This paper paints the overall picture and contextualizes a project on K-16 articulation in southeastern Massachusetts. The paper first describes the project and then addresses three broad areas: the state climate in higher education in Massachusetts; the regional context of such a project within the southeastern area of the state; and the relevance to the project of a broad climate of change at Bridgewater State College, the lead institution in the initiative. It explains that the project was the brainchild of Bridgewater's then provost who wrote a grant to the State Board of Higher Education to increase formalized communication between K-12, the community colleges, and the 4-year institution. The paper points out that working in the articulation project was a way to educate the Bridgewater English department about teachers in other segments, about student needs, and about composition teaching in general. (NKA)