Right down the street from the historic Fenway Park, the Fenway Community Center, or FCC, stands as a beacon of unity. The FCC has been an integral part of the Boston community since­ 2016, offering a wide range of activities from yoga classes and game nights to food distributions. ­­

“[FCC] is an amazing opportunity to further connections in the neighborhood,” said Mallory Rohrig, executive director of the FCC. “It serves literally everyone … which really adds to the appeal.” 

FCC is one of the six organizations — the others being Audubon Circle Neighborhood Association, The Fenway Alliance, Fenway Civic Association, Fenway Community Development Corporation and Operation P.E.A.C.E. — that make up Fenway Cares. Fenway Cares was developed in March 2020 during the pandemic and works to provide produce, money and personal protective equipment to those in need, free of charge. Twice a month, FCC organizes a food distribution, offering nearly 170 boxes of food on each occasion to anyone in need.

“This is a place where people want to come, to build a community and use [FCC’s] resources,” said Nicki Pantiledes, FCC’s community program assistant and a third-year environmental science major at Northeastern University. “We love hearing new ideas from residents of the neighborhood and incorporating them into our schedules. The sky is really the limit.”

The programming committee diligently identifies community needs, like the absence of a library in Fenway, and actively works to integrate them into events. It organizes events four days a week, taking into account the availability of residents. Resident input plays a big role in deciding what events they host, Rohrig said, as a majority of the ideas are sourced directly from the Fenway community.

The Movement Matters program, a 1-hour chair dancing class, is led by volunteers from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee School of Music. It is tailored for adults with limited mobility who seek to engage in moderately challenging movements.

“[Movement Matters] offers a unique opportunity for individuals with restrictive movement to engage in dancing,” said Alyssa Lucas, a fourth-year dance student at Boston Conservatory at the Berklee College of Music and a volunteer at FCC. “This inclusive class is a space for everyone to come together and connect through chair dancing.”

Most recently, FCC hosted a smoothie-making event suggested by two active FCC community members.

“People were coming together and talking about their favorite smoothie recipes and just bonding as a community,” Pantiledes said. “People who had just heard about us through word of mouth came and got to know more about each other.”

FCC is a nonprofit supported through earmark funding from the Massachusetts state government, as well as through grants and donations received from their annual fundraising event, Love the Fenway. This event recognizes a community spirit award recipient and solicits donations for the organization. This year’s winner, Brenda Clark, a member of FCC’s board of directors, won the community spirit award because of her engagement in volunteering and community service in Fenway, embodying a strong sense of compassion.

“The only way we can ensure we are sustainably funded in the long run is if people continue to come to our events,” Rohrig said. “In the future, I hope we are the go-to resource for someone who is new to the neighborhood and looking to be connected.”

FCC offers a diverse range of programs encompassing arts, wellness and enrichment for all age groups and demographics, including students. 

Throughout September and October, FCC will organize various events including food donations from Fenway Cares Distribution Center, English classes, yoga sessions and autumn-themed activities. 

“Through my volunteer work, I’ve gotten to meet people from all walks of life which goes to show how inclusive FCC services are to all Fenway residents,” Lucas said. These initiatives aim to provide valuable resources and opportunities for community engagement, fostering connections within the local area. 

“We are literally open to all,” Rohrig said. “There are a lot of opportunities for connections to be made, and the diversity of the neighborhood is the perfect spot for that.”