Immigrants Lead Boston
A program for Boston immigrants who wish to become leaders in the community.
Applications are now open. Apply by August 17 here.
Immigrants Lead Boston is a program by the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) for Boston immigrants who wish to take more civic ownership and become leaders in the community. Sign up for our newsletter to get program updates.
-
Questions? Contact:
Immigrant Advancement
About
Immigrants Lead Boston is a program by the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) for Boston immigrants who wish to take more civic ownership and become leaders in the community. For the seventh iteration of the program, MOIA will partner with Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), the largest coalition in New England promoting the rights and integration of immigrants and refugees. The program is a 10-week course for selected residents.
Ideal candidates are emerging leaders committed to advocating for their immigrant community in Boston. Participants will meet key City of Boston officials and learn how to effectively navigate the local government, as well as acquire advanced public speaking and community organizing skills. The goal is for these participants to advance their leadership skills and effectively advocate for issues that impact our communities. Participants will receive a scholarship. This will be its 6th program of Immigrants Lead Boston.
- Watch a previous information session.
- Immigrants Lead Boston started in fall 2020. Read the press release announcing the program.
More Details:
- 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 immigration 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 between September 7-11.
- The fall 2026 course is from September 21 to December 5.
Information Session
Interested in learning more about Immigrants Lead Boston before you apply? Attend a live, virtual information session on Zoom. Sign up here.
INFORMATION SESSION DATE: Saturday, August 1st from 11am to 12 pm
Participants
Immigrants Lead Boston (October 2020 - February 2021)
Eighteen passionate immigrant leaders make up the first group for Immigrants Lead Boston.
Immigrants Lead Boston (September - December 2022)
Twenty immigrant leaders make up the third class of Immigrants Lead Boston, a program by the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement.
Immigrants Lead Boston (October 2021 - February 2022)
Twenty people make up the October 2021 to February 2022 class of Immigrants Lead Boston.
Immigrants Lead Boston (August 2024 - October 2024)
Twenty-seven immigrant leaders make up the fifth class of Immigrants Lead Boston.
Immigrants Lead Boston (August 2025 - October 2025)
Twenty-eight immigrant leaders comprise the sixth class of Immigrants Lead Boston.
Common questions
Common questionsImmigrants 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
- Immigration history and topics impacting immigrants, racism, and equity
Each participant will engage in civic 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 4 hours a week including a 2.5 day training. 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.
Our fall 2026 course from September 21 to December 5, will be hybrid, both in-person and virtual sessions . Here's the tentative schedule:
- Monday, September 21 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM In-person
- Tuesday, September 29 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Virtual via Zoom
- Saturday, October 3 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM In-person
- Tuesday, October 13 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Virtual via Zoom
- Saturday, October 17 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM In-person
- Tuesday, October 27 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Virtual via Zoom
- Saturday, October 31 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM In-person
- Tuesday, November 17 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Virtual via Zoom
- Saturday, November 28 NO SESSION
- Saturday, December 5 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM In-person
- Graduation (Mid-December) 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM In-person
The fall 2026 course is 10 weeks, from September 21-December 5, 2026.. It includes a welcome ceremony, eight content-rich sessions, and a graduation ceremony. Classes are on Tuesday nights from 6 to 9 pm and Saturdays. The fall 2026 course will be hybrid, with both in-person and virtual sessions.
Participants must attend all ceremonies and sessions and engage in civic activities outside of the sessions.
Each participant will receive a total scholarship of $575. 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. You can find more information in our online form.
The deadline to apply is Friday August 17, 2026 at 11:59pm. Selected applicants will be notified between September 7-11, 2026.
Who's Involved:
-
Questions? Contact:
Immigrant Advancement
