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BCIL 50th Anniversary Celebration
September 21 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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Please join us on Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 1 – 4 pm at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Roxbury for an afternoon of connection and celebration. We will honor our founders and people like you who have helped make BCIL what it is today. We will share our stories, our successes, and our dreams for the future. Thanks to our generous sponsors, the event is free. We ask that you register in advance to help us with planning.
BCIL is thrilled to announce that Tunefoolery and DEAFinitely, Inc. will perform at our 50th anniversary celebration. And James “Jimmy” Hill, founder/creator of Java with Jimmy and prominent community advocate, self-made talk show host, and civic leader, will serve as our emcee for the afternoon of Celebration, Connections, and Confections as we celebrate 50 years of service, advocacy and action!
DEAFinitely, Inc. is a Boston-based non-profit that provides access and opportunity to Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, hard of hearing, and hearing youth through the performing arts, mentoring, and American Sign Language (ASL) to help shift the narrative around communication equity. We’ll enjoy the talents of The DEAFinitely Performance Crew, a wide diversity of Deaf and hearing youth ages 7 to 17. DEAFinitely invites us all to together as a team. They move in and out of Deaf and hearing worlds, racially and socially diverse communities, and their comfort zones, speaking communication equity and action throughout the Boston community.
Tunefoolery consists of over 60 musicians in mental health recovery who play and practice together and perform at 300 concerts a year. The healing process for people in mental health recovery can be a very painful journey where one’s traumatic experiences and shortcomings often become the focus of the process. Tunefoolery uses music, creativity, education, paid work, and a loving community as a way to transform people’s lives and create a foundation to become productive, skilled musicians who can share the gift of music and hope with others.
Share your story
We want to hear your personal story. What has the independent living movement meant to you and what are your hopes for the future. BCIL has partnered with a communications class from Northeastern University to set up recording booths at the event on September 21. Watch for more details on how to prepare, what to bring, and how to sign up in advance or at the event.
The Caravan for Disability Freedom and Justice will be on site for this celebration also.
Come join the fun as we mark this incredible milestone in BCIL’s journey.
WHAT: Speakers, entertainers, light fare and cake!
WHEN: Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 1 – 4 pm
WHERE: Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Roxbury
HOW: Register with this link https://tinyurl.com/BCIL50th
Thanks to our generous sponsors, the event is free. We ask that you register in advance to help us with planning.
Want to help?
- Volunteers are needed on the day of the event to assist with setup, registration, and many other roles. Indicate your interest on the registration form, and we will follow up with you to confirm.
- For sponsorship opportunities, visit https://bostoncil.org/bcil50th/ or contact Susan Smith, Director of Operations and Development at ssmith@bostoncil.org
- Additional speakers, entertainment, and more event details will be shared in the coming weeks.
For 50 years, BCIL has been at the forefront of the independent living movement. We established one of the first Personal Care Attendant programs in the country and have led groundbreaking work through advocacy, services, and community organizing to improve access to transportation, education, housing, employment, health care, nutrition and so much more. Today, we serve thousands of people in the greater Boston area each year. And we are keenly aware that much remains to be done to ensure equity, justice, opportunities, and dignity for people with disabilities. To find out more about how you can get involved and support our work, please visit https://www.bostoncil.org.
ADA reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. To submit a request, contact Austin at aoconnor@bostoncil.org or (617) 338-6665. As part of your request, please include a description of the accommodation you will need and include as much detail as you can. Please provide your contact information in case we need more information. When possible, please allow at least seven days advance notice. Last-minute requests will be accepted but may be difficult to fill.
A special thanks to all who participated and attended the Wins, Lessons, and What’s Next for Independent Living virtual forum on May 16, 2024.
This calendar is a public service and does not constitute endorsement by BCIL of other organization’s events.