Announcing Our Launch of Elevate Cities Boston!
Activists. Innovators. Civil Rights Leaders. Ordinary Revolutionaries. And, obviously, hardcore Red Sox/Celtics/Patriots and New Edition Fans, too.
“Boston’s superpower is our civic pride.”- Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston
This is who Boston has always been; a bold and resilient city where people contribute, stand up for what they believe in, work hard to create social change, and honor the changemakers that have come before them. And, this is exactly who Bostonians are today. In fact, in 2030 Boston celebrates 400 years of civic pride, and we are so honored to be part of this monumental era as we formally announce the launch of Elevate Cities Boston!
With an aligned mission to Mayor Michelle Wu’s priority of belonging and storytelling, a connected and united group of civic leaders, artists and changemakers, and all five of us on our founding team having previously lived in Beantown, it just made sense for us to head there next. We are thrilled to support, amplify and celebrate the leaders in one of America’s most historic and beloved cities. The best news of all? Boston’s city leaders and nonprofit organizations are already unified and investing in community-building as a priority.
Here are three current initiatives Boston is leading that really excite us:
- We The People: Boston’s 2nd Inaugural Civic Summit:
Just a few weeks ago, we were part of a meaningful civic engagement gathering at Boston University. We learned from Mayor Wu and other civic leaders, and met so many people creating a more equitable way of life for all Bostonians. The Civic Summit was intergenerational, multi-sector, diverse, and led by artists and activists including journalist and host, Kwani Lunis and spoken word artist, Amanda Shea. Everyone pointed toward the same message: Boston belongs to everyone.
Reflecting on the welcome Boston extended to the world during the World Cup, Mayor Wu shared: “You can’t just make that happen for a five or six week period out of nowhere. That is who we are every day of the year.”
Take a look at the beautiful imagery gallery here.
- Boston 250: Led by Mayor Michelle Wu alongside the Boston Commemoration Commission and a citywide coalition of partners, we’re proud to help amplify Boston 250, a celebration of Boston’s revolutionary, path-breaking past and present. Through new historic markers, community grants, and events across every neighborhood, including block parties and potlucks, Boston 250 is bringing that powerful legacy to life and creating new opportunities for Bostonians to participate, connect, and make history together.
Check out the full list of events here. And stay tuned as we develop our next #FindtheGoodBoston campaign: a historical marker scavenger hunt designed to get Bostonians out exploring and discovering the people, places, and stories that have shaped their city. - Boston is For Everyone: Everyone250 is a citywide movement adding new voices and places to how Boston’s history gets told, through new historical markers, community events, and a living archive built by the people who lived it. Over 250 partners across Boston’s arts and culture sector are already part of it, and we’re here to uplift this citywide effort. Visit this site to find an Everyone250 event near you and see how you can get involved in this movement.
Our first year in Boston is anchored in building new relationships with residents, changemakers, civic influencers and institutions. Starting with the community-nominated awardees of our inaugural #FindtheGood Boston campaign—Community Servings, 826 Boston, and Mass Humanities—our developing partnership with the City of Boston, Mass Poetry and many others, we are just getting started. If you’re working to create more joy, belonging, and civic pride in the Greater Boston area, we’d love to connect with you. Get in touch with us here. Watch the video, “What Do We Stand For?” Check out the #Everyone250 campaign.