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UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
URBAN MINISTRY
Our work begins in Roxbury. It doesn't end there.
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OUR MISSION: WE WORK ACROSS RACE & PLACE TO DISMANTLE
RACISM & WHITE SUPREMACY CULTURE & TO ADVANCE RACIAL, ECONOMIC, & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Our Vision: We envision a Greater Boston where all people live with freedom and dignity, and have equitable access to resources and opportunity to shape the present and the future.
Staff Spotlight
Olawumi “Ola” Akinwumi
RYP Coordinator
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Our Delegate and Volunteer Spotlights celebrate the people who contribute their time, energy, and care to the UU Urban Ministry community. From time to time, we also want to highlight the staff members whose work helps bring our programs and mission to life. For our first Staff Spotlight, we are pleased to recognize Olawumi “Ola” Akinwumi and her work with the Roxbury Youth Program.
For Ola, Roxbury is deeply connected to both her work and her sense of purpose.
“Roxbury is more than the neighborhood where I work. It is home to my purpose,” she shared. As a cultural producer, entrepreneur, and community leader, Ola has dedicated her career to uplifting the voices, creativity, and resilience of the Roxbury community through arts, culture, youth development, and community partnerships.
You're Invited!
UPCOMING EVENTS & ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Multiple DatesAug 15, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AMFirst Church Roxbury (UU Urban Ministry), 10 Putnam St, Roxbury, MA 02119, USAA guided tour of the historic Roxbury's Meetinghouse. Explore the rich legacy and recent refurbishments of this landmark building at the heart of the UU Urban Ministry.
Multiple DatesAug 15, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PMFirst Church Roxbury (UU Urban Ministry), 10 Putnam St, Roxbury, MA 02119, USA
Multiple DatesAug 18, 2026, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM10 Putnam St, 10 Putnam St, Boston, MA 02119, USAStep inside one of Boston's historic landmarks and experience how this space opens its doors to community, creativity, celebration, and possibility.
Multiple DatesAug 19, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PMZoom Link BelowOur Congregational Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator, Robert Jones will be hosting the next monthly volunteer networking session.
Aug 21, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM10 Putnam St, 10 Putnam St, Boston, MA 02119, USA
Multiple DatesSep 19, 2026, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AMFirst Church Roxbury (UU Urban Ministry), 10 Putnam St, Roxbury, MA 02119, USA
Sep 26, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PMRoxbury's Meetinghouse, 10 Putnam St, Boston, MA 02119, USASing Out Strong is a multi-year community-based project in which we reach out to ordinary people in our community and commission them to write texts on activist themes that resonate with them personally.
Last year, the UU Urban Ministry and the Roxbury Historical Society invited Aabid Allibhad, a PhD candidate in the Department of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, to write a report focused on the history of racism and enslavement at First Church in Roxbury.
In February, the report entitled, "Race & Slavery at the First Church in Roxbury (The Colonial Period 1631-1775)", was published. It is available by clicking on the image, or by visiting the History of First Church in Roxbury page of our website.
Race & Enslavement at the First Church in Roxbury
The Colonial Period (1631 - 1775)
EXAMINING OUR HISTORY
IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY FOR NEARLY 200 YEARS
750+
The average amount of hours each month that our youth participate in programming through Roxbury Youth Programs (RYP). This includes students who utilize our after school drop in programming, as well as our RYP Interns.
150+
Audience members logged-in to our first-ever virtual Community Conversation, featuring historian and former State Representative Byron Rushing.
We recently finished our forth season of the series that discusses issues facing communities of color, and look forward to Season 5.
45
Years providing safe housing and healing counseling to families fleeing from domestic violence through our emergency shelter, Renewal House.
FOLLOW THE URBAN MINISTRY ON SOCIAL MEDIA