~ Boston, MA- Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) are gearing up to celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month this June with the first annual City of Belonging festival. This citywide celebration will take place across Boston's diverse neighborhoods and will feature over 50 community-led events showcasing global art and culture through music, dance, performance, and community-building.

Mayor Wu, who herself is the daughter of immigrants, recognizes the important role that immigrant families and communities play in making cities more welcoming, resilient, and joyful. She stated, "This month is a time to celebrate Boston's immigrant communities and for residents and families to come together in community. As we work towards building a Boston for everyone, we are focused on promoting wellness, building community, and creating space for joy across all of Boston's neighborhoods."

In collaboration with over 30 diverse organizations, MOIA has planned a variety of events throughout the month that are free and open to the public. These events include cultural celebrations, concerts, food and film festivals, performances, block parties, storytelling events, and activism workshops. A full list of events can be found on boston.gov/belonging.

In addition to the City of Belonging festival, MOIA has also announced the launch of their City of Belonging campaign. This campaign aims to transform Boston into a welcoming and empowering home for immigrants by addressing social determinants of health for immigrants and harnessing their collective power. The initiative will culminate with the 1st Annual Immigrant Advancement Forum in fall 2024 and Boston becoming a Welcoming Certified city in 2025.

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Monique Tú Nguyen, Executive Director of MOIA expressed her excitement about this groundbreaking effort stating that it marks a pivotal moment for making Boston a place where every resident truly feels they belong. She said, "Through this campaign we will build a more just and equitable city for immigrant communities and all Bostonians."

The City of Belonging festival will conclude with a special concert, "Belong in Boston," in partnership with Sofar Sounds. This concert will feature a curated lineup of global acts and provide a space for residents to come together and enjoy emerging international performers. The concert will take place on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. in Downtown at a venue that will be announced closer to the date.

Ryan DiLello, Growth Manager for Sofar Sounds Boston, expressed his excitement about the partnership stating, "Amplifying and supporting an inclusive and diverse community of musicians is at the core of what we do in Boston. I hope these shows will deepen musical networks across cultures and provide Boston with some unforgettable nights in truly imaginative locations."

This week, MOIA hosted their annual We Are Boston reception to celebrate the leadership within the immigrant community and their contributions to the city. The reception was held at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts' headquarters where Mayor Wu and MOIA recognized several individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions. These included 1 More Rep Athletics (Business Leadership Award), Equity Now & Beyond (Community Leadership Award), Unafraid Educators (Education Leadership Award), Bethel AME Church (Interfaith Leadership Award), Ajay Singh, Policy Advisor for the City of Boston (Public Service Leadership Award), and three outstanding youth from the Immigrant Youth Advancement program.

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Sarah Iselin, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, who hosted the We Are Boston 2024 reception stated, "Immigrants are a vital part of Boston, and we are thrilled to support the celebration of their contributions to our economy, culture, and community. This celebration is also a call to action – to ensure we are all working together to create an inclusive city where everyone has the opportunity to grow and thrive."

As Immigrant Heritage Month approaches, Mayor Wu and MOIA are excited to celebrate the diversity and contributions of Boston's immigrant communities through the City of Belonging festival and the City of Belonging campaign. This is a time for all residents and families to come together in community and celebrate the vibrant cultures that make Boston a truly special place to call home.

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