Launched in 2012 by Welcoming America and its members, Welcoming Week provides individuals and organizations with the opportunity to showcase their values through events and initiatives that foster connections and collaboration between immigrants and non-immigrants, as well as belonging for all.

Welcoming Week 2025 takes place from September 12 to 21. Every year, communities around the globe celebrate Welcoming Week by hosting local events that foster deeper understanding and connection among neighbors. This week-long campaign builds the awareness and energy that’s needed to sustain year-long welcoming efforts.

MOIA is proud to host Welcoming Week in Boston! Join one of its activations and share your story as part of the “Stories We Share” theme: 

• The Embrace Massó "¡Con Salsa!”, International Music Festival - September 13 
• Open Streets Dorchester - September 14
• City Hall Plaza - September 16
• Museum of Fine Arts, Latinx Heritage Night - September 18 
• Boston Public Market, Market on a Mission Day - September 20

Follow MOIA on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay tuned about all the activations and get your stories reshared by using the hashtag #WelcomingWeekBoston! 

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is hosting the City’s two Ready Boston Field Days the first on September 13, 2025 at Walker Playground ( 550 Norfolk St, Mattapan, MA 02126) and the second on September 25, 2025 at City Hall Plaza ( 1 City Hall Sq, Boston, MA 02201). These family friendly events are open to all!   

• Learn CPR and first aid from Boston Emergency Medical Services through demonstrations and practice sessions.
• Get fire-safety tips from the Boston Fire Department.
• Participate in an emergency exercise with public safety professionals.
• Get an inside look at emergency vehicles: SWAT vehicles, ambulances, police cruisers, fire trucks, emergency management vehicles, and more.
• Build an emergency kit to help you and your family prepare for an emergency.
• Play preparedness games and collect giveaways!

Boston After Dark promotes youth summer safety by creating safe and fun spaces for teens (14-18 year olds) on Friday evenings throughout the summer. The goal is to activate spaces across Boston’s neighborhoods in collaboration with BCYF and YMCA centers. Past events included basketball tournaments, paint nights, pool parties, movie nights, and more. All events include free food, merch giveaways, and a live DJ - don't miss out on the fun this summer season! 

At Youth Fest! 2025, youth employees across the City’s Summer Youth Jobs Program are invited to celebrate the end of the summer in this culminating event. The showcase, which highlights the artistic, musical, and cultural talents of Boston young people employed in the summer youth program, will take place this year at the City of Boston’s City Hall Plaza. futureBOS partners, youth, and young adults from across the city are invited to attend this celebratory showcase to conclude the summer youth jobs experience.

Youth Fest! 2025 will take place on Wednesday, August 13 and will include:

• Signature Youth Performances from the Boston Music Project and SuccessLink
• Headline Performances
• Featured Youth Visual Artists, Jewelers, and Crafts People
• House DJ (Pro) 
• Youth DJs 
• A celebration that includes youth employed at over 200 local non-profit and city agency partnership sites

 *Rain Date - Thursday, August 15th

For the Culture Week is an opportunity to uplift, laud, and embrace the people and events that not only impact Boston, but transform industries and perceptions. There are more spaces for people to be themselves than ever before across the city. Join celebrations of one another in neighborhoods from Dorchester to Downtown. The week will be anchored by two major events: Honoring New Edition, the legendary R&B group, and cheering on the Boston HBCU Kickoff Classic to cap off the summer, brought to you by Essence and sponsored by Cash App, VISA, and Meet Boston.

Join us on Blue Hill Ave. on Saturday, October 18 for Open Streets Boston in Mattapan - the newest Open Streets Boston neighborhood! Get ready for live music, delicious food trucks, kid's activities, and local art that will bring the community together. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with your neighbors and learn more about local businesses and organizations along the route.

Open Streets Boston events are always free and open to all, so grab your friends and family and head on down to Blue Hill Ave. from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OPEN STREETS

This event will be held on Saturday, August 30, at 10:30 a.m.. The location of this event is at Gourdin Park, 2405 Washington St, Roxbury.

Here is a list of some resources that will be available and more.

Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center | Veterans Legal Services | Mass Hire | UMASS Lowell Vets RISE | Veterans Bonus Division | Tri-Ad Veterans | Boston Vet Center | DOL VETS TAP | Home Base | BHCC vet center | Veterans Inc. | Veterans Legal Clinic | Veterans Yoga Project

Register Now

Come experience a multidisciplinary theatrical performance* featuring several 10-minute play performances written by up-and-coming Boston playwrights, a 10-minute multi-media dance performance, spoken word and stories, and live improvisational jazz. Themes of the evening will touch upon love, friendship, what it means to be American, and more. You will not want to miss a second of this experimental multidisciplinary art event!

Program:

• Happy Thanksgiving by Monica Jimenez and performed by Constance Cifelli as Daughter Turkey, Olivia Giroux-Galpin as Mother Turkey, Jamaal Eversley as Father Turkey and Aurora Lee as Annabelline
• Where is Faith? by Faith Verrill and performed by Darline Harris as Charity, Jamila Batts Capitman as Hope, and Heath Verrill as Christian
• Kindness by BeAirDrum Seabrooks and performed by Alex Leondedis as Warton, Vincent Siders as Angel and Kym Darby as A.I. 911 Dispatcher
• THR3DS by Jamie Lin, kathy lebron and Alexandria Nunweiler and performed and produced by Company One
• 10 minute multimedia dance performance by Flor Delgadillo.
• Spoken Word performed by Massachusetts' Poet Laureate Regie Gibson, Boston’s Poet Laureate Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah, and more!
• Stand Up Comedy by Madhuri Raju
• Live interactive art piece by SKRIBBLES
• Live improv musical scoring by The Blake Newman Group
• Dance tunes and cast party spun by DJ Juelz
• Hosted by Uncle Jam

*Some poems and plays will have STRONG LANGUAGE. Parental Advisory is recommended for Slam Theatre.

Welcome to Boston’s Cultural District’s One Boston, Many Stories Festival! Join us at City Hall Plaza for a day filled with diverse cultural experiences, live performances, art exhibitions, and delicious food. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Boston’s history and heritage through interactive activities and engaging storytelling sessions. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the vibrant cultural mosaic that makes Boston unique. Mark your calendars and come ready to explore, learn, and connect with the community!

This dynamic festival brings together the heartbeats of four unique cultural districts — the Latin Quarter, Fenway Cultural District, Roxbury Cultural District, and Boston Little Saigon.

One Boston, Many Stories is more than a festival — it’s a movement to honor the voices, histories, and creative spirit of our neighborhoods. Come celebrate with us and be part of Boston’s living cultural legacy.