In recent years, Boston has seen a remarkable resurgence in community-driven activities, with local grassroots nonprofits playing a crucial role in fostering connections and driving positive change. The Trefler Foundation has been a steadfast supporter of many of these organizations through initiatives like the Summer in the City program and events designed to strengthen collaboration among nonprofits.
The Summer in the City program began as a partnership with six community-based organizations. These initial grants were designed to support access to high-quality summer programming, providing physical and emotional support to Boston’s youth and families. The program’s goal was to energize and elevate local nonprofits, enabling them to create safe, fun, and enriching experiences for youth in urban neighborhoods.
FOR THE SUMMER OF 2024, THE TREFLER FOUNDATION IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE EXPANSION OF THIS INITIATIVE, NOW FUNDING SUMMER PROGRAMMING FOR 19 LOCAL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS.
As Boston’s grassroots communities have continued to grow and evolve, so too has the Summer in the City program. The 2024 cohort has expanded to include 19 organizations, seven of which are returning to renew and increase their impact in Boston neighborhoods. This expansion reflects the Foundation’s deep commitment to fostering the growth of local nonprofits that are making meaningful change in underserved neighborhoods of the city.
In addition to expanding the Summer in the City program, the Trefler Foundation has taken further steps to strengthen the vibrancy of Boston’s nonprofit community. One of the most impactful of these efforts is the event Kicks & Conversations, a unique gathering that brought together local grassroots nonprofits for an evening of networking, inspiration, and connection.
Kicks & Conversations was conceived as a way to bridge the gaps between various organizations, allowing them to share ideas, resources, and strategies in an informal yet purposeful setting. The event was held at Park 54 Restaurant & Lounge, in Hyde Park, which provided a vibrant community destination. Kicks & Conversations attracted a diverse group of nonprofit leaders, community activists, and local influencers, all united by a shared goal: to make a lasting impact on Boston’s neighborhoods. The event emphasized opportunities for one-on-one networking, where attendees were given multiple 10-minute segments to talk to someone they did not already know and spark a connection. These interactions allowed organizations to explore potential synergies and uncover new ways to address common challenges.
Kicks & Conversations was not just about networking—it was about building a stronger, more cohesive community of nonprofits that could collaborate effectively to amplify their impact across the city. By fostering these connections, the Trefler Foundation is helping to create a network of empowered leaders who can support one another, share resources, and work together to tackle the most pressing issues facing Boston’s communities.
Jessica Castro, Vice President of Programs and Operations, has played a pivotal role in overseeing the growth and success of these initiatives. Her commitment is driven by the interests and priorities of the Foundation’s trustee, Pam Trefler, who has long been a champion of empowering community-driven change.
Jessica (pictured far left with Pam Trefler, Trustee, and Dan Sherman, Trefler Foundation President), has spent most of her career working in nonprofits throughout Boston. Her professional experience and longstanding community connections have helped the Foundation partner with bold, effective leaders of small organizations in inner-city neighborhoods.
As Boston continues to thrive, the Trefler Foundation remains dedicated to deepening and broadening its impact through initiatives like Summer in the City and events like Kicks & Conversations. While maintaining the original vision of energizing access to and utilization of public spaces, the Foundation has also expanded its focus for Summer in the City to include support for summer learning, career development for youth and young adults, girls’ involvement in sports, and increased opportunities for youth to engage in arts and cultural experiences throughout the city.
By empowering local nonprofits, the Trefler Foundation is helping to create a more connected, resilient, and vibrant Boston.
BCYF – Gallivan Community Center: The Mind, Body, and Spirit program at the BCYF – Gallivan Center spans seven to eight weeks, offering activities in Arts/Crafts, STEM, Leadership, Financial Literacy, Career Week, Civic Engagement, Culinary Arts, and Food Access. Weekly themed events include a bike repair hub, cooking club, Boys Midnight Madness, senior health workshops, weekly bake-offs, and an appreciation cookout. The summer will conclude with a field trip to Canobie Lake.
Black Male Artist Collective: The Black Male Artist Collective is publishing a children’s coloring book to accompany its Black Fatherhood Photo Book. The children’s book’s release will be celebrated with summer events offering creative, fun, and safe activities. These books aim to promote family engagement and positive use of art, fostering safe and healthy community spaces.
Boston Debate League: Boston Debate League’s Summer Debate Camp is a three-week, full-day program for middle school students that includes debate-themed activities, electives, guest speakers, field trips, and an End-of-Camp Showcase to present projects. The camp aims to enhance students’ public speaking and leadership skills while preparing them for high school and the debate season. This exclusive focus on middle schoolers allows for increased enrollment and targeted resource allocation.
Daddy & Me Boston: Daddy & Me will host summer pop-up story times with activities, resources, and refreshments alongside weekly literacy sessions in partnership with local youth programs at beaches. The Annual Daddy & Me Family Fun Day and Community Resource Fair offers morning story times, arts & crafts, games, STEM activities, and soccer, followed by food trucks, vendors, live music, and a community resource fair in the afternoon.
Dorchester Elite Eagles: This summer, the Dorchester Elite Eagles program will focus on preparing participants for football and cheer seasons with enhanced nutrition, mental health support, and physical activities. Weekly programming will include various outdoor activities like flag football, kickball, and swimming, alongside mindfulness exercises such as mindful breathing and mandala coloring to reduce stress. The Eagle’s Senior community cookout will also celebrate community impact, with youth volunteers engaging in serving and fun activities to strengthen intergenerational bonds.
Embrace Boston: The Embrace Ideas Festival is a yearly celebration of ideas grounded in arts, culture, and public scholarship. This multi-day gathering brings together local, state, and national leaders to amplify anti-racism and a vision for a transformed Boston by 2030. Rooted in racial equity, healing, well-being, and joy, the theme of Embrace Ideas 2024, occurring June 18-21, is “Inspiring the Resistance: Building a Culture of Repair for the Origins of our Discontent.”
G.R.O.W. (Girls Reflecting Our World): The G.R.O.W. Retreat in Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, provides a safe space for Boston’s inner-city girls to heal, build emotional self-defense, and form lasting relationships away from the trauma of everyday life. Focused on resilience during life’s transitions, the retreat includes mindfulness workshops and experiences that support healing, self-awareness, and insight. It aims to prepare girls, particularly those transitioning from high school to college and middle school to high school, both mentally and physically, for their future experiences.
Haley House: Haley House’s Annual Block Party celebrates the community, the South End, and the beginning of summer in Boston. It will feature live music and entertainment, cold drinks, food trucks, a silent auction, activities for kids, garden tours, and more!
Hoops Collaborative Youth Development Program: The Ladies Night summer session program offers basketball drills, fitness exercises, leadership workshops, and community service projects. It also provides educational resources to help participants succeed academically and plan for their future. The activities are designed to be fun, engaging, and challenging, fostering learning and growth in a supportive environment.
Newton Youth Success Collaborative (NYSC): NYSC collaborates with Newton Community Education and Winthrop Park School to offer summer enrichment programs tailored for Black, Latinx, and low-income Newton Public School students. Newton Community Education designs programs with NYSC students in mind, supported by the Scholarship Manager to ensure broad participation. Winthrop Public Schools hosts a Summer Leadership Institute focusing on leadership development, city exploration, college tours, and CPR/First Aid certification for high school students at their Newton campus.
NXT Era Panthers: The NXT Era Academy project is a comprehensive youth development initiative to empower students in Boston’s inner-city neighborhoods through athletic training, academic enrichment, life skills workshops, test preparation, and mentorship programs. It seeks to foster holistic growth and success among participants. Collaborations with local organizations and professionals will enhance the program’s impact and provide additional resources for students.
One Love Sports Academy: OLSA: One Love Sports Academy will host the One Love Sports League this summer at Mary Hannon Playground in Roxbury. The league will feature basketball and football training and daily unity circles for youth ages 9-16 to teach teamwork, empathy, and communication skills. It will run three days a week for five weeks and conclude with a community field day tournament.
P.I.M. Project: In partnership with DCR, the project will offer disadvantaged children from urban Boston a learning tour of harbor islands, campsites, and recreation facilities. In the summer of 2024, it will operate at Moyinhan Playground and Roberts Park, hosting biweekly organized sports activities and “art-in-the-park.” For those less interested in sports, additional activities will include cornhole and art sessions.
Project 351: Project 351’s Leadership Reunion is a celebratory day focused on leadership training, service impact, and community building, with the Service Village being the most anticipated highlight. The event serves as a learning lab for developing skills in civic engagement and addressing critical issues like childhood poverty, social inequity, and discrimination, emphasizing unity and inclusive leadership. Collaboration and grassroots mobilization are prioritized to scale sustainable social change, honoring the unique gifts and dignity of all by amplifying diverse lived experiences and their aspirations for change.
SaveRStreets: SaveRStreets is a weekend-long basketball tournament led by young people, featuring members of rival street gangs competing peacefully for a championship trophy. Score4More hosts a BBQ throughout the event, offering free food for players, referees, and spectators, including family, friends, and neighbors. Members of the Boston Police’s Gang Unit also attend, promoting a peaceful and community-focused atmosphere.
The BASE: The BASE’s summer initiatives will focus on high school students’ post-graduation plans, offering 25-30 summer internships through career partners. Juniors and seniors receive individualized support for SAT preparation, college applications, financial aid, scholarships, and professional development workshops on resume writing and interview skills. STEM education programming emphasizes robotics to teach coding, engineering, and math, fostering teamwork, critical thinking, and leadership skills among students.
The Modern Mentor, Inc.: The Modern Mentor Inc.’s summer program aims to enhance the personal and social development of young Black and Brown girls from underserved communities by unplugging from digital life to foster interpersonal skills and build social networks. The program includes traditional educational workshops and activities like beach outings, hiking, yoga in the park, and camping. Additionally, workshops will focus on developing self-confidence, self-awareness, goal setting, and mental health, providing a comprehensive toolkit for emotional and academic success.
The Upward Project: The Upward Project’s two-week summer program equips recent high school graduates with skills to transition to college and plan their career paths. Scholars participate in workshops covering college academics, resume writing, networking, and campus community building. They also benefit from career site visits, individual career counseling, and enriching social and cultural experiences, supported by essential resources such as laptops, professional attire, and a book stipend.
Youth in Crisis: Youth in Crisis will host its 25th Annual Scoops and Hoops Community Day. The daylong event, which caters to all community members, includes basketball tournaments, entertainment, food, and horse and train rides.
