New Team and Season-Ending Injury Didn’t Stop Deatrich Wise, Jr. from Giving Back to Mattapan

After spending the first eight years of his career with the New England Patriots, Deatrich Wise, Jr. left this offseason to join the Washington Commanders. But a new team and season-ending injury didn’t stop him from putting on his annual block party at the Josh Kraft Mattapan Teen Center.

Though Wise was unable to attend while recovering from his injury, the event recently returned for the seventh consecutive year, with nearly 1,000 people attending the community celebration on Hazelton Street, between Blue Hill Avenue and Fottler Road in Mattapan.

"Before I even announced anything, people kept asking me about it," said Wise, who held the inaugural event during the 2019 season. "They kept asking, 'Hey, when is the Block Party? When is the block party going to happen again?' People really look forward to it. It's fantastic."

The completely free event featured music, food, a farmer’s market, a pop-up barbershop, and numerous other activities that brought people together.

While longtime Dorchester DJ and radio host Jeff 2Timez set the day's soundtrack, Rhythm Knight Catering provided customized catering services for the event. At the top of the street, Baldor Boston hosted a farmer's market filled with fresh produce, vegetables, and other specialty foods.

Rhythm Knight Catering served 800 free meals, while Baldor Boston gave away 6,000 pounds of free fruits and vegetables. The pop-up barbershop, which featured eight different barbers and stylists, gave nearly 100 free haircuts.

The Boston Medical Center, one of the event’s biggest sponsors, was also on hand to provide health information and support.

Of course, the kids from the Josh Kraft Mattapan Teen Center stole the show, when they took the stage at the bottom of Hazleton to perform. Local teen hip-hop artists and longtime members of the center, KNG-DVD and Echezona, were among the performers.

For Wise, the annual celebration is more than just a block party; It’s an opportunity to educate and inspire through positive events in the community.

“The block party is a true light and a way to spread positive messages and positive news about what's happening in the Mattapan community, and at the same time, give these tremendously talented kids a platform to express themselves,” Wise said. “I believe unity builds a stronger community, and I want to inspire people to achieve greatness in their lives."

“While Deatrich was definitely missed, Mattapan showed out for him in a big way in what was our best Block Party yet,” said Rick Aggeler, executive director of team strategy for Josh Kraft Mattapan Teen Center. “The community vibe was incredible. It was such a beautiful afternoon and spoke volumes about how truly amazing our neighborhood is. We already can’t wait for next year!”

The annual Block Party is just one example of Wise’s ongoing commitment to giving back to the community through philanthropy. A 2024 nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, Wise is the co-founder of the Wise Up Foundation, a nonprofit organization that hosts various events throughout the year to achieve its mission to PUSH: Provide educational resources, Unite communities, Support students and student-athletes, and Honor America's Veterans.