Special to the Times-Free Press
On Sunday, July 13, ZUMIX will host its annual Walk for Music. ZUMIX community members and other participants will walk through East Boston’s parks to support ZUMIX’s award-winning music and youth empowerment programs. The event will begin at 260 Sumner Street in East Boston, and will run from 3-6 pm, including registration at the ZUMIX Firehouse and the walk itself, starting at 4 pm. Festivities will continue with a free ZUMIX Summer Concert in Piers Park, also a part of the annual Eastie Week celebration spearheaded by Boston Harbor Now.
ZUMIX is excited to welcome several Boston-area politicians to the 2025 Walk, including State Senator Lydia Edwards; State Representative Adrian Madaro, a ZUMIX alumnus; and East Boston native Gabriela Coletta Zapata, City Councilor for District 1.
Founded in 1991 in response to the worst year of youth violence in Boston’s history, ZUMIX has empowered Boston area youth through music for 34 years. This year’s event will highlight the waterfront and green spaces of East Boston, including Piers Park, Bremen Street Park, and the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway. Walkers can sign up to walk or fundraise in advance on the event page at https://secure.givelively.org/donate/zumix-inc/walk-for-music-2025.
“Walk for Music is a joyous day for the ZUMIX community each year,” said Madeleine Steczynski, co-founder and executive director of ZUMIX. “Our young people inspire us every day—they are creative, curious, and capable of building their own exciting futures. The Walk is a great opportunity to celebrate our work, and raise support for our vital programs in music and the creative arts.”
Walk for Music is one of ZUMIX’s largest annual fundraisers, allowing the organization to keep its creative programs free and low-cost and serve more than 1,000 youth each year. ZUMIX offers after school programs for young people ages 7-18 in songwriting and performance, creative media and technology, musical theater, private lesson instruction, and instrumental ensembles.
On Sunday, July 13 at 3 pm, walkers will gather at the ZUMIX Firehouse at 260 Sumner Street for a pre-walk concert, with snacks and face painting, and begin the walk from there. In case of inclement weather, the concert and celebration after the walk will take place at the ZUMIX Firehouse.
To donate, please visit https://secure.givelively.org/donate/zumix-inc/walk-for-music-2025, text WALKFORMUSIC to 44-321, or send a check made out to ZUMIX to 260 Sumner Street, East Boston, MA, 02128. Donations will also be accepted on the day of the walk. To sign up to walk and/or fundraise, visit the GiveLively page above or sign up in person at ZUMIX.
ZUMIX’s mission is to empower young people to build successful futures for themselves – transforming lives and community through music, technology, and creative employment. ZUMIX works with more than 1,000 young people ages 7-18 each year. Free and low-cost programs are offered out-of-school in instrumental music, songwriting, performance, radio, audio engineering, and audio and video storytelling. ZUMIX also partners with local schools to bring arts education opportunities to Boston’s youth. In addition to youth programs, ZUMIX offers free concerts and events for all ages. For more information, visit www.zumix.org.