NCF Grantees, Spring 2021
2Gether We Eat
NCF Pillar: Health Equity; Economic Empowerment; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Worcester
Website: https://2getherweeat.org/
2Gether We Eat is a community based 501(c)3 youth hydroponic farming program. This organization provides food, education, training, and employment using hydroponics to help fight the food crisis in food deserts across our communities.
ACLU of Massachusetts
NCF Pillar: Economic Empowerment, Policing and Criminal Justice Reform
Geographic Focus: Statewide
Website: https://www.aclum.org/
The ACLU of MA works to advance racial and economic justice and defend individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the law of the United States. The work of the Justice for All Project focuses on reforming systems of inequity and racism by ensuring fair and effective policing, ending over-incarceration, and ensuring a fair justice system for everyone. ACLU of MA created the Data for Justice Project to arm activists, advocates, journalists, policy makers, and elected officials with relevant, timely information about how government functions. The ACLU of MA also focuses their work on economic justice.
ACT Lawrence
NCF Pillar: Economic Empowerment
Geographic Focus: Lawrence
Website: https://www.actlawrence.org/
ACT Lawrence is a Latina-led non-profit Community Development Corporation (CDC). ACT Lawrence’s mission is to work to achieve social and economic justice by empowering low to moderate-income populations in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and through shared values of inclusiveness and collaboration, to reclaim a voice for Lawrence and advocate self-determination for its residents through community development initiatives such as affordable housing, financial coaching, and youth leadership programs.
Amplify Latinx
NCF Pillar: Economic Empowerment; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://amplifylatinx.co/
Amplify Latinx is a non-partisan, collaborative movement whose mission is to build Latinx economic and political power by significantly increasing Latinx civic engagement, economic opportunity and representation in leadership positions across sectors. They advance their mission by championing Latinx leaders and business through our visibility campaigns and working alongside our partners to support their work and find innovative solutions to our collective problems.
Boston Community Pediatrics
NCF Pillar: Health Equity; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://www.bostoncommunitypediatrics.org/
Boston Community Pediatrics (BCP) is a nonprofit pediatric private practice, the first of its kind in Massachusetts. BCP’s mission is to bring equity to pediatric healthcare by offering underserved patients direct access to their primary care provider through traditional medical office visits, telemedicine, and mobile medical services.
Boston Department of Neighborhood Development
NCF Pillar: Economic Empowerment
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://www.boston.gov/departments/neighborhood-development
NCF’s support of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development is for a broad based community initiative led by DND to create business and housing opportunities along Blue Hill Avenue. Partnering with BECMA, MHIC, LISC, Black Owned Bos and others, DND is issuing a development RFP for multiple land sites. To attract historically excluded residents and businesses they will have technical assistance, favorable loans, business planning and other support.
Boston Women’s Fund
NCF Pillar: Economic Empowerment; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://www.bostonwomensfund.org/
The Boston Women’s Fund supports community-based organizations and grassroots initiatives run by women and girls in order to create a society based on racial, economic and social justice. BWF is launching a Boston Women’s Fund (BWF) Sistership Program. Sisterships will allow BWF to once again provide the opportunity to combine meaningful skill building work and a true youth leadership opportunity. Their young Sisters will be a bridge to philanthropy as opposed to the gatekeeper model employed by many traditional foundations.
Brockton Workers Alliance
NCF Pillar: Health Equity, Economic Empowerment
Geographic Focus: Brockton
Website: https://brockton-workers-alliance.blogspot.com/
The Brockton Workers Alliance’s mission is to educate, support, organize, and empower immigrant workers to confront long-term workplace abuses and to lead the fight for their rights through the development of better local, state, and national policies.
Building Audacity
NCF Pillar: Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://www.buildingaudacity.org/
Building Audacity envisions freedom and power for the most marginalized individuals and communities. To achieve that vision, we empower youth ages 11 to 25 to identify the changes they want to see in their communities and provide them the tools and resources to lead that change.
Children’s Services of Roxbury
NCF Pillar: Economic Empowerment; Youth Education, Empowerment & Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://csrox.org/
Children’s Services of Roxbury (CSR) brings peace of mind to Massachusetts’ most vulnerable families, providing housing for homeless families, affordable childcare, children’s mental health services, intensive foster care, and youth development programs. Located in the heart of Boston’s multicultural communities, with additional services in Worcester, Western MA, and Northern MA. Their programs, developed for and by people of color, are focused on five critical areas, Behavioral Health; Early Education and Childcare, Intensive Foster Care & Family Support; Housing & Stabilization; and Youth Development.
Citizens for Juvenile Justice
NCF Pillar: Policing and Criminal Justice Reform; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Statewide
Website: https://www.cfjj.org/
Citizens for Juvenile Justice (CfJJ) is the only independent, non-profit, statewide organization working exclusively to improve the juvenile justice system in Massachusetts. CfJJ advocates, conducts research, and educates the public on important juvenile justice issues.
City Mission Boston
NCF Pillar: Economic Empowerment, Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://citymissionboston.org/
City Mission Boston educates and empowers individuals and communities to expose systemic barriers and act together to advance economic and racial equity for underserved families
Coaching4Change
NCF Pillar: Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Southeast MA
Website: https://www.c4cinc.org/
Coaching4Change is fighting for equitable education for all students. Their mission is to provide additional support to students in low-income school districts. C4C is closing the student support gap by recruiting and placing diverse, talented college students in schools to work directly with students.
Community Art Center
NCF Pillar: Youth Education, Empowerment & Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Cambridge
Website: https://www.communityartcenter.org/
Community Art Center is a neighborhood institution committed to their mission: to cultivate an engaged community of youth whose powerful artistic voices transform their lives, their neighborhoods, and their worlds. The Art Center has established an excellent track record of providing creative and challenging learning opportunities to youth. They aim to develop the next generation of civically engaged, community-minded leaders, and problem-solvers.
Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative
NCF Pillar: Economic Empowerment
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://www.dsni.org/
Dudley Neighbors Inc. (DNI) is a community land trust (CLT) that protects over 30 acres of community-controlled land in Boston’s Roxbury and North Dorchester neighborhoods. DNI’s mission is to implement the community revitalization plans of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI), which espouses development without displacement and includes affordable housing, economic development, open space and other amenities of the Urban Village.
Empower Yourself Ltd
NCF Pillar: Economic Empowerment; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Brockton
Website: https://empoweryourselfma.org/
Empower Yourself is a year-long program whose goal is to educate underserved youth in urban areas in the fields of financial literacy, business and economics, so they can make informed financial and economic decisions. Their programs begin in middle school and continue through high school, where students gain practical business experience through our financial literacy classes, competitions, and investment club.
Esperanza Academy
NCF Pillar: Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Lawrence
Website: https://www.esperanzaacademy.org/
Esperanza Academy is an all girls, tuition-free independent school that is a revolutionary antidote to racism; as they are an academic community, emphasize racial and cultural identity affirmation, love of community, and restorative justice. NCF’s support is for their Restorative Justice Program which allows trained staff, faculty and trustees to work with families to show RJ as a model for working through issues and problems in a fair and supportive way. They have advised other schools on this model, as well.
GOTVax
NCF Pillar: Health Equity
Geographic Focus: Statewide
Website: https://gotvax.org/
GOTVax is made up of a team of physicians and medical students of color, veteran campaign staff, and field organizers who have come together to promote vaccine access. They are committed to helping bring vaccines to those in our communities who are most in need by delivering vaccines directly to their doorstep and helping assist community members with online vaccine site registration.
NAACP Brockton
NCF Pillar: Health Equity; Economic Empowerment; Policing and Criminal Justice Reform; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Brockton
Website: http://naacp-brocktonbranch.org/
The local branch of the NAACP has been a leader in ensuring equal access for all residents in housing, economic opportunity, education, justice, legal support and media diversity. They promote civic engagement; advocate for civil rights; and support and encourage the revitalization of downtown Brockton.
NAACP New Bedford
NCF Pillar: Health Equity; Economic Empowerment; Policing and Criminal Justice Reform; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: New Bedford
Website: https://naacpnewbedford.org/
The New Bedford branch was established in 1917. The branch focuses on protecting rights, community support and community outreach in the New Bedford area.
NAACP Springfield
NCF Pillar: Health Equity; Economic Empowerment; Policing and Criminal Justice Reform; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Western MA
Website: https://www.naacpspringfield.org/
The NAACP Springfield branch has been at the forefront of the struggle for civil rights throughout the Western Massachusetts Region for over nine decades, advocating for educational equity, health equity, economic empowerment and criminal justice advocacy.
Neighborhood Birth Center
NCF Pillar: Health Equity
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://neighborhoodbirthcenter.org/
The Neighborhood Birth Center (NBC) will expand pregnancy care and birth options in the Boston area. NBC’s mission is to offer comprehensive midwifery care throughout pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period by integrating an independent freestanding birth center in Boston’s healthcare and community landscape.
Neighborhood House Charter School
NCF Pillar: Economic Empowerment; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://www.thenhcs.org/
NCF’s support of the Neighborhood House Charter School is for their Kevin Andrews Leadership Institute for Racial Justice and Unity. the Kevin Andrews Leadership Institute seeks to advance and diversify teacher leadership at Neighborhood House Charter School. It is designed to attract, support, and retain highly qualified teachers, particularly those from historically under-represented minority groups, by offering dynamic opportunities for classroom educators to grow their leadership skills while contributing to NHCS’ development as an anti-racist organization and being compensated for their efforts.
OneGoal
NCF Pillar: Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Statewide
Website: https://www.onegoalgraduation.org/communities/massachusetts/
OneGoal is working to ensure every young person has an equitable opportunity to achieve their greatest postsecondary aspirations. OneGoal MA partners with high schools in Attleboro, Boston, Fall River, Lawrence, Lynn, New Bedford, Revere, Southbridge, Webster, Fitchburg and Milford.
Prevent the Cycle
NCF Pillar: Policing and Criminal Justice Reform; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Lynn
Website: https://prevent-the-cycle.constantcontactsites.com/
Prevent The Cycle (PTC) began as a spontaneous movement to bring the national conversation of police reform to Lynn. Creating a civic engagement & empowerment program targeted to our youth (16 to 24 years old). These young citizens will have the opportunity to receive training in a multitude of tools needed to effectively advocate for themselves and develop policy proposals in order to solve many of the issues that exist in their communities.
Revere Youth In Action
NCF Pillar: Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Revere
Website: https://www.facebook.com/revereyouthinaction/
Revere Youth in Action builds youth power through organizing, direct education justice services and working in coalition for social justice.
Roca Boston
NCF Pillar: Policing and Criminal Justice Reform; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://rocainc.org/
Roca’s mission is to be a relentless force in disrupting incarceration, poverty and racism by engaging young adults, police and systems at the center of urban violence in relationships to address trauma, find hope and drive change. Roca has developed an internationally recognized, long-term (four year) behavioral health model that intervenes with the highest-risk young people to teach them the skills they need to stay alive long enough so that they can learn to choose to live.
Roxbury Innovation Center
NCF Pillar: Economic Empowerment
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://roxburyinnovationcenter.org/
At Innovation Studio we believe that innovation is for everyone and strive to make entrepreneurship a possibility by reducing barriers and meeting each and every individual where they are. Roxbury Innovation Center offers a layered learning approach which is intended to support individual learning styles. Through this continuum of services, Roxbury Innovation Center offers a diverse mix of educational resources and opportunities that can be accessed independent of one another or interconnected to maximize benefit.
Sisters Unchained
NCF Pillar: Policing and Criminal Justice Reform; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://sistersunchained.com/
Sisters Unchained is a prison abolitionist organization dedicated to building community and power with young women affected by parental incarceration through radical education, healing, art, sisterhood and activism.
Smart from the Start, Inc.
NCF Pillar: Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://smartfromthestart.org/
Smart from the Start is a trauma-informed, multi-generational family support and community engagement organization with a mission to promote the healthy development of young children and families living in the most underserved communities of Boston and Washington, DC. It’s strengths-based, culturally reflective approach reaches out to families and empowers them with the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive.
Sociedad Latina
NCF Pillar: Economic Empowerment; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://www.sociedadlatina.org/
Sociedad Latina has been working in partnership with Latino youth and families to end the cycle of poverty, inequality to access of health services, and lack of educational and professional opportunities in our community. Programming is focused in four areas that meet the needs and interests of those in the community: education, workforce development, civic engagement, and arts and culture.
Spanish American Center
NCF Pillar: Health Equity, Economic Empowerment
Geographic Focus: Leominster
Website: http://www.spanishamericancenter.org/
The Spanish American Center’s mission is to respond to the social, health, educational and cultural needs of the Leominster community and surrounding areas with special focus on the Hispanic/Latino community, limited by language, poverty and access. The center fosters economic self-sufficiency, equal opportunity, and active participation in community related activities for better quality of life. Programs include information and referral, ESL and civics classes, peer leadership training, food security assistance via meals to homeless and community food pantry, elderly outreach, battered women and children counseling, and homelessness referral.
Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center
NCF Pillar: Health Equity; Policing and Criminal Justice Reform; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://sportsmenstennis.org/
Sportsmen’s was founded in 1961 as the first indoor non-profit tennis club built in the United States by and for the African American community. Their mission is to build leaders on the court, in the classroom and in the greater community by providing academic, wellness and social development programs alongside recreational and competitive tennis instruction for youth and adults. Sportsmen’s is committed to improving life opportunities for youth in Boston’s Blue Hill Corridor while welcoming a diverse community from the Greater Boston area.
The American City Coalition
NCF Pillar: Economic Empowerment
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://tamcc.org/
The American City Coalition’s mission is to help revitalize urban neighborhoods so that families flourish in safe environments and fully benefit from the economic opportunities of American cities. TACC provides technical support and assistance to advance multi-sector and multi-stakeholder partnerships that focus public and private investment to improve the quality of life for Roxbury families.
The Augustus A. White III Institute for Health Care Equity
NCF Pillar: Health Equity
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://aawinstitute.org/
Augustus White Institute’s mission is to ensure the delivery of medical care across diverse communities rooted in equal distribution without regard to race, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, religion or any other social category. The Augustus White Institute will offer seminars, lectures and training that push the confines of today’s understanding of diversity and medicine to the healthcare community.
The Loop Lab
NCF Pillar: Economic Empowerment; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://www.thelooplab.org/
The Loop Lab is a BIPOC-led nonprofit social enterprise specializing in media arts internships and digital storytelling. It’s mission is to empower Womxn and People of Color in the media arts to develop careers in audio/video through job training and job placement.
Victory Human Services
NCF Pillar: Health Equity
Geographic Focus: Statewide
Website: https://www.victoryhumanservices.org/
Victory Human Services is a non-profit, experienced provider of quality, culturally competent care services. They believe that individuals with medical conditions, disabilities and mental illness are valuable members of society and have the right to live with dignity. Victory Human Services has the experience, knowledge, linguistic capacity and skills to provide effective and respectful clinical care and in-home support to individuals from a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds.
We Got Us
NCF Pillar: Health Equity
Geographic Focus: Boston
Website: https://www.wegotusproject.org/
The We Got Us team seeks to empower our communities with accurate science information and public health resources by connecting Black community members and organizations with trusted Black healthcare professionals and students.
YMCA Greater Springfield
NCF Pillar: Health Equity; Economic Empowerment; Policing and Criminal Justice Reform; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Springfield
Website: http://www.springfieldy.org/
Since 1852, the YMCA of Greater Springfield has been a way of life for thousands of youth, teens, families and seniors throughout our region. Their Men of Color Health Awareness program (MOCHA) has been conducting sessions with older men, addressing health disparities and combat prostate cancer in men of color and are expanding and altering the program to work with Y-AIM, a teen drop-out prevention program that the Y operates in Springfield’s inner-city. This project would spread the health disparity message to the younger generation while empowering them to do something about it before it has already had a significant impact on their lives.
YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts
NCF Pillar: Health Equity; Economic Empowerment; Policing and Criminal Justice Reform; Youth Education, Empowerment and Civic Engagement
Geographic Focus: Southeastern MA
Website: https://ywcasema.org/
The YWCA helps women, girls and their families attain self-sufficiency by providing services to support the vast needs of people from numerous populations. The YWCA’s mission speaks to the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women.