Because
You Said So

We're Listening.

When it comes to change, it’s your voice that matters. We’re creating opportunities and amplifying voices in priority communities, because you said so. We’re embracing a new kind of philanthropy, one that honors life experience and questions the systems that are not working for all people. We know that we can only create solutions when we look through the eyes of those experiencing the problems. So, we’re investing in 124 community-based organizations, as well as civic leaders and community influencers, who know the need best. Our communities know what helps them thrive and what holds them back — So we’re listening — and co-creating the solutions for our more equitable future.

We Want To Hear From You!

INVESTING

In Leadership From The Community

We are investing in organizations whose leadership mirrors the diverse communities they serve, to drive change from within. New Way Forward agency Lawrence Community Works (LCW) helps residents achieve their financial goals through financial coaching, credit building, asset development, and workforce development programs. LCW leadership, staff, and volunteers reside in and around Lawrence, contributing to LCW’s fierce and long-term commitment to amplifying the voices and strengthening the resiliency of their membership, many of whom are Latinx, immigrants, and living with low-income.

PRIORITIZING

Pathways for Young People

We’re empowering youth ages 16-24 who aspire to succeed in the workplace or in school but have not yet found pathways to education, employment opportunities, and support networks due to historical disparities in access and opportunity. We partner with organizations that prioritize young people’s pathways, ensuring they have the resources and opportunities needed to succeed. New Way Forward partner JVS offers career readiness workshops and personalized career exploration. They help with goal setting, financial education, and connecting young adults with job opportunities. Once hired, JVS staff collaborates closely with employers to provide hands-on support to jobseekers.

ELEVATING

Lived Experience

We celebrate the incredible people in all of our communities and we listen to understand their insights into the barriers they experience. By amplifying their voices, we can better invest in Economic Inclusion and Wealth Building efforts grounded in their definition of financial well-being. New Way Forward partner InnerCity Weightlifting is on a mission to amplify the voices and agency of individuals who aspire to gain economic mobility after incarceration. They are working with individuals affected by systemic racism, mass incarceration, harmful stereotypes, and stigmatization by the judicial system. Through its programs, participants not only find apprenticeships and full-time employment but also forge careers within and beyond the fitness industry.

“ACT Lawrence sees challenges as opportunities for community development. The organization believes in a holistic approach promoting community-centered initiatives and programs. By empowering residents, improving their quality of life, and increasing their resources, ACT Lawrence aims to address the disparities and create a positive and lasting impact in the community.”

Erika Hernandez, Executive Director, ACT Lawrence

“For Kids Only Afterschool frequently collects data directly from parents and caregivers to determine program needs and interests, assess their perceptions of program quality, and determine how responsive the program is to the family’s culture and background.”

Deborah Kneeland Keegan, Executive Director, For Kids Only Afterschool

“Jewish Vocational Service meets clients where they are and provides them with access to training, education, and resources so they can begin or continue their pathway to quality employment and financial wellbeing.”

Kira Khazatsky, President and CEO, Jewish Vocational Service

“Given a tightening labor market, growing community demand for its services, and limited capacity, Cambridge Community Art Center is strongly prioritizing the recruitment and retention of a team of employees that is highly qualified, collaborative, ethical, compassionate, conscientious, effective, and representative of the community it serves.”

Erin Muirhead McCarty, Executive Director, Cambridge Community Art Center

“We learn daily from this community, interaction by interaction, through formal and informal listening. This learning has led Stone House to actions as small-yet-essential as buying a new pair of pants on a school night for a child with a growth spurt, and as significant as opening our Early Learning Center to address widespread need for affordable childcare.”

Nancy Owens Hess, CEO Roxbury Stone House

What Can We Do To Make
Communities More Equitable?

We’re committed to bringing the right people, resources and organizations together to create rapid change and drive lasting impact. Share your vision for an equitable community here.