Social Innovators

Our Community

The Social Innovation Forum's portfolio of nonprofit Social Innovators and social impact business Impact Entrepreneurs represents a range of social issues including food insecurity, healthy aging, environmental sustainability, youth development, and the arts. Explore our portfolio by year or social issue and read Innovator and Entrepreneur Spotlights to learn what it means to be a part of the Social Innovation Forum.

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Innovator Spotlight
InnerCity Weightlifting
- 2012 Social Innovator
- Social Issue:
  
  Workforce Development
  
  Youth Development
InnerCity Weightlifing (ICW) uses fitness training as a tool to reduce violence and promote professional, personal and academic achievement among urban youth. ICW empowers young people with the confidence to say no to violence and yes to opportunity.

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Institute for Nonprofit Practice
- 2017 Social Innovator
- Social Issue:
  
  Workforce Development
Institute for Nonprofit Practice educates, empowers, and builds community among nonprofit managers and leaders at all career levels through year-long certificate programs to strengthen the skills, networks, and diversity of the nonprofit leadership pipeline.
Julie's Family Learning Program
- 2017 Social Innovator
- Social Issue:
  
  Early Childhood Education
  
  Women & Girls
Julie's Family Learning Program is a stabilization program for mothers and children combining critical wrap-around support services, holistic curriculum, licensed & certified infant and toddler child care, and Montessori preschool to create a supportive environment where mothers can transform themselves and their families.
LEAP for Education
- 2019 Social Innovator
- Social Issue:
  
  Education & College Access
LEAP for Education empowers under-served and first-generation-to-college students to succeed in college, career, and life. LEAP serves over 500 students in year-round, out-of-school time programs with an innovative approach that focuses in four areas: enhancing academic skills, developing social-emotional maturity, expanding social connections, and college and career readiness.
LGBT Aging Project
- 2012 Social Innovator
- Social Issue:
  
  Healthy Aging
  
  LGBTQ
The LGBT Aging Project is dedicated to ensuring that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older adults have equal access to the life-prolonging benefits, protections, services and institutions that their heterosexual neighbors take for granted.
Louis D. Brown Peace Institute
- 2016 Social Innovator
- Social Issue:
  
  Civic Engagement
  
  Mental Health
  
  Youth Development
The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute serves as a center of healing, teaching, and learning for families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief and loss.
Madison Park Development Corporation/ACT Roxbury
- 2003 Social Innovator
- Social Issue:
  
  Civic Engagement
  
  Housing & Homelessness
Madison Park Development Corporation's mission is to develop and preserve quality, mixed-income housing in Roxbury, and to promote the renaissance of Dudley Square as a thriving neighborhood business district, recognized as a center of commerce and culture that anchors the economic revitalization of Roxbury.
- Visit Website
Maritime Apprentice Program

(formerly a program of Hull Lifesaving Museum)
- 2009 Social Innovator
- Social Issue:
  
  Education & College Access
  
  Health & Nutrition
  
  Youth Development
The Maritime Apprentice Program (MAP) is an intensive, multi-year program that prepares Boston’s most high-risk, Department of Youth Services (DYS)-committed youth for adult responsibilities and careers in the technical trades. Working out of its Seaport boat shop, MAP provides hands-on, skills-based training, in combination with counseling and work readiness preparation. Originally a program of the Hull LIfesaving Museum, MAP was acquired by College Bound Dorchester in 2015.
- Prospectus (PDF)
- Visit Website
Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health (MassCOSH)
- 2016 Social Innovator
- Social Issue:
  
  Civic Engagement
  
  Financial Empowerment
MassCOSH engages youth and adults as leaders in promoting jobs that pay family sustaining wages and allow workers to return home safe and well.
Massachusetts Public Health Association
- 2015 Social Innovator
- Social Issue:
  
  Environmental Sustainability
  
  Civic Engagement
  
  Health & Nutrition
Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) builds local leaders, drives policy change, and engages a network of activists across the state to take action for healthy communities. MPHA seeks to eliminate health inequities and create healthy communities for all.