Now closed: The Fenway Cohort Program Returns for Season 2!
We are beyond excited to announce that The Fenway Cohort Program will be returning for its second season. The application for programming is officially live, so the ball is now in your court!
If it’s your first time hearing about The Fenway Cohort Program, here’s everything you need to know.
It was collaboratively designed by Samuels & Associates with area leaders to give a platform to diverse and emerging talent in Boston, uplifting traditionally marginalized voices within our neighborhood. The purpose of the program is to foster inclusivity and imbue purpose into a place: The Fenway.
We have so many incredible spaces in our neighborhood and this program is a way to use them as a community stage for diverse voices in arts and culture, public health and wellness, and programming by/for the LGBTQ+ community.
We kicked off last summer with six inaugural Cohorts, and we’re energized about the opportunity to build the program this year with a group of new faces, expanding the Cohort’s network, and bringing new ideas and perspectives to The Fenway.
The Fine Print
The application period will be open until Friday, March 31 at 11:59 p.m. All applications will be reviewed following the 3/31 closure date by an external steering committee of 7 members that includes Boston-based changemakers in their respective fields, Fenway community members, previous Cohort participants, and an S&A representative. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by the end of April.
Get to Know the Class of 2022
Boogie Down Baby
An alum of MassArt, Katiana Rodriguez, founder of Boogie Down Baby, uses her illustrations to boldly advocate for social justice, mental health, and an inclusive community that values and promotes safety and equity for all people. Katiana has vended at many markets throughout the city, and expanded to her own art fair, Violet Neighborhood, featuring a lineup of local BIPOC and queer artists and vendors.
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Cocoa Bean Town
Victoria Kichuk, founder of Cocoa Beantown and a celebrated chocolate sommelier, hosted two chocolate tasting events designed for people to form relationships within their tasting group, and embark on a delectable adventure through the stories, history, and culinary highlights of chocolate.
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Diggity Dom
A recent graduate of Berklee College of Music, Dominic “Diggity Dom” Glaude hosted Get Diggy with Dom and Friends, a music and arts mini-fest featuring local LGBTQ+ and BIPOC artists and creatives.
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FODBall Productions
Co-founded and produced by Amma Marfo, Ariana Seymourian, and Stephanie Dalwin, FODball Productions focuses on giving a stage to people who are typically the ‘first, only, or different’ in a comedy lineup, including women, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ superstars and fledgeling funny folks alike.
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Men of Melanin Magic
Lamb Rahming and team brought their popular “Bussdown Fitness” experience to The Fenway, which features queer and BIPOC instructors with specialties ranging from HIIT to yoga and incorporates powerful strength-training exercises all while highlighting and celebrating “the Culture.”
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Soca Fusion
Founder Ella Wechsler-Matthaei hosted SocaFusion’s signature Master Fête Experience, which aims to support students in rediscovering what self-expression feels like through a fusion of styles including Soca, Dancehall, Hip Hop, West African, and Caribbean Folk.
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Note
Check out our events calendar for the most up-to-date information as dates/times are subject to change.
If you have any questions about the application process or The Fenway Cohort Program (or just want to say hi), reach out to us at [email protected] or send a DM to @thefenway.
