Immigrants Lead Boston

Immigrants Lead Boston will provide participants with learning experiences and connections. The program can help advance your path forward as a leader, professional, and advocate in your community.

The program aims to build on participants’ knowledge, skills, and relationships. We want them to be effective leaders and ambassadors for their communities. Participants will grow their ability to navigate City government, engage with City officials, and advocate for their communities. Topics include:

• civic engagement
• housing access
• economic development
• public health
• transportation
• public education and student services
• public safety, and
• racism and equity.

Each participant will take part in civic engagement activities throughout the program. They will apply the skills, knowledge, and relationships formed during the course to learn how to address issues and advocate for their communities.

Candidates must be Boston residents, immigrants, proficient in English, and at least 18 years old. They also need to be able to commit three hours a week. Candidates must be committed to:

• learning civic engagement and leadership skills
• engaging with City of Boston government and officials, and
• leading and supporting their immigrant communities.

Not everyone who applies will be selected. Only selected candidates will be eligible to receive the scholarship.

The fall 2022 course is 12 weeks, from September 20 to December 16 . It includes a welcome ceremony, 10 content-rich sessions, and a graduation ceremony. Classes are on Tuesday nights from 6-8 p.m. The fall 2022 course will be online.

Participants must attend all ceremonies and sessions and engage in civic activities outside of the sessions. 

Our fall 2022 course from September 20, 2022, to December 16, 2022, will be hybrid with both in-person and virtual sessions. Here's the schedule and agenda:

• Tuesday, September 20, 2022, 6 - 8 p.m.: Welcome Ceremony
• Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 6 - 8 p.m.: Civic Engagement (Pt. 1)
• Tuesday, October 4, 2022, 6 - 8 p.m.: Racism and Equity
• Tuesday, October 11, 2022, 6 - 8 p.m.: Housing Access
• Tuesday, October 8, 2022, 6 - 8 p.m.: Economic Development
• Tuesday, October 25, 2022, 6 - 8 p.m.: Civic Engagement (Pt. 2)
• Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 6 - 8 p.m.: Public Education & Student Services
• Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 6 - 8 p.m.: Transportation
• Tuesday, November 29, 2022, 6 - 8 p.m.: Public Safety
• Tuesday, December 6, 2022, 6 - 8 p.m.: Public Health
• Tuesday, December 13, 2022, 6 - 8 p.m.: Civic Engagement (Pt. 3)
• Friday, December 16, 2022, 6 - 8 p.m.: Graduation Ceremony

Each participant will receive $100 for each session they attend for a total scholarship of $1,000. The full amount of the scholarship will be distributed at the end of the program.

Participants are expected to fully take part in the sessions, projects, and activities of the program. If there is an emergency and participants cannot attend a session, they will need to immediately communicate with the program manager to make up the missed session. If participants miss a session and do not make it up, they may not receive the $100 for that session.

The scholarship rewards participants for their time and commitment to learn, lead, and advocate for their communities. Because not every resident can make this commitment without support, this stipend ensures equitable access to government for all residents.

We will work with you to make sure you have access to the technology you need to take part in this program.