2023 Spring Social a Success!

We were delighted that so many people could join us for our first in-person Spring Social since 2019. It was wonderful to welcome friends and supporters back to our schoolyard and connect around our shared vision for the Eliot School.  

 

Lelias Blake; Analesa Baraka; Taylor Smith; Evan Miller. Photo by Jaypix Belmer.

 

We are especially appreciative of our event sponsors and encourage you to thank them for their support. Good Boston Living/Unlimited Sotheby's International Realty made a generous donation to support the entire event. Beer and bartending services were donated by Turtle Swamp Brewery

 

Laura Evonne Steinman, Fiber Arts Instructor; weaving participant. Photo by Jaypix Belmer.

Fiber arts instructor, Laura Evonne Steinman, led the community weaving project incorporating items that attendees brought to signify the past 3 years and what they hope for the future. It was beautiful to see the weaving evolve throughout the day and the joy on people’s faces as they participated in it. It also served as a metaphor for the past few years of common effort through a historic time. 

The common thread from our speakers at the Spring Social were the struggles and successes the Eliot School has had in the past few years. After shutting down the school during the pandemic, we have been rebuilding our teacher and class roster and continue to see numbers increase with every passing month. Additionally, our largest Teen Bridge cohort is graduating this year and every student has been accepted into college to further their studies. 

 

Rose Gelin, Teen Bridge. Photo by Jaypix Belmer.

 

In the coming year we plan to upgrade our fire escape, build a new storage shed, renovate our attic space for increased storage, and lay groundwork for a future new reception area that will make our schoolhouse more welcoming and create improved workspace for our staff.  

None of this would be possible without you—and we are eternally grateful. Thank you again for supporting the Eliot School and thank you to all who were able to join us in person at the 2023 Spring Social! 

You can make a donation to support our work anytime through the secure link on our website.   

 

Melony Swasey, Board Chair; Kris Manjapra, Advisory Council; Abigail Norman, Executive Director. Photo by Jaypix Belmer.

 

See more photos from our 2023 Spring Social taken by photographer Jaypix Belmer — thank you for capturing so many beautiful moments!