ESP Uplift Celebration Highlights a Year of Impact

The ESP Uplift Celebration welcomed a mix of supporters: partner organizations, partner schools, friends, family, and community members.

Partners, supporters, and friends of Equitable School Partnerships (ESP) of Boston gathered on April 9 for the annual ESP Uplift Celebration - an event that showcases ESP’s work to foster equity across Boston Public Schools. Guests came together at The Kartal in the South End to eat, drink, and connect while raising funds to further the ESP mission.

Emily Pierce, Founder and Executive Director, spoke about the ESP’s emphasis on coalition-building. “Our approach is simple: we strengthen the bond between schools and the community. By uniting youth-serving organizations, school support groups, and resources from around Boston, we create meaningful partnerships tailored to the needs of each school community. This kind of collective investment improves attendance, academic performance, family engagement, and sense of belonging—elements that can change the trajectory of children’s lives, as well as the neighborhoods they live in.”

She continued,

“This past year, ESP served 1,500 students in grades K0–8, facilitated over 40 programs, and secured $42,000 in grants to make partnerships more accessible for our schools.”

A new tradition was introduced this year with the presentation of two awards. The Genesis Inspiration Foundation was named Supporter of the Year in recognition of its generous donation to ESP for expanding arts programming in under-resourced communities. In 2026, ESP managed ten arts partnerships offering dance, theater, music therapy, crafting, chorus, orchestra and digital music production at schools where students had not previously had access. One of these trusted partners, Boston Music Project, was honored as Partner of the Year for its outstanding contributions to music education in Boston.

Boston Music Project Executive Director Christopher Schroeder accepted the award and spoke of the authenticity inherent in ESP’s support of public schools. “Without hesitation, ESP brings experience, empathy, and structure to the complex process of building and sustaining meaningful enrichment programs. Their collaborative model empowers schools to bring in partners that reflect their unique communities without burdening school leaders with the day-to-day logistics. For any school looking to expand student opportunities while keeping students, families, and educators at the center, working with ESP is a powerful investment.”

Deurick Gomes and Will Divine were featured as Boston Music Project Youth Artists and performed at Uplift 2026.

A highlight of the evening was a performance by Boston Music Project Youth Artists Deurick Gomes and Will Divine, who delivered an engaging and memorable set for guests.

The event was a fundraising success, raising over $20,000 to support ESP’s work. At the same time, Pierce acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting that federal funding is under threat and Boston Public Schools are facing a significant budget deficit. “Principals will have to make difficult decisions about which critical resources they can sustain,” she said. “In a district where over 80% of students are designated as high-need, this could deepen existing inequities. But every crisis presents an opportunity to demonstrate our values and lead with compassion.”

If you are interested in supporting ESP’s work, please reach out or consider making a donation to support our mission of building opportunities, one school at a time.