Every day across Greater Boston, the Torchlight Engagement Team is on the move — not behind desks or in offices, but walking the streets, entering neighborhoods, and showing up wherever they’re needed most. As the frontline arm of Torchlight Recovery, this team is rooted in trust, community, and deep compassion. Their mission is clear: to meet people exactly where they are and offer support, connection, and care.
You’ll find them in Nubian Square, in shelters, near transit hubs — anywhere people gather, struggle, or seek help. They come equipped not only with harm reduction supplies and resource guides, but with open hearts, lived experience, and the kind of consistency that builds real relationships over time.
What the Engagement Team Does
The Torchlight Engagement Team provides critical, life-saving services in real time — often serving as the first point of connection for individuals experiencing homelessness, addiction, or crisis. Their work includes:
- Distributing Narcan and offering overdose prevention education
- Connecting individuals to detox and treatment programs
- Guiding people to warming centers, food programs, and shelters
- Supporting with housing and job referrals
- Providing conflict de-escalation and street outreach
- Collaborating with local businesses and service organizations to strengthen community care
The Power of Presence
What makes the Engagement Team effective isn’t just what they do — it’s how they do it.
Many members of the team have lived experience with recovery, incarceration, or housing instability. This allows them to connect in ways that are authentic and immediate. Their presence is consistent, and their approach is rooted in cultural understanding, humility, and mutual respect.
“People recognize us. They know we’re here for them — not to judge, but to help,” says one team member. “That trust is everything.”
Through their work, the team builds bridges — between systems, services, and people. In a city where many individuals fall through the cracks, the Engagement Team acts as a crucial safety net.
A Community-Centered Approach
The team’s relationships extend beyond individuals in crisis. They maintain strong connections with neighborhood businesses, community leaders, and fellow service providers — reinforcing a model of collective care. Their presence also helps prevent emergencies before they happen, offering a grounded alternative to policing or emergency medical response.
This is public health, peer support, and community healing in action.
How You Can Support
The Torchlight Engagement Team is a vital part of Boston’s recovery ecosystem. Whether responding to immediate needs or walking someone through the long process of change, they bring hope and dignity into the streets.
You can support this work by:
- Spreading the word about Torchlight Recovery and its programs
- Donating to help fund outreach supplies and training
- Exploring partnership opportunities or volunteering
Torchlight Recovery Team
