Join us for a printing workshop led by artist Julia Csekö and design a message of belonging. Bring a t-shirt, tote bag or piece of natural fabric that you would like to print on with a message that expresses that you belong here. Take it home or gift it to someone who needs to hear this. No experience needed, all ages welcome!

Time slots:

• 4 - 5 p.m.
• 5 - 6 p.m.
• 6 - 7 p.m.

This program is part of our current exhibition "City of Belonging" in partnership with the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement.

Directions: This event will be hosted at the top of the stairs of the Mezzanine Gallery located on the 3rd floor. Please enter on Congress St (across from Faneuil Hall) pass security and take the elevators to the 3rd floor.

When Spirit Speaks: Ancestral Tongues

Noon, 1, 2, 3, and 4 p.m. | Gallery 168

Join spoken word artist Amanda Shea for a special performance that reflects on the enduring legacy of Juneteenth and celebrates freedom, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for racial justice. This powerful program honors the bold voices of liberation that continue to shape transformative change worldwide.

Presented with support from the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, City of Boston.

ASL interpreter available at 3 p.m.

Admission to the MFA—including access to “Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits”—is free for all Massachusetts residents on June 19 in honor of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally observed commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

Join us for performances, participate in art-making activities, catch a talk, and see “Van Gogh” as well as  “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson,” which explores the 60-year career of the Roxbury native through work in a range of media.

Join us for a morning yoga and dance event to celebrate the end of June and Immigrant Heritage Month. 

Everyone is welcome to attend,

tickets can be purchased online.

Join us for a special community concert in partnership with SoFar Sounds. We’re celebrating Immigrant Heritage Month. The artists for this special concert will be diverse, and food is included with your ticket. Guests can also sign up to participate in an Open Mic portion of the program.

Refreshments and food will be provided. Everyone is welcome to attend, registration is requested. Free tickets are limited, if you are unable to attend, please notify us as soon as possible so we can offer your spot to others who wish to join. 

The large-format banners will hang in the Mezzanine until July 18. After this, they will be displayed at different locations for a You Belong Here banner tour to continue spreading the message of belonging across the city for the remainder of 2025. MOIA welcomes community requests for displays. 

The gallery launch will take place on May 21 at 1 p.m. and include food, photos, and a speaking program. The event is open to the public, but registration is requested.

MOIA designated 2025 as the Year of Belonging with the You Belong Here campaign to integrate its goals of creating a more inclusive Boston while addressing pressing challenges, such as public sentiment and policy shifts on immigration. The campaign supports immigrant communities through grants, empowers resilience with morale-boosting messaging, and inspires action through events. The campaign aims to ensure Boston remains a community where residents feel welcomed, respected, and valued, regardless of background. This awareness campaign prioritizes diversity, equity, and social cohesion for residents across Boston’s neighborhoods, sharing one message, “You Belong Here,”  in the city’s 12 main languages. 

The large-scale banners are also in these languages, and the campaign design has already been featured in digital billboards across the city, most recently at Opening Day in Fenway Park.

Children are seated on a carpeted floor with their caretakers and space is available on a first come, first served basis. Additional seats are available for people with disabilities, seniors, and others unable to sit on the floor. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

This is an inclusive program and both people with and without disabilities are always welcomed. A Flexible Calming Space (Quiet Room) is available for anyone who needs a break from the program at any time, especially those who are experiencing sensory overload. Parking is free at the JFK Library.

The JFK Library takes the safety and security of all guests, staff, and visitors seriously. To make your experience safe and enjoyable, upon entry to this federal building, all visitors must pass through a security check with a metal detector. All bags will also be inspected by Security Officers. Visit our website for more details.

The Celebrate! series, appropriate for family audiences and children ages 5 and up, highlights America’s rich cultural diversity through the arts. This program is tied directly to President and Mrs. Kennedy's concern for and support of the arts and culture in a democratic society.

Thanks to generous support from the Martin Richard Foundation and the Mass Cultural Council all performances are free.