We Are Boston
The annual reception celebrates Boston’s immigrants. We also give out mini-grants funded by corporate sponsorships.
Every year Mayor Walsh and the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement host an end-of-the-year reception to celebrate Boston’s rich cultural diversity. The event honors the contributions immigrants have made to our City. It's also an opportunity to recognize and support nonprofits that tirelessly and innovatively serve immigrant communities.
"We Are Boston 2020: From Resilience to Equity" was on November 19, 2020. You can watch the virtual program on our Facebook page, @BOSImmigrants:
Mini-grants application
Update: 2020 Grant applications are now closed. The deadline to apply was October 9, 2020. Read the press release announcing the recipients.
This year, we will award 10-20 immigrant-serving groups mini-grants of $5,000 - $10,000 each. Our grants must be used for operational support or capacity-building to serve immigrants during COVID-19. Applicants need to be Boston-based and immigrant-led or immigrant-serving.
We have translated information in العربية (Arabic), kriolu (Cabo Verdean Creole), 中文 (Chinese), Français (French), Kreyòl ayisyen (Haitian Creole), Português (Portuguese), Af-Soomali (Somali), Español (Spanish), and Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese).
- Proof of being 501c3 registered or under a Fiscal Agent and operates in the City of Boston
- A brief one-page narrative proposal with a budget
- To submit your most recent fiscal year report or audit, email Agnes Chang at agnes.chang@boston.gov
Grants will be awarded on National Immigrants Day on October 28. They must be used by November 1, 2021.
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 2020: From Resilience to Equity". Sponsorship funds are given directly to immigrant-serving nonprofits in the form of $5,000 - $10,000 mini-grants.
Feel free to email our 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 during this critical time.
Aside from tickets and advertising at the reception, sponsors will be invited to join a thoughtful conversation on:
- the roots of systemic racism, and
- how to join the struggle for racial equity.
We hope to share our experiences and examine the unconscious biases we are all exposed to. This workshop will explore how to build inclusive cultures in the workplace and everyday life.
Reception tickets
"We Are Boston 2020: From Resilience to Equity" takes place on November 19, 2020, from 5 - 6 p.m. The fun-filled evening will feature musical performances and an inspiring program. Due to COVID-19, the reception will be virtual.
During this year’s reception, Mayor Walsh will recognize the successes of the past year. The Mayor will also name this year’s honorees who are champions of diversity and inclusiveness. The evening will culminate with our new Cabinet Chief of Equity, Dr. Karilyn Crockett. Dr. Crockett will speak on the convergence and divergence of African American and immigrant struggles. She will also discuss how the corporate and philanthropic sectors can support the fight for equity for all.