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 residents and families to get more connected to immigrant communities in Boston - Find our partners and free events in the table below.
Immigrant Heritage Month Events
Weaving Well-being Grants
Well-being GrantsThe Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement is providing 18 community organizations grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to support wellness initiatives in immigrant communities over the next six months. This is to enhance the well-being and mental health of immigrants in Boston through non-clinical and culturally sensitive practices. Anyone interested in participating can contact the organizations directly.
Create peer supervision and support spaces for educators, artists, and community workers who engage with Asian immigrants
Engage youth using art and conversation to explore belonging, relationships, and community connections
Organize workshops on mindfulness, meditation, yoga, storytelling, readers circles, arts, and holistic medicine
Host “ Mulheres Vencedoras, ” a mindfulness-based project for immigrant workers who may experience chronic health issues
Take immigrants to historical and cultural sites in MA to help them understand their role within U.S. history and society
Offer accessible healing services and activities for East Boston adult students and immigrants
Offer yoga and therapeutic dance classes to advance mental wellness
Host “Ekubs” to create bonds among Eritrean women and generate a little capital to resolve minor economic problems
Offer Nurturing Circles, ad hoc parenting workshops, and concrete support (diapers, wipes, etc.) for Cape Verdean families
Expand the “ Jóvenes en Acción /Youth in Action” program, College Success Program, and arts enrichment programming
Organize wellness workshops with practical tips for immigrant families to reduce stress and anxiety
O rganize gatherings to support the senior Albanian community with overall wellness and access to resources
Expand ‘ Manualidades, ’ an arts and crafts circle that offers emotional support to immigrant women in East Boston
Strengthen a psychosocial support group that focuses on non-clinical approaches for immigrants who identify as women
Continue the Summer Wellness Initiative, which incorporates non-clinical wellness check-ins to holistic youth programming
Host workshops on a variety of topics (mindfulness, art, etc.) to promote mental wellness of Somali communities
Host a series of Collective Care Circles led by and for first generation youth and young adult immigrants
Continue a senior drop-in program with activities such as Tai chi, yoga, bingo, karaoke, and ballroom dancing
Grant History
2023 Grants
Applications for our Weaving Well-being Grants closed on May 4, 2023. 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.
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.
We Are Boston Reception
We Are Boston 2020
From Resilience to Equity
This year's annual reception on November 19, 2020 honors frontline workers and immigrant-serving nonprofits during COVID-19 and highlights how together we can move towards equity for all residents.
We Are Boston 2022
From Dreams to Action
On March 3, 2022, Mayor Wu addresses her goals for the upcoming year and talks about how this is the time for action so immigrant dreams can become reality.
We Are Boston 2023
Visionary Courage
This reception on May 19 is to launch Immigrant Heritage Month and celebrate immigrants who show visionary courage