Engagement in East Boston & Beyond: 2023 Programming
A warm summer breeze, clear blue skies, music bumping, children laughing, sensational gourmet popsicles, empanadas galore, free sailing along the harbor, and spectacular views of the city. These are just some of the sights and sounds that fill the Family Festivals. This year we hosted our 3rd Annual Family Festival series from July through September. It was as special as ever, as we welcomed over 600 people at 3 events. It was a summer we will continue to cherish.
An anchor to our programming in East Boston, the Family Festivals are designed to celebrate and uplift the diverse community that makes East Boston so special. Our partnership with Veronica Robles Cultural Center and Piers Park Sailing Center has made this event an exciting festival that people look forward to year after year, and we are incredibly grateful for their partnership.
Veronica Robles Cultural Center brings with them an array of performances that celebrate the diverse, intricate, and vast array of cultures that make up Latin culture. Coupling the performances and lively music with free sailing and food, it is a terrific way to spend time with the family on a Saturday afternoon. Our additional partnerships with East Boston Neighborhood Health Center and their network, Bono, and Popsicools, provided healing services and food to community members throughout this summer.
This summer’s offerings also included fun programs like Birdwatching at Belle Isle Marsh, a hidden gem. Belle Isle Marsh is the largest salt marsh area in the City of Boston. With breathtaking views, incredible bird sightings, and a guided expert that speaks about the implications of climate change, it's one of our favorite programs. This year we partnered with Latino Outdoors, who led us during the tours and offered us incredible insights on the richness of the marsh. We engaged around 120 people across 3 events and welcomed people of all ages to enjoy this incredible place. We thank our partners for making it all possible. Additional events allowed us to engage with more than 50 people. We had wonderful partners like Friends of Mary Ellen Welch Greenway who led our Waterfront on Wheels tour, and Zumix for our jazz-filled sunset picnic event.
When it comes to impact, our youth engagement programs are where we invest and nurture the future. We welcomed back our yearly Waterfront Ambassador Program where a dozen youth participated in service filled projects across the city. They learned more about the Environmental Sector through our internal professional development platforms, and exposure to the work from our partners and peers in this incredible space.
Additionally, this year we got to sponsor our 2nd Annual Waterfront Access program where we invite youth from Dorchester, Mattapan, and Roxbury communities to learn, play, and enjoy sailing on the East Boston Waterfront. This year we were honored to sponsor free sailing and kayaking to 30 youth with our partnership with Viet Aid.
We had a phenomenal time engaging people with our varied events this spring and summer. Now, as we move into fall and winter, we will continue to engage all of you in meaningful ways. We hope you follow our journey and explore with us in this next chapter of bringing our programming to life in communities across Boston.
Upcoming Programming:
Luminaria Walk on the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway
Join The Trustees Boston Waterfront Initiative for our 3rd Annual Luminaria, while we enjoy a stroll down the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway in East Boston, listen to festive holiday music, and keep warm with some delicious hot chocolate.
Nature Play Urbana: East Boston, Roxbury, & Mattapan
Curated for Preschool aged children, Nature Play Urbana will offer some nature theme exploration with the partnership of local Boston libraries this Winter and Spring. Nature Play Urbana’s goal is to instill curiosity and a love for nature in this imaginative age. Each session we will uncover a new nature theme related to the current season. This course will be offered bilingually (English & Spanish).