Embrace Boston

06/17/2026

The celebration of Juneteenth isn’t just Black history. It’s American history.

And yet, state legislatures throughout the country are moving to limit what students can be taught about slavery, systemic racism, and how the struggle for civil rights has shaped America.

That’s why, as we approach America’s 250th anniversary, it’s more important than ever to challenge these attempts to erase Black history and embrace it as a necessary part of America’s evolving story.

06/11/2026

The Loving v. Virginia decision of 1967, which struck down bans on in*******al marriage and relationships, has changed the face of the American family. And not just for cis-het couples, either. Loving also paved the way for Obergefell v. Hodges, which guaranteed same-sex couples the right to marry.

Today, 20% of all married couples in the United States identify as in*******al or interethnic, with more than 30% of those couples identifying as same-sex.

This Pride Month, we celebrate the legacy of Loving and the right to love and marry whomever we choose.

06/04/2026

Last weekend marked 105 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre destroyed Greenwood’s “Black Wall Street” district and killed as many as 300 people. But the trauma to Tulsa’s Black community didn’t stop there.

Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols has committed to a $105 million reparations package for descendants of the massacre’s survivors, and this data from the National Bureau of Economic Research helps explain why. The destruction of the thriving Greenwood community has led to a century of systemic disinvestment and decreased home ownership among Black Tulsans. That includes Lessie Benningfield Randle, the last known survivor of the massacre, whose family lost homes both to the massacre and then later to Tulsa’s racist urban development policies.

These statistics and Randle’s story remind us that we can’t right the wrongs of our past without intentional action.

06/03/2026

This week marks 50 issues and one full year of our research and policy newsletter, The Fine Print!

From deconstructing tax law to interviewing Nikole Hannah-Jones, we’ve put in the work to keep people informed. And you all responded—11,000 total subscribers, almost half a million total reads (!!), and lots of love and encouragement.

For everyone who’s been with us since Day 1 or joined us along the way, thank you SO much. We couldn’t have done it without you. And we can’t wait to keep bringing you even more in Year 2.

Keep reading The Fine Print.

06/03/2026

We are excited to share a major milestone in the evolution of Embrace.
Embrace has acquired 33–41 West Street in Downtown Crossing, located just steps from The Embrace Monument and Freedom Plaza on Boston Common. This acquisition marks the next chapter in our work to build a permanent civic and cultural gathering space in the heart of Boston.

Building on the impact of The Embrace Monument, which has welcomed millions of visitors since its unveiling in 2023, this new space will serve as a year-round indoor commons for arts, culture, storytelling, and civic life.

As we move forward, we will continue working in partnership with artists, community members, and civic leaders to shape this space into Boston’s next great civic landmark.

Learn more:

The group plans a theater and gathering space, along with a restaurant and bar just a stone’s throw from "The Embrace" monument.

05/22/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Embrace Honors Harry Hom Dow. It was a powerful evening celebrating legacy, leadership, and the people who continue shaping a more just and connected Boston.

You helped make The Embrace a space where communities can come together, connect, and feel welcomed. Seeing so many people gathered at the 1965 Freedom Plaza reminded us of the power of public spaces rooted in belonging.

We’re so grateful to everyone who showed up, shared space with us, and helped make the evening so meaningful. From the conversations to the community, the energy was truly special.

05/19/2026

Between portraits and interviews, history lives in the people telling the story.

We had the chance to sit down and talk with our Harry Hom Dow honorees.

You’ll be able to learn more about their stories at the premier of Living Histories of Color: AANHPI Legacy Series exhibit this Thursday, June 21 at 5 PM at the 1965 Freedom Plaza in The Embrace.

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05/17/2026

“Haiti is more than a country. It’s a symbolism.”

As Greater Boston’s Haitian community celebrates Haitian Heritage Month this weekend, Marie St. Fleur says Haiti's diaspora is celebrating more than a flag or a country of origin. It honors a history of Black liberation that has inspired nations across the world to fight for their freedoms.

05/16/2026

Today, we celebrated African American Military Heritage Day at Edward O. Gourdin Memorial Park in Roxbury, to honor Black Americans who have fought in every American war since our country’s founding—sometimes sacrificing everything for a country that often persecuted them in return.

Thanks to the Commonwealth for recognizing Embrace President and CEO Dr. Imari Paris Jeffries, a U.S. Army veteran himself, for his and Embrace’s work.

05/15/2026

From troubles on their home island to possible cuts to Temporary Protected Status for its migrants, Greater Boston’s Haitian community is facing its share of challenges.

But Boston City Councilor-At-Large Ruthzee Louijeune tells Embrace that making room for joy and celebration this Haitian Heritage Month, from flag-raisings to parades, is part of what makes the Haitian diaspora special.