Every summer, across Greater Boston, community organizations create spaces where young people can explore, build relationships, and discover new possibilities for their futures.
But they rarely do it alone.
The Trefler Foundation’s 2026 Summer in the City grantee cohort highlights the power of collaboration. Grassroots organizations are joining forces with schools, libraries, colleges, and one another to give young people access to experiences and resources that no single organization could provide on its own.
One such collaboration was the following partnership, whereby Pink Sunday’s Cambridge-based flag football program expanded through One Love’s relationships in Boston:
“The collaboration between Pink Sunday and One Love Sports Academy was successful because both organizations brought established experience, resources, and strong community connections to the partnership,” said Kenny Cooper, Executive Director of Pink Sunday. “Pink Sunday provided the infrastructure and support needed to expand youth girls flag football programming, while One Love Sports Academy contributed its trusted presence and relationships throughout Boston. Together, we were able to effectively reach youth in Boston’s inner-city communities and provide high-quality coaching, mentorship, and a safe, well-supervised environment for every participant.”
Jamaal Wornum, Executive Director of One Love Sports Academy, said the partnership succeeded because both organizations remained focused on the same goal. “Collaboration worked because both parties put the young people first and made sure safe spaces were provided. By sharing resources across Cambridge and Boston, we created a great summer experience for families.”
“At the Trefler Foundation, we believe some of the most powerful solutions come from organizations working together and building on one another’s strengths,” said Pam Trefler, Founder of the Trefler Foundation. “Summer in the City gives us an opportunity not only to invest in exceptional organizations, but also to strengthen the connections that help young people thrive during the summer months.”
2026 Summer in the City Partners
Abilities Dance Incorporated
Abilities Dance provides free adaptive dance programming for medically complex, disabled, and diverse youth. This summer, the organization is building on partnerships with Franciscan Children’s and JP Kids Arts while expanding programming with the Esplanade Association and S.P.A.C.E., bringing inclusive dance into more community settings.
Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) – Mattahunt and Gallivan sites
End of Summer Community Day is a free, family-focused event that brings residents together before the new school year. More than 100 local families will enjoy activities, healthy food, school readiness resources, and connections to community organizations and City of Boston departments. The event strengthens neighborhood connections and helps families start the school year with the support and resources they need.
Boston Explorers
BE is a youth development nonprofit that provides inclusive, enriching, and culturally responsive opportunities for Boston youth to explore, take pride in, and connect with their communities and city. They create opportunities for young people—including those who might not otherwise have access—to experience Boston in new and inspiring ways.
Breaking Through Roadblocks
The TARGETS program helps high school students, particularly young women from underserved and first-generation backgrounds, prepare for college and beyond. Based at the Brockton Public Library, the program combines mentorship, leadership development, career preparation, and experiential learning.
Chills Diamond Ring Education Foundation
The Youth Leadership & Workforce Development Program uses basketball as a gateway to career readiness, mentorship, leadership, and social-emotional development for youth ages 14-21.
Dorchester Elite Eagles
Dorchester Elite Eagles combines physical activity with nutrition, mindfulness, mental health, and wellness programming to prepare young people for football and cheer while supporting their overall well-being.
FAMILY Movement
FAMILY Movement brings youth, parents, and community experts together to strengthen healthy relationships and conflict-resolution skills through workshops, facilitated conversations, films, and connections to community resources.
Follow Suit Mentoring
Follow Suit creates a supportive environment where young men can talk openly about mental health while exploring workforce development, self-care, civic engagement, social justice, substance use prevention, and other issues affecting their lives.
G.R.O.W. Girls
G.R.O.W.’s Wellness, Leadership, and Gender Empowerment Retreat brings girls and young women to Martha’s Vineyard for an immersive experience centered on mindfulness, identity, wellness, leadership, and community. An expanded peer-led model puts young women themselves at the center of designing and facilitating the experience.
Hoops Collaborative Youth Development Program
Through Ladies Night Brockton and Saturday School Boston, Hoops Collaborative combines basketball with mentorship, nutrition education, academic encouragement, leadership, and life-skills development for girls ages 7–13.
Love Your Magic
Love Your Magic creates culturally affirming spaces for Black and Brown girls through weekly programming at The Magic Hub and its signature overnight summer camp. Leadership, literacy, self-advocacy, identity, and community-building are woven throughout the experience.
Modern Mentor
Modern Mentor will take mentees to New Orleans for an educational and cultural immersion that includes visits to Xavier University of Louisiana, Dillard University, and Southern University at New Orleans, along with opportunities to experience the city’s Black history, culture, music, and traditions.
Newton Youth Success Collaborative
The Collaborative connects Black, Latinx, and low-income students in Newton with summer enrichment, college readiness, career exposure, employment opportunities, and college visits while helping remove financial and transportation barriers to participation.
NXT ERA PANTHERS
The Panthers Legends Academic Youth program combines football with tutoring, literacy, mentorship, and workshops on financial literacy, mental health, conflict resolution, and social media awareness, helping young athletes grow both on and off the field.
One Love Sports Academy
One Love’s summer youth development program brings together basketball, flag football, soccer, academic enrichment, mentorship, meals, leadership development, and social-emotional learning in a safe community environment.
Pink Sunday
The Pink Sunday Summer League brings hundreds of women and girls together through flag football, skills clinics, mentoring, health education, and leadership development, culminating in the annual Pink Bowl community celebration.
Quality Homes for Humankind
Six youth leaders from Tech Boston High School will spend the summer designing a model to connect young adults with stable housing and career pathways. Working alongside educators, workforce partners, and community stakeholders, they will develop and ultimately present a plan shaped by young people themselves.
Score 4 More
Through its Save R Streets initiative and 17th annual Silence the Violence Summer Classic Weekend, Score 4 More uses sports, mentorship, arts, food, and community celebration to promote peace, neighborhood pride, and stronger connections among Roxbury youth and families.
Thrive Pathways
Thrive Pathways is expanding its free out-of-school programming into an eight-week summer experience combining academics, life skills, arts, exploration, field trips, and community projects while providing working families with consistent summer support.
We Are Better Together
Operation Y-LIPSTICK equips young people ages 14–24 to become peer educators and leaders in violence prevention. Working with Boston Public Schools, community organizations, and public safety partners, youth lead conversations about gun violence, safe decision-making, advocacy, and community responsibility.
