Zuyapa Arzu has called Washington Columbia II, CSNDC’s complex of residential buildings located near the intersection of Washington Street and Columbia Road in Dorchester, home for more than 30 years. It’s where her four daughters grew up and launched into adulthood. For Zuyapa, Washington Columbia II is not just housing; it’s the place that helped shape her family’s future and it’s a community that she’s passionate about improving.
From Neighbor to Resident Leader
Originally from Honduras, Zuyapa first lived in New York before moving to Boston in the early 1990s. She has lived at Washington Columbia II for nearly the entire time she’s been in the city. Alongside her long tenure as a resident, she has also built a career as a technician at Boston Children’s Hospital. She brings patience, empathy, and careful listening to both her work and her neighborhood.
Over the past few years, Zuyapa’s role in the community has grown in new ways. After completing the Building Leaders, Building Community (BLBC) training through NeighborWorks earlier this year, she became even more involved in resident leadership in her community.
“I’ve learned how to engage other residents and motivate them to join any meetings and activities that we put forth,” she says.
While she’s humble about using the term “leader” to describe herself, her neighbors clearly look to her for guidance and encouragement.
A Garden That Grew Community
So it was that when a neighbor approached Zuyapa three years ago with a simple idea to use the unused space behind their building by the playground to plant fruits and vegetables, Zuyapa jumped at the chance to get the project off the ground. The seeds were planted for what would become a thriving resident-led garden.
The group started small, but the very first year was a success, with healthy corn and tomatoes—and that early success inspired more residents to get involved.
“As more people joined the gathering group, new relationships developed,” Zuyapa says.
Today, the garden is filled with tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, and other healthy foods for the neighborhood to enjoy, and the community is growing as well. Zuyapa has been instrumental in organizing and sustaining the gardening group—reminding neighbors to water, inviting them to participate, and inspiring others to see the space as a community asset.
To celebrate the success of their flourishing plants and the community spirit they’ve nurtured, residents gathered for a Garden Party on June 25th. A guest chef demonstrated how to prepare fresh salads using organic vegetables and fruits—many of them grown right on-site.
Another important way Zuyapa supports her community is by helping with tenant meetings held a few times a year. As a bilingual Spanish and English speaker, Zuyapa provides informal translation and summaries for Spanish-speaking residents—making sure they understand the key takeaways, updates and decisions. She also helps neighbors with technology basics like email, QR codes, and Zoom so they can stay connected and informed.
Looking Ahead
For Zuyapa, the garden is just the beginning. She hopes that as more residents get involved, they can build on this momentum to create more activities that support health and well-being and enhance the connection between neighbors. For example, she would like to see a regular neighborhood Zumba class and a walking group among neighbors. Her vision is of community where residents are not just tenants, but leaders, teachers and partners in shaping their environment.
“The more people that get involved, the more we can create beneficial things for the community,” she says. “Not just the garden. We can create other things that bring the community together.”
This is why, even though her children are grown and living elsewhere, Zuyapa continues to invest her time and energy into Washington Columbia II. The garden may be modest in size—but thanks to leaders like Zuyapa Arzu, its impact on community, health and belonging is anything but small.
