It was an honor to celebrate the Roxbury community! Our friend and beloved coalition leader Toy Burton founded the Roxbury Unity Parade in 2017 when she realized the Roxbury community did not have an outlet of this size to show its pride. The annual Roxbury Unity Parade signifies something much deeper than just an event, it is the way Roxbury citizens can celebrate pride in the community that has shaped them. This event was the first in-person community event the Coalition has been able to attend since March 2020!
A joyous time where all three full-time Coalition staff members could come together to share their work and mission to prevent gun violence in all its forms. Starting off at 10AM Toy hosted a block party and award ceremony with remarks from Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Boston Mayor Kim Janey. Several of Boston’s elected officials and political candidates were also in attendance. The parade stepped off at 1 pm on Malcolm X Boulevard and made its way down Washington Street to Malcolm X Park. Following the parade was an empowerment and resource fair where community members were able to support small business vendors, receive a COVID-19 vaccine if needed, and find educational resources from community partners.
If you didn't get to join us at the Roxbury unity parade, you can still experience some of the joy of that event. Check out this video by Dante Luna, which features highlights from the parade and the work of our friend Toy Burton. It is always an honor for Coalition staff to celebrate and uplift communities throughout the Commonwealth.
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