Boston While Black Family Reunion celebrates five years

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Now in its fifth year, Boston While Black is preparing to host its annual Family Reunion community event on July 26.

The organization has made some major changes to the event to make the attendee experience even better than in previous years.

One of the changes includes hosting the event in two spaces simultaneously — the Lawn on D and the Harbor Way in the Seaport District to make room for additional in- and out-of-state attendees. The organization is striving to draw more than 20,000 individuals to the big outdoor event this year.

Now in its fifth year, Boston While Black is preparing to host its annual Family Reunion community event on July 26. PHOTO: COURTESY OF BOSTON WHILE BLACK

Founder Sheena Collier talked about the history of how the Family Reunion event came into existence, based on her experience with her own family hosting reunions to keep the branches together.

“I grew up in a family where family reunions were just a really big deal. My great-grandmother had nine kids. So as a way to keep the branches together and make sure everyone knew each other, we’ve had family reunions for decades now,” she said. “I was thinking about something Boston While Black could do here, especially coming out of the pandemic, this concept of summers being about reconnecting with your family was just on the top of mind.”

Collier said her organization has hosted the Family Reunion event since 2021. She recalls the first summer hosting this — it came together in about six weeks, after promoting it for three weeks in the city. About 3,000 people attended the first year and attendance has grown annually. 

Boston While Black founder Sheena Collier PHOTO: COURTESY OF BOSTON WHILE BLACK

“I’m a big advocate around access to space for Black people in all parts of the city and I had been to The Lawn myself and noticed that I didn’t see any folks of color there,” Collier said. “I thought it would be a great way to bring together a concept that Black people are really familiar with, in a space that we’re not as familiar with.”

There are many additions to the program lineup this year, including a new food destination and a live-music lounge in the Seaport District curated by HipStory and Tim Hall. The Family Reunion will also feature favorite activities from past events, like a roller skating rink, the spades tournament (which includes lessons on how to play this year), line dancing, Double Dutch and additional food trucks.

Another change is the option to pay for premium member experience packages to include with the general admission pass, which is free admission and open access to both locations. 

PHOTO: COURTESY OF BOSTON WHILE BLACK

There is a “member for the day” Fast Pass for $30, which allows for express entry at Lawn D, a preview of the digital community via the Boston While Black app, exclusive event updates and the opportunity to connect online with members and other attendees. Also, there is the VIP “member for the day” experience pass for $50, which includes all Fast Pass perks, access to the VIP Joy Lounge, an exclusive thank-you gift, 15% off merchandise and a one-month free trial of Boston While Black (starting July 27).

There is also the new option to attend the organization’s official Reunion After Party for $50, which will be held at High Street Place Food Hall in downtown Boston from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.  This pass is separate from the other passes.

While Collier said these changes are exciting, they are also necessary because the organization has taken a big hit financially due to the political climate of companies scaling back their commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Collier estimates that the organization has lost half a million dollars in event sponsorships and partnerships since the inauguration of the current Trump administration.

Collier said that because of this difficult climate, she is strategizing about the future for the organization, which includes rethinking its structure. 

Fun for everyone at the Boston While Black Family Reunion. PHOTO; COURTESY OF BOSTON WHILE BLACK

Collier hopes that in sharing this information, the community she and her organization work to serve will show up and give back so they can continue to put on events like the Family Reunion.

“We’ve done this for free for the past four years. How can the community now help, really, to power the event? That is where you see we’ve added these passes,” she said. “That is a driving force for it, but it’s also an opportunity for people to contribute back to Boston While Black.” 

She also encourages individuals who opt for general admission, which is free and open to the public at both locations, to donate to the organization if they want to make sure that events like these continue to move forward.

The organization also started a business initiative called Small Businesses for Boston While Black that allows less expensive sponsorship levels from $500 to $5,000.

Despite the difficulties, Collier is still hopeful and says it is important to have spaces like the Family Reunion where we, as a community, can celebrate our joy.

“It’s a way for us to be able to show the power that we have in the city,” said Collier. “We all need a sense of belonging.”