We Are Boston
Celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month with us this June. Find events and get involved.
We Are Boston is annual initiative by the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) that celebrates immigrants and immigrant contributions to Boston. We also give out grants funded by corporate sponsorships. This year's We Are Boston includes:
- A reception on May 19 to launch Immigrant Heritage Month and recognize nonprofits that tirelessly and innovatively serve immigrant communities
- A workshop on May 19 for community leaders to give input on the future of Boston through the lens of immigrants
- $160,000 in grants for wellness and multicultural community building in immigrant communities
- Events during Immigrant Heritage Month in June for people to get more connected to immigrant communities in Boston
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Have questions? Contact:
Immigrant Advancement -
1 CITY HALL SQUARE, ROOM 806
BOSTON, MA 02201-2030
Immigrant Heritage Month Events
To celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month, MOIA is partnering with 14 diverse organizations. We're hosting free events for residents and families throughout the month.
Plant succulents, which symbolize good fortune and wealth in Chinese culture, and paint terracotta pots
Interactive dance performance and distribute copies of their cookbook with treasured recipes from patients and staff
Open house and movie screenings to connect people to the immigrant experience
Pretend to be delegates from different countries and deliberate migrant advancement resolutions in Boston
Art-infused community storytelling and public arts event with immigrant youth from the Margarita Muñiz Academy
Family festival with live music, food, resources and interactive activities that promote well-being
Cultural food festival with music, dance, and games from the diverse communities in East Boston.
Workshop in Spanish about nutrition, healthy cooking, and mindfulness practices for every day life
Block party with food from local refugee-owned businesses, cultural performances, and activities
Soccer tournament with prizes and food
Somali-American celebration open to all to share stories and culture of the Somali diaspora
Film screening and concert with music from different regions of Turkey and the Balkans
Performance-workshop about writing lyrics and music
An Eid Al-Adha Festival that integrates old traditions and new understandings about health
Become a sponsor
We invite you or your company to be a sponsor for We Are Boston. Sponsorship funds are given directly to immigrant-serving nonprofits in the form of grants.
Email Chief of Staff Agnes Chang (agnes.chang@boston.gov) to discuss this opportunity. Thank you for supporting the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement. We appreciate your commitment to immigrant communities.
MORE DETAILS
In addition to tickets and advertising at the reception, sponsors will be invited to a workshop with immigrant leaders and community members on advancing social justice.
Grants
2023 Grants
Applications for our Weaving Well-being Grants closed on May 4, 2023. This year Boston nonprofits applied for $160,000 in grants to support mental health programming and to host events during Immigrant Heritage Month in June.
More Details
To enhance the well-being of immigrants in Boston, destigmatize mental health challenges, and encourage non-clinical, culturally and linguistically sensitive practices as a form of therapy, the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement is pleased to announce a second round of Weaving Well-being Grants.
Grants vary from $3,000-$10,000, and organizations can request additional funding to host community events during Immigrant Heritage Month in June.
PROGRAM HISTORY
Since 2015, thousands of constituents have benefited from programs funded by our grants, including:
- ESOL classes
- DACA/DAPA legal screening clinics
- citizenship application assistance
- immigrant youth mentoring, and
- civic engagement classes.
These grants are made possible by the generous contributions from our annual We Are Boston Reception.
