Boston Danced to Resistance at Embrace Massó ¡Con Salsa! International Music Festival

The Boston Common came alive with rhythm, resistance, and comunidad this weekend. Thank you for joining us for the second edition of Embrace Massó ¡Con Salsa! International Music Festival.

Together, we celebrated our 1965 Freedom Plaza Honoree José Massó III and his 50 years of “¡Con Salsa!”, a legacy that has been a cultural beacon for Afro-Latin music, arts and activism. With your energy, we carried his vision forward: Un Solo Ritmo, Una Sola Comunidad. One Rhythm, One Community.

This year’s festival was also a historic celebration of José Massó himself. Surrounded by his wife Divina Nieves-Massó, his children, and his entire family, Mr. Massó received heartfelt tributes that honored his profound impact.

Mayor Michelle Wu proclaimed September 13, 2025 as José Massó III Day and presented him with a custom street sign designating Massóchusetts Ave. in his honor. Senator Lydia Edwards and Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune joined the celebration, while Embrace’s President & CEO, Dr. Imari Paris Jeffries presented José with a gold record to mark his 50-year journey of music, community and activism.

From the Grammy-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra to the soul-stirring poetry of aja monet, from the powerful artistry of Jonathan Suazo, Manuela Sánchez Goubert, BOMBAntillana and Javier Jeffer, MetaMovements, Salsa y Control, Hyde Square Task Force and DJ Armando The Truth, this celebration was a testament to the power of culture, joy and collective movement.

Beyond the stage, our Collective Action Station vendors activated the park with opportunities for learning, connection and solidarity. The Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement lined the pathway to The Embrace with their We Belong Here banners in 12 languages, making every guest feel seen and welcomed.

The festival also featured Equanimidad // Rhythm Within, a breathtaking exhibition by Afro-Indigenous Honduran artist Gordon Santiago Arzú Durón, curated by Nucarta, which translated rhythm, music and ancestral memory into an immersive artistic experience. And a heartfelt thank you to Topo Chico for their generous water donation, which helped keep our community refreshed and cared for throughout the day.

Embrace Massó ¡Con Salsa! International Music Festival was a declaration: music, food, dance, art and community are forces of resistance, resilience, and love.

Un Solo Ritmo, Una Sola Comunidad. One Rhythm, One Community.

Over the 50th ¡Con Salsa! celebration weekend, people across Boston came together to experience unity, music, and resistance firsthand. From Thursday through Sunday, the city was alive with rhythm and joy.

We began with Salsa al Atardecer on 9/11, organized by IBA-Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción, and continued on 9/12 at the East Boston Latin Music & Dance Festival with Zumix and Salsa y Control where WBUR CEO, Margaret Low, honored Mr. Massó for 50 years of dedication to community through radio. Then on 9/13, the Embrace Massó ¡Con Salsa! International Music Festival took over Boston Common, and we closed with MetaMovement’s Salsa in the Park on 9/14 in Cambridge.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Board of Directors, event co-chairs, and sponsors, whose continued leadership and generosity ensure that this celebration can be shared with our larger community. We are also grateful to our event production partners, Castle Events, community coalition and every single one of you who made the day unforgettable.

Special thanks to the Embrace Crew, our incredible volunteers, and Rhythm N Wraps for keeping everyone fueled, this day would not have been possible without you.

Interested in sponsoring our next activation or making a donation to support its impact? Save the Date: Embrace Honors MLK on January 18, 2026. For questions or partnership inquiries, please contact development@embraceboston.org.