COMMUNITY IMPACT ACCELERATOR
In partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the Community Impact Accelerator (CIA) was created to foster sustainability and equity in our community. The CIA plays an important role in how nonprofits support and serve our community through capacity building so all people can thrive.
During the virtual Together We Thrive event on May 6, three finalists presented an overview of the critical work they are doing in our community and the audience voted to determine the winner.
We are excited to announce the results of the Community Impact Accelerator!
The Winning Organization received $40,000 in funding and support from BCG:
Ujamaa Place
The Ujamaa Place Home Chores program was implemented during COVID-19 mandates as an important precursor to employment for our young African American men. On Saturday’s we met with the young men and introduced an additional curriculum that not only included family responsibilities but also Money Management, Time Management, Being Respectful, Problem Solving, Sex Education, and Racial and Social Injustice. Our young men received a Stipend for participation which contributed to his family financial needs during difficult times. There is no doubt that this Ujamaa Place program helps keep young Black Boys on Track for Life. Funding will allow this program to become sustainable and expanded.
Runner ups each received $30,000 in funding:
Ain Dah Yung Center
ADYC’s new Youth Entrepreneurship Program is dedicated to teaching our residents workforce skills in ways that reinforce Indigenous culture and traditions. The program features three spaces that residents can use: a food pantry, a clothing closet, and a credit store. While any resident can use these spaces, they can also work in the spaces by stocking shelves, keeping inventory, or doing general maintenance and clean-up to gain work experience and earn special credits that they can use in the credit store. Residents can also earn credits by achieving goals they set with their case managers. Many of our youth are talented artists and want to sell their art at pow-wows, but to do that, they need to learn the basics of business, like calculating profit and loss and indirect costs. To be successful, Native youth need to learn to work in the economic systems of the world at large. This program teaches them to do that and offers a pathway towards greater economic stability in the future.
Division of Indian Work (DIW)
Minozekwedaa is DIW’s traditional food program that includes three phases: 1) to hire a Nutrition Coordinator/Native Chef to prepare and serve healthy meals to our program participants; 2) to develop a catering program to diversify DIW’s income stream; and 3) to create a culinary apprenticeship program for Native youth ages 16 to 21.
Congratulations to all our finalists – the work you are leading is uniting changemakers across our community to address problems no one can solve alone. Thank you!
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG’s diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives to spark change through leading-edge management consulting as well as data science, technology and design, digital ventures, and business purpose. BCG works in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization to deliver results that help our clients thrive.
