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BOSTON – Monday, June 5, 2022 – Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office
for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) are celebrating Immigrant Heritage Month this
June by promoting wellness and multicultural community building across
Boston. MOIA is providing grant funding to neighborhood organizations for
mental health programming and free event programming to create
opportunities for residents and families to build community. For a full
list of grant recipients and events, please visit boston.gov/we-are-boston.
“As the daughter of immigrants, I know the
vital role that our immigrant families and communities play in making our
cities more welcoming, more resilient and more joyful,” said Mayor
Michelle Wu. “This month is a time to celebrate Boston’s immigrant
communities and for residents and families to be in community with each
other. As we work to build a Boston for everyone, we are focused on
promoting wellness, building community and creating space for joy across
Boston’s neighborhoods.”
"As we celebrate Immigrant Heritage
Month in June, we must recognize the challenges our immigrant communities
have to navigate every day that can take a toll on their mental health in
the longer term," said Council President Ed Flynn.
"Through these grants and the important partnership of our
immigrant-centered nonprofits, we can better support the mental health
needs of our immigrant families, facilitate new connections, and build
healthier communities."
“It is crucial that as a city, we are
continuing to think intentionally and creatively about how we are providing
our immigrant communities with the tools they need to not only survive, but
to thrive,” said Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune. “Mental health
resources are such a vital part of that toolkit, and I am encouraged by
this initiative and MOIA’s commitment to this programming.”
To celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month, MOIA
is partnering with 14 diverse organizations to host events for residents
and families throughout the month. Events include cultural celebrations,
food and film festivals, performances, sports tournaments, block parties,
storytelling events, mental health fairs, and community forums. MOIA is
providing each organization $1,500 to $2,500 in grants to support these
events, which are free and open to the public.
“We are so pleased to receive this grant
from the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement to host a food festival
in East Boston,” said Phil Giffee, Executive Director of
Neighborhood of Affordable Housing. “East Boston is full of new
arrivals who bring their skills, passions, and cultures to our rapidly changing
community. We are proud to celebrate their gifts and talents with everyone
for Immigrant Heritage Month.”
In addition, MOIA is providing 18 community
organizations with grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to support
wellness initiatives in immigrant communities over the next six months.
This grant program will enhance the well-being and mental health of
immigrants in Boston through non-clinical and culturally sensitive
practices. Programming includes wellness workshops, art for
self-exploration, and healing circles. Anyone interested in participating
can contact the organizations directly.
“Mental health kept coming up in meetings
with immigrant communities,” said Monique Tú Nguyen, Executive
Director of the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement. “As we emerge
from the pandemic, it’s clear we need to prioritize mental health. Many
people are hurting right now, and we need to address it immediately,
without stigma, in ways that make sense to the people we serve.”
"We are proud to stand with Boston's
immigrant communities in giving children the best possible start in life,”
said Emma Tobin, Executive Director of Family Nurturing Center of
Massachusetts. “This grant allows us to support parents and caregivers
as their child's first nurturer and teacher. Thank you to Mayor Wu and the
Office for Immigrant Advancement for being an incredible partner and
supporting us to expand services for Asian American families with young
children in Allston-Brighton and Cape Verdean parents and grandparents in the
Bowdoin-Geneva neighborhood of Dorchester.”
This is the second year MOIA dedicated
funding for mental health programming. In 2022, MOIA gave $70,000 to seven
organizations. This year, it expanded to $129,650 through funds from We
Are Boston.
We Are Boston is MOIA’s annual reception that honors
the contributions immigrants have made to our City. Corporate sponsorships
are given out as grants to immigrant-serving nonprofits. The 2023 We
Are Boston reception was held on May 19 at Blue Cross Blue Shield
of Massachusetts’ headquarters in Boston and also served as the official
launch for Immigrant Heritage Month. During the reception, Mayor Wu and
MOIA recognized the Driving Families Forward Coalition, Melodias Restaurant
in East Boston, and Clare Louise Okalany for their accomplishments and
consistent commitment in creating opportunities for Boston’s diverse
communities to thrive.
“Immigrants and refugees are key
contributors to Boston’s economy, culture, and community,” said Sarah
Iselin, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, venue
host and in-kind sponsor. “They are our neighbors, friends, and
colleagues who have an important and positive impact on our city. We must
work together to eliminate systemic inequities, ensure inclusivity, and
make them feel welcome.”
Twenty-two corporate sponsors funded this
year’s We Are
Boston 2023: Visionary Courage. Their sponsorships totaling more than $122,500 dollars will
go towards grants for immigrant-serving nonprofits next year. This year’s
Champion Sponsors are Arbella Insurance Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield
of Massachusetts, Klarman Family Foundation, and State Street Corporation;
and the Visionary Sponsor is Eastern Bank Foundation. Last year’s We
Are Boston is funding this year’s $160,000 in grants for wellness
and multicultural community building during Immigrant Heritage Month.
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