To Immigrants with Love
A City of Boston, pro-immigrant mural project inspired by the national campaign "To Immigrants With Love."
The City of Boston supports and stands with our immigrant communities. Our project “To Immigrants With Love” focuses on Boston’s past and present immigrants, and celebrates all they bring to our City. This is part of a larger effort to better connect immigrants to City services and resources.
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Community help
Looking for other resources? You might find what you're looking for through our community resource directory.
East Boston mural subjects
Roslindale mural subjects
'Immigrant Grand-mothers' mural
We created an "Immigrant Grandmothers" mural in East Boston, with the photos of local grandmothers as the inspiration.
Project information
The Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement and the Mayor's Mural Crew have partnered to launch "To Immigrants With Love." This is inspired by the Define American and I Am An Immigrant national campaign of the same name.
Boston’s immigrants and their contributions have shaped our City. From community leaders to entrepreneurs, our immigrants move us forward. “To Immigrants With Love" represents Boston's commitment to stand with our immigrant communities.
The campaign both celebrates immigrants and fosters civic engagement in our immigrant communities, through:
- murals
- multimedia projects
- social media outreach, and
- a website with City resources and services.
Transforming neighborhoods
The City of Boston works to support all Boston neighborhoods. “To Immigrants With Love" builds on the City's work through the murals and website.
Our partner, the Mayor’s Mural Crew, transforms locations through beautiful public art. Additionally, the website connects immigrants to City programs. This connection gives immigrants the tools to transform their own communities.
THE NEIGHBORHOODS
We chose East Boston and Roslindale as the locations for the murals. Immigrants have shaped both neighborhoods in the past and continue to play a large role in the area.
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY
The murals will be on Atlas Wine & Liquors in Roslindale and Dr. Dental in East Boston. We partnered with local businesses to support the surrounding neighborhood.
The murals are also visible and accessible from the street. This will help connect more immigrant residents to City services and resources.
Neighborhood profiles
NeighborhoodsOften referred to as “Boston’s Ellis Island,” East Boston is a microcosm of American history and early immigration efforts. The strong immigrant influence in East Boston continues today, making it an ideal location for “To Immigrants With Love.
Founded in 1636, East Boston quickly became one of the country’s leading seaports by the late 1800s. By the early 1900s, the East Boston Immigration Center was created, making it the United States’ second busiest arrival port for immigrants.
By the numbersFrom 1980 to 2000, East Boston’s population grew from 4 percent to 50 percent people of color. As of today:
- 45 percent of East Boston residents were born in another country
- about 40 percent of East Boston residents are not U.S. citizens
- 11 percent of East Boston residents are citizens by naturalization, and
- about 46 percent of East Boston residents are native born U.S. citizens.
Named after a town in Scotland, Roslindale has been shaped by waves of immigrants from its beginnings. Within the past 20 years, the percentage of people of color living in the neighborhood has jumped from 9 percent to 44 percent.
Roslindale became a part of West Roxbury in 1868, eventually becoming a part of Boston in 1873. The neighborhood later fell on difficult times in the 1960s. An influx of Greek immigrants in the mid 1970s stabilized the area, beginning a new era of immigration and socioeconomic change.
By the numbersToday, it is considered home to a diverse population in terms of race, culture, and socioeconomic position:
- about 11 percent of Roslindale residents are not U.S. citizens
- 15 percent of Roslindale residents are citizens by naturalization, and
- about 71 percent of Roslindale residents are native born U.S. citizens.
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Have questions? Contact us:
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Community help
Looking for other resources? You might find what you're looking for through our community resource directory.
