Something exciting is always happening at 2Life
From ground-breakings to ribbon-cuttings, resident gatherings to fundraising galas, campus tours to staff outings, you will find people gathering to celebrate both our sense of community and our many steps forward in our mission to ensure that all seniors have the opportunity to thrive regardless of their income level or background.
Here, we share upcoming events that are open the the public as well as information about recent events hosted by 2Life and its many partners.
Raising the Roof: May 18, 2025
We are gearing up for our annual Raising the Roof gala on Sunday, May 18, at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport. This will be a milestone celebration: For 60 years, we have helped older adults grow, contribute, and thrive as members of vibrant, Joyful 2Life Communities. Guided by our shared values of kindness, community, and repairing the world, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to live a life of connection and purpose.
Nobel Prize winner Simon Johnson will be the keynote speaker at this special event. Dr. Johnson is the Ronald A. Kurtz Professor of Entrepreneurship at the MIT Sloan School of Management. In October, he received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences jointly with Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson. He worked closely with 2Life during the first and most frightening year of COVID, enabling us to understand and access the latest knowledge on testing strategies that were effective with older adults.
Leland House in Waltham celebrates its opening
On March 19, we cut the ribbon and officially welcomed Leland House to Waltham, joined by the many partners and advocates who made this new 68-apartment community for senior adults possible. The 100% electric building replaces the former Leland Home, a 38-bed rest home that provided compassionate care to older adults for over 100 years. All Leland House apartments are affordable to households with incomes up to 60% the area median income (AMI).
2Life residents go to Beacon Hill to advocate for MRVP expansion
Affordable housing advocates, tenants, and nonprofit leaders from across Massachusetts gathered on Beacon Hill on Wednesday, March 12, to rally in support of the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP). The rental assistance program provides stability to nearly 11,000 low-income households, including seniors, persons with disabilities, and families across the state. The Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants coordinated the event, working in tandem with coalition partners 2Life Communities, Haley House, CHAPA, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, EMPath, The Boston Foundation, and First Church in Cambridge.
Blessing of the F(l)eet
The Blessing of the Fleet is a centuries-old tradition in Mediterranean and New England fishing communities in which local clergy bless fishing vessels to ensure a safe and bountiful season. On Thursday, September 26, rainy weather did not deter hearty New Englanders from gathering at 2Life Communities’ Brown Family House in Brookline to raise their voices in song and receive a blessing for the support they receive to move through the world, whether from bodies or mobility devices.
Governor Healey signs historic Affordable Homes Act at Golda Meir House
On August 6, more than 300 people gathered in Newton at 2Life Communities’ Golda Meir House to celebrate the signing of the landmark Affordable Homes Act — the largest housing bond bill ever passed in Massachusetts history.
The Affordable Homes Act, also referred to as the Housing Bond Bill, includes $5.16 billion worth of funding authorizations for the creation and preservation of affordable housing over the next several years. It also includes foundational policies that will help to identify and unlock new approaches to the creation of housing that meets the unique needs of all Massachusetts residents.