Announcing the 2021 Social Innovator Finalists!

The Social Innovation Forum (SIF) is pleased to announce the 25 finalists for the 2021 Social Innovator Accelerator. These organizations and programs represent the nonprofit sector's most promising approaches to addressing some of Greater Boston's toughest social issues. 

For our signature accelerator program, we received 103 applications across six social issue tracks. We are grateful to our evaluation committee members -- a group of 68 social issue experts, funders, and practitioners -- who gathered on Zoom to evaluate applications and narrow down the finalists. These organizations will move on to interviews and further due diligence before six Social Innovators are selected in early December. 

Advancing Education and Career Opportunities for Immigrant Youth
Track Partner: Wellington Management Foundation

• African Community Economic Development of New England (ACEDONE)
• Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI)
• La Vida Scholars
• Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts (SEACMA)
   

Anything Goes: Innovative, Effective, and Sustainable Approaches to Our Region's Toughest Social Issues
Track Partner: Boston Open Impact

• Breaktime
• Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores (CCT)
• Kids in Tech
• Resilient Sisterhood Project

Combating Recidivism Through Comprehensive Re-entry Programs
Track Partner: Wagner Foundation 

• Focusing on Fatherhood: Developing a Continuum of Care for Incarcerated Fathers, a program of The Children’s Trust
• Industry Training Re-entry Program Replication, a program of Project Place
• New Beginnings Reentry Services
• THRIVE Communities of Massachusetts
   

Dismantling Hate and Building Social Cohesion Within and Across Communities
Track Partner: The Beker Foundation  

• Everyday Boston
• Organizational Equity Practice (OEP), program of Trinity Boston Connects
• Theatre Espresso
• The Jar
   

Promoting a Healthy Democracy Through Civic Engagement and Community Empowerment
Track Partner: Civic Engagement Funder Collaborative 

• Amplify LatinX
• Massachusetts Voter Education Network, Inc. (MassVOTE)
• Merrimack Valley Project
• Neighbor to Neighbor 
• Women Encouraging Empowerment, Inc. 
   

Reinventing Remote Learning Opportunities During and Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic
Track Partner: Liberty Mutual Insurance 

• Apprentice Learning
• Art Resource Collaborative for Kids (ARCK)
• Latino STEM Alliance
• The Loop Lab