment
Social
Women
1924
Largest New England KKK Gathering Ends in Violent Riot
Economic
Health Care Systems
Social
Black
Irish
Italian
1929
Waverly Market is established as a cultural staple for the Italian community in Framingham.
Economic
Food Access
Social
Italian
1929
Black Medical Professionals Are Finally Allowed to Work at Boston City Hospital
Built Environment
Health Care Systems
Black
1942
Eminent Domain Displacement of 80 Families in MetroWest
Built Environment
Social
Low Income
Older Adults
Irish
1944
Cushing Hospital Opens for Soldiers Wounded in WW2
Economic
Built Environment
Health Care Systems
Social
Veterans
1945
Metrowest Post-WW2 Housing Boom
Built Environment
Social
Black
Veterans
1946
MA Fair Housing Law Passes
Economic
Built Environment
Education
Food Access
Health Care Systems
Black
1948
Framingham Heart Study Begins
Health Care Systems
Older Adults
1950
Italian Immigrant Presence Increases in Framingham
1954
Cushing Hospital Begins Era of Elder Care
Built Environment
Health Care Systems
Social
Older Adults
Veterans
1957
Founding of Natick Fair Housing Practices Committee
Built Environment
Black
Disabilities
Low Income
1959
Sudbury Residents Debate Merits of Municipal Water Fluoridation
Health Care Systems
Low Income
1965
SMOC Incorporates and Expands Anti-Poverty Programs
Economic
1965
Framingham Launches Six Head Start Classrooms
Education
1966
Wellesley Among First METCO Districts
Education
Black
1966
MA Legalizes Birth Control for Married Women
Health Care Systems
Women
1970
Boston Holds First Pride Events
Social
LGBTQ
1977
“Pushing for Cushing” Movement Emerges
Health Care Systems
Disabilities
Low Income
Uninsured
Veterans
1978
Northampton Consent Decree Expands Community Mental Health Programs
Health Care Systems
Disabilities
1978
GLAD Established After Anti-Gay Police Sting
Health Care Systems
Social
LGBTQ
1980
Brazilian Immigration to Framingham Grows
Brazilian
1982
Cushing’s Elder-Care Programs Gain National Recognition
Built Environment
Health Care Systems
Disabilities
Veterans
1983
MA Establishes Right to Shelter for Families
1983
Nyanza Site Added to EPA Priority List
Built Environment
1984
Cushing Strengthens Research and Opens Alzheimer’s Unit
1988
Ashland Blocks Boston Harbor Sludge Plan
Built Environment
1991
Boston Globe Series Highlights the Framingham Eight
Social
Women
1994
FHS Enrolls First Omni Cohort
Health Care Systems
Black
Brazilian
1995
Framingham Honors Solomon Carter & Meta Fuller
Built Environment
Education
Black
1997
First Brazilian Bakery Opens in Framingham
Brazilian
2003
First Co-Response Jail Diversion Program Begins
2003
Framingham Brazilian Community Faces Discrimination
Brazilian
2004
Kennedy Community Health Expands to Framingham
Uninsured
2004
MA Court Grants Same-Sex Marriage Rights
2005
MetroWest Health Foundation Forms Disparities Committee
Health Care Systems
Social
2006
Romneycare Expands Coverage for MA Residents
2006
MA Requires Standardized Race/Ethnicity Data Collection
Built Environment
Social
Black
Irish
Italian
Native American
2007
Framingham Continues Welcoming Brazilian Community
Brazilian
2010
Court Rules Framingham Violated Disability Housing Law
Built Environment
Disabilities
2012
BRACE Founded in Framingham
Economic
Education
Food Access
Social
Brazilian
2014
Medical-Legal Partnership Launches at Kennedy Health
2021
Framingham Receives Additional Vaccine Equity Resources
Health Care Systems
2022
Health Equity Compact Forms to Advance Reform
Health Care Systems
Uninsured
2023
MA Establishes Free Nursing & Community College Programs
Education
Low Income
2024
Doula Services Covered by MassHealth
Health Care Systems
Women