Mayor Wu and Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement Announce $2.1 Million Investment to Strengthen Support Services for Immigrant Communities

Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) today announced $2.1 million in grant funds and contracts awarded to support access to critical services and resources for Boston’s immigrant communities. This announcement builds on Mayor Wu’s work to make Boston a home for everyone.

“Supporting our immigrant residents and families is critical in ensuring Boston continues to be a welcoming, safe, and healthy city,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “These grant funds and contracts will ensure that residents across all our neighborhoods are connected to supports. I’m grateful to all of our partners for helping make Boston a home for everyone.”

This announcement was made in conjunction with the launch of MOIA’s annual City of Belonging Festival, a month-long initiative with community events throughout Immigrant Heritage Month to celebrate, uplift, and support Boston’s diverse immigrant communities across every neighborhood. For more information, please visit boston.gov/belonging-festival.

“At a time when immigrant communities face uncertainty across the nation, Boston is choosing connection, compassion, and celebration. Funding our grant programs and contracts reminds us that resilience grows stronger when we stand together, across cultures and languages,” said Chief of Equity and Inclusion, Mariangely Solis Cervera. 

“The celebration of all people is integral to the heart of the City of Boston," said Monique Tú Nguyen, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement. "Through partnerships with local nonprofits with over $2 million in grant investments and contracts, we're building a City of Belonging where every resident feels included. Together, we're creating spaces where immigrants from all backgrounds can thrive, contribute, and feel truly at home in Boston."

The grant funds and contracts are spread across five programs: Immigrant Youth Advancement, Immigration Legal Access, Promoting Access to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Weaving Well-Being, and Tuition Equity. The grants and contracts were allocated in the following breakdown:

Immigrant Youth Advancement: A leadership and work-readiness program for immigrant students, $715,000 awarded to 27 organizations:

• 617Peak
• ACEDONE
• Agencia ALPHA
• Apprentice Learning
• Beat The Streets New England
• Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC)
• Boston International Newcomers Academy (BINcA)
• Boston Little Saigon
• Boston Public Schools - Recruitment, Cultivation & Diversity Programs - Teacher Cadet Summer Academy
• Brazilian Worker Center, INC
• Cape Verdean Association of Boston (CVSA)
• Centro Presente
• Chills Diamond Ring Education Foundation
• City on a Hill Church (English High)
• Digital Ready
• Haitian Health Institute, Inc
• Immigrant Family Services Institute, Inc. (IFSI-USA)
• MassVOTE
• Mattapan/Greater Boston Technology Learning Center Inc
• Northeastern University (Learn and Earn) 
• Piers Park Sailing Center 
• Shalupe Community Alliance
• Soccer without Borders
• Sociedad Latina
• Stories Inspiring Movements (SIM)
• The Pathway Initiative Inc
• Veronica Robles Cultural Center

Immigration Legal Access: An initiative to expand the capacity for Boston residents to access immigration legal services and community support from community-based nonprofits and legal aid organizations. $700,000 was awarded to 20 organizations:

• Agencia ALPHA
• Asian American Resource Workshop, Inc.
• Asian Pacific Islanders Civic Action Network
• Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Inc
• Brazilian Worker Center INC
• Casa Myrna Vasquez Inc
• Catholic Charities Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston, Inc.
• De Novo Center for Justice and Healing, Inc.
• Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS)
• Immigrant Connection at Awaken City
• Immigrant Family Services Institute - USA, Inc.
• International Institute of New England Inc
• Justice at Work
• KIND, Inc
• Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice
• Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition
• Mutual Aid Eastie
• Rian Immigrant Center
• Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice, Inc
• Vietnamese American Civic Association, Inc

“The need for compassionate and trustworthy immigration legal services has never been greater—this is clear from the turnout at our Boston Public Library legal clinics. Rian Immigrant Center is immensely grateful to MOIA for recognizing this need and for putting our great city’s values into action,” said Jackie Kelley, Director of Immigration Legal Services at Rian Immigrant Center. 

Promoting Access to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL): An initiative to support innovative programming that reduces waitlists for English-language learners. $400,000  was awarded to 10 organizations: 

• Chinese Progressive Association
• Casserly House
• English for New Bostonians
• Friends of St. Stephen’s Youth Programs
• Friends of the Rafael Hernandez School
• Gardner Pilot Academy Adult Education Program
• Maverick Landing Community Services
• Potencia, Inc.
• Somali Development Center
• St. Mark Community Education Program

“Mayor Wu and City Council have once again affirmed their commitment to immigrant communities, and we are humbled to continue as the City’s partner,” said Claudia Green, Executive Director of English for New Bostonians. “This infusion of new ESOL funds through the Office of Immigrant Advancement will allow us to expand opportunities for immigrant parents of Boston school children to improve their English skills, have a strong voice in their children’s education, and navigate these extraordinarily challenging times. Now more than ever, English classes provide information, community, and a path forward.”

Weaving Well-being: An initiative to support immigrant community-driven wellness and mental health. $232,000 was awarded to 28 organizations:

• Abilities Dance Incorporated
• ARKanum
• Asian American Resource Workshop
• Berklee College of Music
• Brazilian Women's Group
• Chinese Progressive Association
• Community Healing Project Center
• EHR Boston Communities
• Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts
• Fathers' UpLift
• Found in Translation
• Gilbert Albert Community Center
• Hiddo, Inc.
• Irish Pastoral Centre
• Jean Appolon Expressions
• La Alianza Hispana
• Madison Park Development Corporation
• Maverick Landing Community Services
• Mutual Aid Eastie
• Shalupe Community Alliance
• Soccer Without Borders
• Sociedad Latina
• Somali Parents Advocacy Center for Education (SPACE, Inc.)
• The City School
• Tunefoolery
• Vermilion Theater
• Veronica Robles Cultural Center
• Young Man with a Plan

Tuition Equity: A community partnership initiative to support immigrant youth-serving organizations, ensuring students are informed and can take advantage of the Massachusetts Tuition Equity law. The following partners were contracted to support the program, with $84,000 provided to 11 organizations:

• Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC)
• Brazilian Worker Center, INC
• Cape Verdean Association of Boston (CVSA)
• College Advising Corps 
• Cultivate Pathway
• Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition
• Shalupe Community Alliance
• Sociedad Latina
• Stories Inspiring Movements (SIM)
• St. Stephen's Youth Programs
• uAspire

“The Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement’s support is an investment in immigrant youth futures. The funding enables us to support Boston Public School seniors in accessing state financial aid, with an average award of $10,000. This investment opens doors to opportunity for Boston’s talented immigrant students at a critical time,” said Michele Rudy, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Cultivate Pathways.

About the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement

The Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) strives to strengthen immigrants' ability to fully and equitably participate in Boston's economic, civic, social, and cultural life. MOIA also promotes recognition and public understanding of immigrants' contributions to the City. To learn more, visit boston.gov/immigrants.