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Immigrants Lead Boston

A program for Boston immigrants who wish to become leaders in the community.

UPDATE: Our spring 2024 course begins soon! If interested, fill out this form to be notified when applications open.

Apply

Applications open soon!

Fill out our interest form

Once applications are open, you can also mail your application to:

Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement
Attn: Hawa Yusuf
1 City Hall Plaza, Room 806
Boston, MA 02201

Or email your application to: hawa.yusuf@boston.gov

More Information:
  • There is no application fee. You must be at least 18 years old and a Boston resident to apply.
  • Interested Applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of their immigrant status.
  • People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
  • Please see the "Common Questions" section of this website for more details.
  • Applications will be reviewed and participants will be notified in early May. 
  • The spring 2024 course is from May - July 2024 (exact dates to be confirmed).

Information Sessions

Interested in learning more about Immigrants Lead Boston before you apply? Once applications open, we'll be hosting a live, virtual information session on Zoom.

Info Session Dates - coming soon!

About

Immigrants Lead Boston is a program by the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement for Boston immigrants who wish to take more civic ownership and become leaders in the community. The program is a 12-week course for 20 selected residents. They will meet key City of Boston officials and learn how to effectively navigate local government. The goal is for these participants to become leaders in their communities, sharing what they learned with others and becoming civically active on issues that matter to them. Ideal candidates are emerging leaders committed to advocating for their immigrant community within the local City of Boston government. Participants will receive a scholarship.

This will be its fifth program of Immigrants Lead Boston. It will mark a significant milestone as the program introduces its first multilingual cohort offering the program in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.

More Details:
Message from the Mayor

Common questions

Common questions

Immigrants Lead Boston will provide participants with learning experiences and connections. The program can help advance your path forward as a leader, professional, and advocate in your community.

The program aims to build on participants’ knowledge, skills, and relationships. We want them to be effective leaders and ambassadors for their communities. Participants will grow their ability to navigate City government, engage with City officials, and advocate for their communities. Topics include:

  • civic engagement and community organizing
  • how to find your purpose and share your story through public narrative
  • building leadership teams to make your dreams of community change real
  • economic mobility opportunities for yourself and your community
  • housing access and advocacy 
    • shelter and emergency housing
    • rent stabilization
    • homeownership and social housing 
  • public health and community mental health and wellbeing 
  • designing for public safety in your community 
    • safe communities act
  • Public education, student services, and tuition equity, tuition free community college
  • racism equity

Each participant will take part in civic engagement activities throughout the program. They will apply the skills, knowledge, and relationships formed during the course to learn how to address issues and advocate for their communities.

Candidates must be Boston residents, immigrants, proficient in English, Spanish, or Haitian Creole and at least 18 years old. They also need to be able to commit 2.5 hours a week. Candidates must be committed to:

  • learning civic engagement and leadership skills
  • engaging with City of Boston government and officials, and
  • leading and supporting their immigrant communities.

Not everyone who applies will be selected. Only selected candidates will be eligible to receive the scholarship.

The spring 2024 course is 12 weeks, from May to July. It includes a welcome ceremony, 10 content-rich sessions, and a graduation ceremony. Classes are on Tuesday nights from 6 - 8:30 p.m. The spring 2024 course will be hybrid, both in-person and virtual sessions.

Participants must attend all ceremonies and sessions and engage in civic activities outside of the sessions.

Exact dates to be confirmed.

Each participant will receive a scholarship. The full amount of the scholarship will be distributed at the end of the program. Participants are expected to fully take part in the sessions, projects, and activities of the program. If there is an emergency and participants cannot attend a session, they will need to immediately communicate with the program coordinator to make up for the missed session. 

The scholarship rewards participants for their time and commitment to learn, lead, and advocate for their communities. Because not every resident can make this commitment without support, this scholarship ensures equitable access to government for all residents.

We will work with you to make sure you have access to the technology you need to take part in this program.

There is no application fee to apply. Only selected candidates are eligible for the scholarship.

The deadline to apply for the spring 2024 course is late April. We will notify selected applicants in early May.

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