Representative John Moran to secure $230,000 of earmark funding in the FY25 House budget for several organizations that reflect the diversity and community in the 9th Suffolk District. The budget will now proceed to the Senate Ways and Means committee.

The allocation of the earmark funding is as below:

$75,000: Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA)

IBA supports individuals and families in breaking the cycle of poverty and achieving socio-economic mobility through high-quality, evidence-based education, and financial empowerment programming for residents. Its arts program serves as the hub for Latinx Arts in New England. The funds will help with the construction of La CASA, the Center for Arts, Self-determination, and Activism, which is set to break ground this spring.

$25,000: League of Women for Community Service

The League of Women for Community Service is among the oldest continuing Black women's organizations in the United States. Their historical headquarters at 558 Massachusetts Avenue in Lower Roxbury once housed young Black women, served as a meeting place hosting various programs, and held a library with archival materials. This was all in an era where the Black community struggled with lack of access with other venues due to redlining. The funds will go toward the current restoration efforts of the house, which will re-establish the League's legacy and history in the city.

$50,000: Berkeley Community Garden

Berkeley Community Garden, which runs the length of a city block, has stood as a beacon of resistance in the South End neighborhood for over 50 years and remains only because of neighborhood activism championing the effort to preserve green space. The garden's 150 plots are heavily utilized by residents - prominently the Chinese community - providing traditional foods produced using culturally relevant gardening techniques. The funds would allow for significant and much-needed renovations on the garden, including the installation of 50+ trellises, which would create more space on each plot for growth and provide a community space in an urban environment.

$70,000: Soccer Unity Project

Soccer Unity Project brings together diverse communities across the city through the universal game of soccer, hosting tournaments such as the Boston Unity Cup soccer tournament. At its core, the organization provides an opportunity for youth of any background to engage in the sport and to use the soccer pitch as a "hub" of connection, intersection, inclusion, and community building. The funds would provide much-needed funding for Soccer Unity Project's many programs aimed at youth in our city.

$10,000: The BASE

The BASE is a youth program for urban talent, uplifting students across the city not only through sports, but also by helping navigate and succeed in academics, college applications, and careers. All their student-athletes are given the opportunity to partake in college and job fairs, counseling, and workshops - all programmed by the BASE to ensure every student graduates high school equipped with a game-winning plan. The funds will be dedicated to furthering the BASE's mission to provide every student with the support they need and deserve.