27 Oct JUSTIN PASQUARIELLO EAST BOSTON SOCIAL CENTERS | EXECUTIVE SPOTLIGHT
EXECUTIVE IMPACT: JUSTIN PASQUARIELLO SPOTLIGHT
BUILDING COMMUNITY, BELONGING, AND JOY — FOR ALL AGES
At Liftoff Enterprises, we celebrate leaders who embody purpose through service — those who transform neighborhoods into networks of care, connection, and collective joy. This Executive Impact Spotlight highlights Justin Pasquariello, Executive Director of East Boston Social Centers, a 107-year-old organization reimagining what it means to build and sustain community.
EAST BOSTON SOCIAL CENTERS: A LEGACY OF CONNECTION
Founded over a century ago, East Boston Social Centers has remained a steadfast anchor in one of Boston’s most diverse and evolving neighborhoods. Its mission is simple yet profound: to catalyze community, belonging, and joy in East Boston and surrounding areas.
From Welcome Baby visits and early education programs to tai chi and BINGO for older adults, the Centers serve residents “from cradle to grave.” Their Every Child Shines initiative brings together families, educators, and partners to ensure that every East Boston child enters kindergarten thriving, joyful, and ready to learn.
“What makes us different,” Justin explains, “is our comprehensive, lifelong approach. We are a community anchor, and our philosophy — ‘when all give, all gain’ — creates an ecosystem where everyone contributes to and benefits from the community fabric.”
In an era defined by disconnection and displacement, East Boston Social Centers remains a vibrant example of inclusive, sustainable neighborhood growth.
JUSTIN PASQUARIELLO: LEADING WITH HEART AND PURPOSE
Justin’s personal story is one of resilience and purpose.
“I’ve always asked where my skills, passion, and vision best overlap,” he says. “My experience as a child of a caring birth mother who struggled with mental illness — and as a former foster child who was adopted — led me to a deep passion for cultivating wellbeing, resilience, and joy.”
Before joining East Boston Social Centers, Justin founded a mentoring organization for foster youth and worked in early childhood policy. When the opportunity arose to lead the Centers, it felt like a natural alignment of purpose and impact.
“I wanted to significantly increase joy in one community,” he says. “And East Boston Social Centers — with its strong early childhood programs — was the perfect place to do that.”
Eight years into his leadership, Justin has guided the organization through extraordinary challenges — including the COVID-19 pandemic and the relocation of nearly half its educational programs. Despite rapid change, his vision has remained steady: to cultivate joy, connection, and opportunity for all.
INNOVATION ROOTED IN COMMUNITY
East Boston Social Centers embraces innovation not as a buzzword, but as a way to serve better.
Recent examples include the Bright Minds School Age Program, which piloted an evidence-based summer learning platform. The result? Students achieved significant academic gains while still enjoying a summer filled with enrichment and fun.
The Centers also lead in leveraging technology for impact.
“Many of our staff have participated in AI sprints,” Justin notes. “We’re exploring how AI can strengthen our direct services and streamline administration, fundraising, and finance.”
Partnerships remain a cornerstone of that innovation. Working with Neighborhood Villages, the Centers have introduced specialists in early relational health, inclusion, and family navigation to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.
LEADING THROUGH LISTENING
Justin’s leadership philosophy is grounded in humility and collaboration — lessons inspired by one of his mentors.
“I learned from David Shapiro, when he became CEO of Mass Mentoring Partnership, that leadership starts with listening,” Justin shares. “He began with a listening tour and built trust before making big changes. He supported his team and funders not just by asking for help, but by asking how he could help them.”
This people-first approach has defined Justin’s tenure — building strong relationships with staff, partners, and the broader community.
“The most successful organizations start by supporting their staff,” he says.
THE POWER OF COLLABORATION
True to its mission, East Boston Social Centers doesn’t work in isolation — it convenes and collaborates.
Through the Every Child Shines initiative and Family Engagement Network, the Centers partner with more than 50 nonprofits, corporations, and government entities to advance shared goals for East Boston’s children and families.
“We invite partners to co-lead with us,” Justin says. “We seek input often, compensate community voices when possible, and elevate our collaborators — giving them space to present, share, and shine.”
Partnerships extend to parents as well. The organization’s 16 Parent Partners, speaking at least five languages, help design and deliver programs — ensuring that family voices shape the work at every level.
A COMMUNITY FOR EVERYONE
From early learners to older adults, East Boston Social Centers is building an inclusive, joyful community where everyone belongs.
“We want to help people seeking connection and purpose to find it,” Justin says. “We want to equip them with the skills to achieve their goals — and to experience the joy of being part of something larger than themselves.”
Whether through education, recreation, or partnership, the Centers embody the power of collective wellbeing — a place where a toddler’s first steps and a centenarian’s wisdom share the same home.
A CALL TO CONNECTION
For those eager to learn more, East Boston Social Centers welcomes you to explore their work at ebsocialcenters.org, subscribe to their Joy in Community and Beyond newsletter on LinkedIn, or listen to a recent podcast featuring Justin Pasquariello.
“We’re proud of our history,” Justin says, “but even prouder of the future we’re building — one filled with connection, joy, and shared purpose.”
Permission granted by Justin Pasquariello to feature all quotes, names, and organizational references across Liftoff Enterprises platforms.