On Thurs., June 18, community members gathered at Fowler Clark Epstein Farm to celebrate the sturdy efforts of Pat Spence, Urban Farming Institute’s founding president and CEO, who, since 2013, has been making lasting contributions to the city’s urban agriculture and food justice movements.
The event included community leaders, UFI staff, and elected officials who gathered for a tour of the farm and greenhouse, live music, Jamaican cuisine, sweet treats from Popsicool, and a gathering focused on Spence’s career.
“Every day we are rooted in community, and today we celebrate Pat Spence,” said UFI board chair Folashade Solomon. “Take a look around, this farm, this land is here in community hands in large part because of the woman we have come together to celebrate this afternoon. The story Pat will leave behind is one of a start-up that grew its revenue 20-fold over 15 years.”
UFI Founder Glynn Lloyd and Rose Arruda, program coordinator at the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, also took to the podium to speak about their longtime friend.
“It takes a unique type of leadership to have vision and then to bring your team along with you to execute that vision. It’s been a beautiful thing to see and watch,” said Lloyd. “Pat, I have been involved in a lot of different things in Boston. When I think about all the work that’s happened in Boston, Urban Farming Institute is a home run. We knocked this thing out of the park.”
Added Arruda: “Pat and I go back many years. The depth of her commitment to caring for others is woven into the programming that she and the staff have built over the years. I don’t see Pat ever being stopped. You are leaving a template of how to show up and lead with values and heart, hold space for visionary thinking, and it all brings this community to the next level.”
City Councillor Julia Mejia presented an official City of Boston proclamation designating June 18 as “Pat Spence Day,” while Director of GrowBoston, Shani Fletcher, on behalf of Mayor Michelle Wu, declared June 30, 2026, as “Patricia Spence Day” in the city of Boston.
“I have to say, Pat, you are really special. Not only do you get one day, but you get two days in the city of Boston,” said Mejia. “Check it out, today, June 18, is also Pat Spence Day in the city of Boston. It was declared by the Boston City Council, so you have two levels of government here demonstrating how dope you are. I don’t think in the history of the city of Boston one person has gotten two days in one month.”
Spence was also presented with a plaque to be installed soon at the farm.
Toward the end of the ceremony, Solomon shared that current Deputy Executive Director Amber Valbrun will be UFI’s new president and CEO.
“Amber brings a rare combination of strategic leadership, operational excellence, and deep commitment to the communities we serve,” said Solomon. “Having helped shape UFI’s growth from within, she understands both the opportunities and challenges ahead. Throughout the search process, it became clear that Amber possesses the vision, experience, and passion needed to lead UFI into its next chapter. We are excited to partner with her as we continue advancing food justice, expanding access to fresh, healthy food, and strengthening communities across Boston.”
Welcomed by a loud round of applause, Valbrun credited Spence for much of her success.
“I wouldn’t be standing here today if it were not for the uplifting love and mentorship that Pat has shown me over the years,” she said. “To our board, thank you for trusting me to lead the organization into the next phase of our growing success. To our partners and funders, thank you for investing in our community and all that UFI stands for. To our outstandingly hardworking team, the way you show up day in and day out, giving your all to get the good work done, I can’t thank you enough.”
She added: “What we’ve built here. This is a reflection of the beauty and the strength of our community and the way in which food always and will always bring us together.
For her part and in typical fashion, Spence was more than happy to share the spotlight.
“You’ve heard a lot about me. I was not planting all the seedlings, growing all the crops, doing 15,000 pounds of food each year, that would be the team. I had my functions, but trust me, we aren’t anywhere without our staff, our team. These are the folks that are planting in the pouring rain. They are the ones who are out in 95-degree weather. This has never happened just because of me. It is all of us who are in it together.”
She continued, “We have just entered into a whole new thing. I am so excited for the news about Amber. The future is in spectacular hands. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I can’t wait to see the things that UFI does. It’s a whole new place, a whole new thing, and it’s just going to be fabulous. I can’t wait to see it all unfold.”
