Ayo Edebiri is the latest global ambassador for New Balance, and the partnership begins with a trip back home. For her first campaign with the brand, the award-winning actress, comedian, writer, and director returns to Boston, the city where she grew up, photographed by Tyler Mitchell and styled by Danielle Goldberg.

Wearing the New Balance 574 throughout the campaign, Edebiri moves through Dorchester and familiar Boston settings, bringing the collaboration back to the places and everyday experiences that shaped her. Rather than creating a highly produced fantasy around the partnership, the campaign keeps things personal, grounded in the city that connects Edebiri and New Balance.

Edebiri’s career has expanded well beyond acting and comedy. Her work spans writing, directing, fashion, and film, with a creative perspective that has become just as recognizable as the roles she plays. New Balance sees that individuality as a natural fit for the brand, particularly Edebiri’s ability to move between different creative worlds while maintaining a distinct point of view.

The Boston connection makes the partnership even more personal. Edebiri grew up in Dorchester and has described New Balance as a familiar part of her childhood and the city’s everyday culture. The brand, which has longstanding ties to Boston, gives the campaign a shared sense of place rather than simply using the city as a backdrop.

Mitchell’s photographs follow Edebiri through locations and moments connected to her upbringing, allowing the campaign to feel more like a portrait of home than a traditional fashion shoot. The 574 becomes part of that story, fitting naturally into the neighborhoods, streets, and environments that helped shape Edebiri’s perspective.

For Edebiri, storytelling sits at the center of the partnership. Future projects will bring her creative voice into New Balance campaigns, cultural moments, and other initiatives, drawing on her experience across performance, writing, and directing.

The first chapter starts where it makes the most sense: Boston. By bringing Edebiri back to Dorchester, New Balance establishes a partnership rooted in shared history, personal style, and the idea that where you come from can continue to shape where you’re going.