COMMUNITY
GET READY TO CELEBRATE SOUL!
Urban Edge is throwing a party! The event, COMMUNITY, will benefit programs to help resident leadership, affordable housing, and family wealth-building. Like last year, our event will be a chance to gather, catch up, and celebrate community. The past few years have been challenging in many ways, one of them being the lack of connection. The pandemic made it impossible to gather with our communities and share quality time. As we enter a “new normal” where in-person events are becoming more commonplace, we want to come together, celebrate each other, and have some fun!

Join us on Wednesday, May 24, for a "soul" themed block party featuring live music, soul food, dancing, and interactive games! Catch up with friends you haven’t seen in awhile, or spend some time making new ones during this fun and engaging experience. COMMUNITY promises to be a passion-filled interactive celebration you’ll never forget. The event features an opportunity to network with neighborhood leaders, visionary business people, and dedicated public officials that support our mission.

Your support will help families build intergenerational wealth, connect youth to neighborhood services, bridge the digital divide, reduce elder isolation, and build affordable homes. As we continue our mission, we ask that you join us as we take a moment to reflect on and celebrate the work Urban Edge is doing at COMMUNITY.
Location
Under the Tent
1542 Columbus Avenue
Boston, MA 02119
At the corner of Columbus Ave and Ritchie Street
Date & Time
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
6:00 - 8:30 PM
Questions? Contact our event office, AJ Events at 617-267-2244 or email AJ Williams at [email protected]
Community Awardees
Urban Edge will honor Imari Paris Jeffries and Paul English with the Peter Lee Community Builder Award for working tirelessly to strengthen the community with the same kind of dedicated passion and caring spirit shown by our late Board member, Peter Lee.

Urban Edge will also present an award to an outstanding employee who embraces Urban Edge's mission and works tirelessly to further it with the Ron Hafer Urban Edge Employee of the Year Award. We named this special award after the man who founded Urban Edge in 1974 and is a longtime activist in the Egleston Square neighborhood.
PETER LEE URBAN EDGE
COMMUNITY BUILDER AWARDEE
Imari Paris Jeffries
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EMBRACE BOSTON AND SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE BOSTON FOUNDATION
Imari lead a citywide racial equity transformation through The Embrace memorial, the Embrace Center, and community organizing efforts. Imari brings a wealth of experience from the nonprofit management, racial equity, community activism, education reform, and social justice sectors. He currently serves as a Trustee of the UMass System, Mass Humanities, and Mass Budget, Policy Center.
Peter Lee Urban Edge
Community Builder Awardee
Paul English
ENTREPRENEUR AND ACTIVIST
Paul is the founder of Boston Venture Studio. He has previously co-founded and successfully sold six startups – Kayak, Lola, Moonbeam, GetHuman, Boston Light, and Intermute.

Paul is also the founder of four nonprofits – Summits Education in Haiti, Embrace Boston, The Winter Walk for Homelessness, and the Bipolar Social Club.
Ron Hafer Urban Edge
Employee of the Year Award
Gail Graziano
CONTROLLER, URBAN EDGE
Gail has been Urban Edge’s controller for nine years, ensuring our finances are solid and compliant with best practices. Always willing to step up and help, she volunteers at events and offers her views at various ad-hoc staff committees.
ABOUT URBAN EDGE
Urban Edge is a nonprofit community development organization with a mission to strengthen communities and families. Together, we build affordable housing and vibrant, prosperous neighborhoods. Funds raised from COMMUNITY will help us focus on economic justice, family wealth-building, anti-displacement, and robust community engagement as we construct more and affordable housing.

Since 1974, we have built more than 1,500 affordable homes, created 2,336 first-time homeowners, prevented 1,588 foreclosures, and developed hundreds of resident leaders. Your generosity also gives us much-needed flexibility as we continue to respond to the economic fallout of the pandemic.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
6:00 PM
COMMUNITY Meet Up
Grab a drink, a bite to eat, then network with other attendees during our reception. Enjoy the live entertainment, fun games, and community celebration!
6:30 PM
COMMUNITY Program  
Join us for the COMMUNITY Program featuring our Awards Presentation.
7:00 PM
COMMUNITY Post Party
Grab a refill and continue to enjoy more food, desserts, music, activities, and games.
COMMUNITY Games
Giant Connect 4
PutterBall
Cornhole
2022 COMMUNITY Photos
THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 TOP SPONSORS
ALL IN!
THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 COMMUNITY ROCK STAR SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 COMMUNITY PARTNER SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 CONTRIBUTOR SPONSORS
 Join us on Wednesday, May 24
Urban Edge is dedicated to strengthening communities
and families. Together, we build affordable housing and vibrant, prosperous neighborhoods.
Contact Us
Have questions about Tickets, Sponsor Opportunities, or the overall experience? Contact our event office, AJ Events. We will be happy to answer any of your questions or fill out the form and we will respond within 24 hours.
AJ Events
617-267-2244

Event Team
AJ Williams, Event Producer, Sponsorships
[email protected]

Maria Palienko, Guest and Sponsor Relations
[email protected]

Questions about Urban Edge?
Contact the Director of Resource Development
617-875-3185
Michael Rousseau
[email protected]

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