Rain or Shine: A Joyful Celebration at Haley House’s 20th Annual Block Party

This year’s Haley House Block Party reminded us of the power of community, not just when things go as planned, but especially when they don’t. We were hoping for a sunny Saturday to accommodate our outdoor event, but the weather had other ideas. As the rain came down, we moved the celebration under tents and indoors, and our South End neighbors showed up anyway. Our community came ready to dance, connect, share a meal, donate, and celebrate all that Haley House stands for.

The afternoon began with music that set the tone for the day: JP Honk kicked things off with a high-energy set. They were followed by DJ Sterl, Boston Music Project, and Woodland Spark, who all kept spirits high and drew a crowd inside. 

Midway through the event, we paused the performances to honor a long-time friend and advocate of Haley House, Jovita Fontánez. Our Executive Director, Reggie Jean, shared a moving tribute to Jovita’s decades of service as an activist and public servant, and her deep commitment to justice and community. To recognize her extreme contributions, Jovita was presented with a plaque from Haley House, a citation from the Massachusetts legislature presented by Rep. John Moran on behalf of himself and Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, a citation from the Boston City Council presented by Councilor Ed Flynn, and a citation from the Mayor presented by South End Community Liaison Sarah Sharpe. During the numerous speeches, the room was filled with laughter and applause, as everyone paid homage to Jovita’s incredible leadership and dedication to the South End community. It was a heartfelt tribute that underscored how much Haley House depends on the contributions of people like Jovita (and many of our other supporters), whose care and commitment make our work possible.

After the speaking program, we returned to live performances from Jean Apollo Expressions, who brought energy and emotion to the space with their powerful dances. Finally, Kenneth Wilson from the Community Music Center of Boston closed down the event with a set that had everyone singing along.   

While our talented musicians performed, party-goers were able to browse our silent auction items, enter the raffle, bid on items, and make direct donations. Attendees left with a range of prizes, including Coldplay tickets, gift cards to local restaurants, and vouchers for hands-on classes in the community. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we raised $48,000, which will go a long way in directly supporting Haley House’s mission to use food with purpose as a vehicle for connection, justice, and transformation.

 

As always, food was central to the celebration. Take Back the Kitchen Chef, Michelle Carter, led a live cooking demonstration where she prepared a summer salad and fruit smoothies to serve at the party. These nutritious samples were served alongside pizza and Haley House’s famous chocolate chip cookies to advertise the long-anticipated reopening of the Haley House Cafe, which closed during the pandemic and is scheduled to reopen in early 2026.

To everyone who helped make the day possible, thank you! Whether you donated, volunteered, performed, cooked, or simply came to be a part of the party, your support made this gathering what it was.

If you couldn’t attend this year, we’d still love for you to be part of the work. There are many ways to support Haley House, through donating, volunteering, or helping us spread the word. Every action, no matter the size, helps sustain our programs and strengthen our community.