2007 Social Innovators

Preventing & Reducing Violence:  Making Boston Safer for Youth

J.E. & Z.B. Butler Foundation

If you are an African American male high school dropout, you are 60 times more likely to end up in prison than your peer who graduates from high school. 

The Boston Urban Youth Foundation’s Building Futures Initiative strives to break the cycle of despair and dropout among urban youth through comprehensive social, emotional, and education programming.  In its unique public-private partnership with the Boston Public Schools, Building Futures proactively targets chronically truant middle school students and helps them experience school success.  By remaining in school and eventually graduating, Building Futures students avoid the downward spiral from dropout into unemployment and criminal activity.  Building Futures plans to double its capacity over the next eighteen months to reach over 1,000 middle school students.

Executive Coach: John Poole
PowerPoint Coach:  Jeffrey Whitney, Outstart, Inc.

Boston Urban Youth Foundation Prospectus

Social Enterprise:  Nonprofit Business Ventures

Fund for Philanthropy & Education

Forty-one percent of respondents to a Boston social capital study said that "occupational and workplace barriers" prevent them from being more involved in their communities. Additionally, 40% say they lack information on how to get involved.

Building Impact unlocks the civic potential of companies and individuals by engaging them where they work and live - office and residential buildings. By partnering with building owners, Building Impact delivers structuredcommunity involvement opportunities to companies, their employees and building residents to connect with local nonprofit organizations addressing the issues of Youth & Education, Hunger & Housing, Health & Wellness and Employment & Job Training in Greater Boston.

Executive Coach: Mary Rivet
PowerPoint Coach:  Wendy Perrota

Building Impact Prospectus

Empowering Youth through the Arts

Hunt Alternatives Fund

The Massachusetts juvenile justice system has over 1500 youth in 58 residential facilities across the state.  Many of these youth have experienced poverty, gang involvement, abuse and trauma, chronic school failure, and drug addiction, and are at high risk of cycling in and out of state custody well into adulthood.

Incarcerated Youth at Play, a program of the Actors’ Shakespeare Project, transforms the lives of juvenile offenders and influences how the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS) works with them by training DYS teachers to integrate Shakespeare into their classrooms, engaging youth and staff in the creation of ensemble productions, and supporting youth to continue their artistic development when they leave DYS facilities.  Through Shakespeare’s powerful words and deeply human characters, participating youth, ages 13-17, give voice to their stories and develop literacy, social, pre-professional, and artistic skills.

Executive Coach: Julie Kaneb
PowerPoint Coach:  Ruth Fleischer

Open Track:  Making Boston a Better Place

United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley

In Boston, nearly 20% of women are living in poverty and 61% of poor families with related children under 18 are headed by single women.  Daughters of mothers who are experiencing economic hardship show reduced occupational aspirations and expectations, and limited knowledge of various occupations and career paths.

Strong Women, Strong Girls fosters high aspirations among low income, elementary school girls and helps them develop skills for life-long success. College women, trained and engaged as mentors, lead girls in an innovative after-school program model that includes research-based learning activities,
the study of contemporary and historical female role models, and horizon-broadening field trips to colleges and other sites.  By building communities of women who are committed to supporting the success and achievement of the next generation, Strong Women, Strong Girls is expanding opportunities for low income girls in Greater Boston and beyond.

Executive Coach: Laura Ring, Castile Ventures
PowerPoint Coach:  Tania Allen, Guarino Design Group