IN OCTOBER 2024, SIDE PRESENTS COLLABORATED WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON’S MAYOR’S OFFICE FOR IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT TO PRODUCE THE INAUGURAL IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT FORUM, A LANDMARK EVENT DEDICATED TO AMPLIFYING THE VOICES, EXPERIENCES, AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF BOSTON’S IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. HELD AT THE EDWARD M. KENNEDY INSTITUTE FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE, THIS FULL-DAY GATHERING SERVED AS A SPACE FOR DIALOGUE, LEARNING, AND CONNECTION, BRINGING TOGETHER LEADERS, ADVOCATES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DISCUSS THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF IMMIGRANTS IN BOSTON.

AS PRODUCERS, WE ENSURED THAT THE EVENT WASN’T JUST A CONVERSATION—IT WAS A FULLY IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE THAT REFLECTED THE RICHNESS AND DIVERSITY OF THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVED. TO BRING THIS VISION TO LIFE, WE WORKED WITH OVER 20 LOCAL BUSINESSES FROM A VARIETY OF CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS, CONTRACTING IMMIGRANT-OWNED AND BIPOC-LED VENDORS, CATERERS, DESIGNERS, AND PERFORMERS TO SHAPE EVERY ASPECT OF THE EVENT. FROM FOOD THAT TOLD STORIES OF HERITAGE TO A THOUGHTFULLY CURATED ATMOSPHERE, EVERY DETAIL WAS INTENTIONAL, ENSURING THAT THE SPACE FELT AS VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE, AND WELCOMING AS THE PEOPLE IT WAS DESIGNED FOR.

THE IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT FORUM WAS MORE THAN AN EVENT—IT WAS A DECLARATION OF BELONGING, A CELEBRATION OF RESILIENCE, AND A CALL TO ACTION FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE FUTURE. THROUGH MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS, SHARED RESOURCES, AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PRODUCTION, WE HELPED CREATE A MOMENT THAT HONORED THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS WHILE ACTIVELY SHAPING POLICIES AND INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT THEIR FUTURES.