Equal Pay Forum

Events

Join us at the Edgerley Center for Civic Leadership. 

SHARE
The Boston Foundation sponsors a series of popular events designed to engage the community with the challenges facing our city and region. These are attended by thousands of dedicated people every year.

Upcoming Events

At this time, the Boston Foundation has resumed some in person events while continuing an extensive schedule of online events. Event listings will indicate whether events are in person or virtual. For videos of select past forums and webinars, explore our Events page.

Selected Recent Events

Housing
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Building a Better RAFT: Improving Access to Emergency Rental Assistance in MA

In 2022, Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), , with expanded funding by TBF and the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, launched the Neighborhood Emergency Housing Support Program, a one-time grant for community-based organizations to conduct proactive outreach to residents about housing stability resources. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council analyzed the efficacy of emergency rental relief and the vital role of community-based organizations. In this webinar, experts reviewed the recommendations and a panel discussion featured community-based organization representatives sharing their experiences.

Click here for the event video and recap
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

A Conversation About Racial Equity & Boston’s Workforce, Past, Present & Future

SkillWorks, a collaborative workforce funding initiative of TBF, presented a public forum exploring the past and present-day challenges facing Boston’s Black labor force. Topics were grounded in Dr. Jaqueline Jones’ latest book, No Right to an Honest Living: The Struggles of Boston’s Black Workers in the Civil War Era, a historical account of Black workers and the barriers they faced finding employment in progressive Boston.

A young girl plays with a colorful toy
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

(Re)Building Boston’s Early Education and Care Sector

Thank you for joining us for the release of the 2023 report from the Boston Opportunity Agenda and the Birth to Eight Collaborative, '(Re)Building Boston's Early Education and Care Sector: Supply, Affordability and Quality Needed.' This year's report examines the continued impact of COVID-19 and pandemic recovery investment on child care in Boston, analyzes changes in supply and demand, and considers the measurement of and access to quality child care.

Read the report
Dorchester Day performer banner
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Challenges with Measuring Wealth: 1st Event in a New Racial Wealth Equity Series

Boston Indicators and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston hosted their first convening in a new research and conversation series on racial wealth equity in Greater Boston, focusing on surveys of wealth. The event detailed how the best surveys on wealth are conducted, why they’re so complex, and why good local data is hard to come by. It showed what the best national data reveal about wealth inequality by race, income, and education and provided detail on a new local effort to fill local data gaps.

BAMSFest dancer banner
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Great Migration to Global Immigration: A Profile of Black Boston

This new report analyzes the region’s unique and growing intra-Black diversity, maps how residential patterns have shifted, and details how disparities by income and wealth manifest across Black communities. Discussion at the event unpacked what these trends mean for our shared efforts to move forward toward justice. The event included music, food, drink and opportunities to connect at receptions both before and after the program.

Click here for the event video and recap
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Success Boston Convening: Citywide Postsecondary Enrollment & Completion Trends & the Impact of Coaching

On March 23, we gathered for the release and discussion of two new research reports about the postsecondary enrollment and completion trends of Boston students. Following the research presentations, panelists representing the Boston Public Schools and local college access and success nonprofit organizations discussed the implications of the research as well as recent directions and developments in supporting Boston students on their postsecondary journey.

Click here for a video and recap of the webinar
In a classroom a woman kneels on the floor next to a young girl who is playing with a toy tea set and colorful plastic ice cream.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Preparing For Child Care Reform: How to Improve the Subsidy System to Maximize Future Investment

Please join us for the release and discussion of a new report about the complex early childhood education and care subsidy system in Massachusetts. Following the research presentations, panelists representing different segments of the early childhood ecosystem will discuss the implications of these findings and recommendations to strengthen the subsidy system in Massachusetts.

Click here for a video and recap of the webinar
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Boston Census Briefing: How the Census Affects the City of Boston

On November 16, the Boston Foundation was pleased to host an online webinar focused on the importance and impact of the U.S. Census and its data in Greater Boston. Co-Sponsored by Boston Indicators, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center and Massachusetts Voter Table, the event featured three presentations on the history and importance of data to drive solutions to critical problems, and ongoing efforts to ensure that Census data now and heading toward Census 2030 reflects a complete count of residents.

Click here for a video and recap of the event
A contour map of Boston
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Boston Climate Progress Report 2022

Held in conjunction with the release of the first in a series of biennial report cards on the state of the city in a changing climate, our virtual forum dug in on the barriers to change, and highlighted where Boston can continue to be a world leader in climate response. After a presentation of the findings, the researchers shared methods they used to evaluate Boston’s ongoing progress toward the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, their ideas about how to make our city climate ready, and their recommendations for ways that everyone, from government officials to residents, can collaborate and contribute to meaningful change. Following the data presentation, a panel of experts in the field had a conversation sharing their perspectives on a series of questions.

Click here for a video and recap of the event
A photo of a storefront for Dudley Cafe. In a big curved window is a painted heart around the words "Dudley Cafe, Roxbury, MA."
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Presenting the Voices of the AAPI Business Community

Before a sizeable and thoroughly engaged online audience, the Asian Business Empowerment Council, or ABEC, made its programmatic debut with a lively forum designed to elevate the voices of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) business community and a number of panelists in position to collaborate with them.

Click here for a video and recap of the event
Voucher discrimination event image
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2022

Please join us at our first in-person forum in two years, for the release of the 2022 Greater Boston Housing Report Card. This year’s Greater Boston Housing Report Card explores current trends in housing availability as well as barriers to accessing existing subsidized housing. The research presentation will be followed by a panel discussion of experts, each with a unique perspective on the interwoven housing access inequities.

Click here for a video and recap of the event
Side by side headshots: on the left a headshot of Jill Lapore, a white woman with light-colored hair and glasses, and on the right is a headshot of Lee Pelton, a black man with short hair
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

A Virtual Conversation About Building a Stronger and More Equitable Boston

On October 25, Boston Foundation President and CEO Lee Pelton sat down for a virtual conversation with American historian and journalist Jill Lepore as a special event honoring donors to TBF’s Annual Campaign for Civic Leadership. Using history as a way of discussing the “deep divide in our nation,” Pelton asked Lepore to place our current politics in the context of other times.

Read a transcript from this virtual event
A map of Massachusetts features many overlapping gold lines and gold dots. Along the lines are photos of people. At the top are the logos for impala and the Boston Foundation
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Meet impala: A Free Networking Platform for Grantseekers and Fundraisers

The Boston Foundation hosted an information session for fellow nonprofit partners to learn about impala, a groundbreaking new startup being built to democratize access to critical social impact data and connect grantmakers and grantseekers to foster greater collaboration. During this webinar, attendees learned how to use the free platform, and connected with the impala team to share questions and feedback to inform the ways in which the impala tools can impact and support relationship-building and resource generation efforts.

Click here for the event video and recap
Massachusetts State House dome fall
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Dialogues on Voter Engagement

Ahead of the 2022 Midterm Election, the Boston Foundation held our first nonpartisan conversation on voter engagement. We set the table for the conversation with a presentation by Boston Indicators with some grounding data on the state of voting in Massachusetts and then moved into a panel discussion where we heard from experts in the field to answer the question: What can we as individuals and institutions be doing to get the vote out?

Click here for the event video and recap
A mother in a hospital gown holding a swaddled baby.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Advancing Equity for Birthing Families: A Public Town Hall

At a town hall-style presentation, Vital Village Networks, in partnership with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Ariadne Labs, shared their progress to date bringing together a new coalition around increasing equity for birthing familes, and shared some of the powerful stories of why the coalition is needed now.

Click here for the event video and recap
Old map background
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Dialogues on Reparations Part Three: Exploring Reparation Models in Institutions

This year, the Boston Foundation began hosting a three-part discussion series on the topic of reparations. In our third conversation we explored models at institutions, such as health centers, higher education institutions and foundations. The conversation was moderated by M. Lee Pelton, President & CEO of the Boston Foundation, and Imari Paris Jeffries, Executive Director of King Boston. Joining them for this conversation was Michael Curry, Esq., President & CEO of Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, and Cynthia Neal Spence, Director of the Spelman College Social Justice Scholars Program.

Click here for the event video and recap
A graphic design from the report "Care Work in Massachusetts." Two illustrated purple hands are reaching out to touch each other.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Care Work in Massachusetts: A Call For Racial and Economic Justice for a Neglected Sector

Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions of American workers. But those who provide support for people in infancy, illness, disability or old age are too often excluded from our conception of high-value labor. So, this Labor Day we released the latest Boston Indicators report on care work in Massachusetts, analyzing recent trends in this overlooked sector. A panel of experts joined us to discuss these trends through the release of Care Work in Massachusetts: A Call For Racial and Economic Justice for a Neglected Sector.

Click here for the event video and recap
Skillworks image
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

SkillWorks Fellowships: Solutions & Design Lab for Workforce Innovation

SkillWorks and the Boston Foundation launched the inaugural cohort of the SkillWorks Fellowship Solution & Design Lab for Workforce Innovation and introduced the first round of SkillWorks Fellows, followed by a discussion moderated by President & CEO, Dr. Lee Pelton, on the future of workforce and economic equity.

Click here for the event video and recap
A blue condominium complex with green grass in the foreground, blue sky and an orange building in the background.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Representation in the Housing Process: Best Practices for Improving Racial Equity

In order to address the housing crisis, we must reorient the process to improve equity — by focusing on representation, participation, and inclusive engagement. The report “Representation in the Housing Process: Best Practices for Improving Racial Equity,” by Boston University, prepared for the Massachusetts Coalition for Racial Equity in Housing, and related forum highlighted the disconnect between the traditional methods of developing and implementing housing policies and the needs and wants of the communities for whom these policies are developed.

Click here for the event video and recap
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

When the Bough Breaks, Part 7: The State of the Early Childhood Education and Care Workforce

For the final session of our “When the Bough Breaks” Coffee and Conversation series, we welcomed Amy O’Leary, Executive Director of Strategies for Children, Justin Pasquariello, Executive Director of East Boston Social Centers, and Ashley White, a Senior Policy Researcher at the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, for a conversation about budget and policy for early childhood education and care, and the opportunities to advocate for a more affordable, accessible system for families and workers alike.

Click here for the video and recap
raised hands graphic
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Boston School Committee: How Governance Can Advance Equity:   Part 3 - Access and Equity

The last of the three events in this series focused on issues of access and equity. Panelists discussed critical ways to engage Bostonians in the process—including encouraging residents from diverse communities to seek a seat on the School Committee, increasing voter engagement and participation in member selection, and empowering parents and teachers to connect with their local school board members—so that Boston’s school committee model becomes more inclusive and leads to a more equitable district and city.

Click here for the video and recap
A collage of four scenes, each depicting Latino communities
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

¡Avancemos Ya! Advancing Latino Prosperity in Massachusetts

On May 12, the Boston Foundation in partnership with the Latino Equity Fund and the Gaston Institute at UMass Boston hosted a forum to share and build upon the findings of a new report by Boston Indicators, '¡Avancemos ya!: Persistent Economic Challenges and Opportunities Facing Latinos in Massachusetts.' Following a presentation of research findings, WBUR’s Cristela Guerra facilitated a panel of experts who discussed strategies to expand the tremendous assets Latino communities bring to the Commonwealth. The event included live translations in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.

Click here for the recap and event video
When the Bough Breaks
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

When the Bough Breaks, Part 6: The Role of Cities in Solving the Early Childhood Education and Care Workforce Crisis

This session, we highlighted the role of cities in solving the early childhood workforce crisis.  We were joined by Kristin McSwain, the recently appointed Director of the City of Boston’s Office of Early Childhood and Senior Advisor to Mayor Michelle Wu, for a conversation with leaders from Cambridge and Somerville about how cities can address child care challenges in their communities.

Click here for the recap and video
Changing the game
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Success Boston: A Shared Commitment to a New Equity Framework

More than 100 people, including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, joined us for a special event at the Boston Public Schools headquarters in Nubian Square to launch Success Boston’s new equity framework, and to celebrate the commitment of 15 local higher education institutions to the postsecondary success of all Boston students, particularly those from historically and currently underserved groups. The plan includes a goal of a 70% college completion rate for all student demographics among Boston Public Schools graduates.

Click here for the event video and recap
raised hands graphic
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Boston School Committee: How Governance Can Advance Equity - Part 2: Effective School Governance

The second installment in our series of three conversations, this convening will delve into the characteristics of effective school committees within and across different governance structures (appointed, elected, hybrid). The panel conversation will feature perspectives from former district superintendents, scholars, and civic leaders.

Click here for the video and event recap
Michelle Wu and Lee Pelton
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

A Conversation on Leadership with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu

On April 27, the Boston Foundation was pleased to host an Annual Campaign for Civic Leadership special event: A Conversation on Leadership between President and CEO Lee Pelton and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. The two spoke for an hour about the Mayor's first month in office and the leadership lessons they each have taken in during the course of their time in public service and civic leadership

Click here to watch the conversation
Old map background
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Dialogues on Reparations: Exploring Reparation Models Around the Country

In the second installment of our series of dialogues, we more closely explored the diverse ways reparations models are being rolled out in communities around the country, and what lessons Boston and Massachusetts might take from other models.

Click here for a video and recap
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

When the Bough Breaks, Part 5: Challenges and Innovations in the Early Childhood Workforce

This month, the Early Childhood Coffee and Conversation series welcomed Dr. Kim D. Lucas to lead a discussion with and special guests Lindsay McCluskey of Community Labor United and early education consultant Wayne Ysaguirre, about the challenges of innovation in early childhood, and what innovation in early childhood looks like—as research and data are turned into action as a critical piece of co-imagining new systems, development, support, and compensation for the early childhood workforce.

Click here for the event video and recap
raised hands graphic
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Boston School Committee: How Governance Can Advance Equity: Part 1 - A Historical Look Back

Last November, nearly 80 percent of Bostonians supported a non-binding referendum to return to an elected school committee. With a new mayoral administration in place and a home-rule petition to switch to an elected format pending, the Boston Foundation is launching a series of convenings to create space for robust conversation and learning about school governance in Boston. The first of three, the March 30th event provided a look back at why Boston moved to an appointed committee in the 1990s, whether the shift fulfilled its charge, and how the city has changed since then. Key leaders from that time offered their perspectives.

Click here for the event video and recap
ACF event promo
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

We Rise Together: Town Hall on Asian Resilience, Power, & Solidarity

On March 24, the Asian Community Fund at the Boston Foundation commemorated the one-year anniversary of the murders of eight people, including six Asian women, with an event to honor the resilience, strength, and power of Asian American communities. A series of speakers, including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and national leaders Ai-Jen Poo and John Yang, reflected on the progress fighting anti-Asian racism to date, celebrated the leadership and contributions of local AAPI leaders, highlighted the importance of multiethnic and multiracial coalition building, and discussed strategies to continue advancing equity and solidarity throughout our region.

Click here for the event video and recap
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

When the Bough Breaks, Part 4: Exploring the Data

This month's conversation focused on data from a Boston Opportunity Agenda report about the availability of child care during the pandemic, and what the lack of availability has meant for the number of children receiving developmental screenings and accessing needed supports.

Watch the video and recap
Old map background
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

The Boston Foundation Dialogues on Reparations Part 1: Understanding Our History

More than 300 people attended the first of a four-part series on the topic of reparations. Our President and CEO, M. Lee Pelton, was joined by Dr. Jemadari Kamara, Chairman of the Africana Studies Department at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Imari Paris Jeffries, Executive Director of King Boston, for a conversation focused on the historical movement for reparations in America. The conversation explored reparations on both local and national levels—in places around the globe, and what those efforts could teach us as we confront the challenges and opportunities this issue presents for our communities going forward.

Watch the video of the conversation
An overhead shot of white mug filled with coffee, sitting on a bed of coffee beans.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Early Childhood Coffee and Conversation - When the Bough Breaks: The Voice of the Providers

This third session of "When the Bough Breaks," an ongoing series of talks about the challenges facing early childhood in Massachusetts,  featured the perspective of those closest to the work: childcare providers. Laura Perille (Nurtury Early Education) and Binal Patel (Neighborhood Villages) discussed the challenges and temporary solutions for providers during the ongoing pandemic. 

Watch the video of the conversation
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Mental Health, Trauma, and Healing in Our High Schools

After 18 months of mostly remote learning, most high school students in Boston returned to the classroom in person this fall. But the impact of the ongoing public health crisis and the economic dislocation are continuing to take a toll. This conversation, featuring a video presentation from Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, took a closer look at how well high schools are meeting students where they are, easing their healing, and supporting them in their return to “normalcy."

Click here for the event video and recap
An overhead shot of white mug filled with coffee, sitting on a bed of coffee beans.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Early Childhood Coffee and Conversation - When the Bough Breaks: Early Education Funding and the Pandemic

On January 7, the Boston Foundation continued its "coffee and conversation" look at the state of the early education and care system, with an exploration of funding for the fragile system. Colin Jones of MassBudget presented the current picture for state and federal funding, and took questions from the engaged audience.

View the video and presentation slides
Invitation photo - Building AAPI Power
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Building AAPI Power:  Representation, Voice and Advocacy in Local AAPI Communities

The Asian Community Fund and Boston Indicators presented this opportunity to learn about the growing Asian American population in Greater Boston, explore recent successes and shortcomings in Asian representation, and discuss the opportunities and challenges facing this diverse community, with the goal of increasing visibility for all AAPI people.

View the video and recap
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

The Boston Foundation 2021 Annual Meeting

The Boston Foundation hosted a virtual 2021 Annual Meeting, featuring a conversation between President and CEO M. Lee Pelton and Barr Foundation President and Trustee Jim Canales, plus the release of the 2021 Annual Report: Closing Boston's Equity Gap.

Watch the recording and recap
An overhead shot of white mug filled with coffee, sitting on a bed of coffee beans.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Early Childhood Coffee and Conversation - When the Bough Breaks: A Workforce Crisis in Early Childhood

The Boston Foundation launched the Early Childhood Coffee and Conversation series for 2021-22 with the State Commissioner of Early Education and Care, Samantha Aigner-Treworgy. In addition, the Boston Foundation provided a preview of "When the Bough Breaks", a paper about the ramifications of the childcare crisis. 

View the video and slides
A young girl of color exercising, and behind her are other children doing the same.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

On the Move: A presentation and discussion of children's physical activity in school-based programs in Boston 

We hope you joined us for the presentation of Evaluating Children’s Physical Activity in School-Based Programs, a working paper prepared for the Boston Foundation by ChildObesity180 at the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Research Assistant Professor Dan Hatfield shared the paper's findings on the impact of physical activity partners' work with the Boston Public Schools, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic., followed by a panel discussion about how to support daily physical activity for all young people.

Watch the recording and view speakers list
Multiracial in Greater Boston report cover. The Boston skyline in the background with black, brown, yellow and gray silhouettes of people in front of it. The report title is below that.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Multiracial in Greater Boston: The Leading Edge of Demographic Change

The United States is a nation of immigrants. And so is the region of Greater Boston. Not only is racial diversity increasing in the aggregate, but a growing number of families are forming across racial and ethnic lines. While it is a near certainty that our multiracial population will continue to grow, it remains to be seen whether all people regardless of background will be able to fully participate in, shape, and lead social and economic institutions that have traditionally been White-dominated.  In November, hundreds joined us to discuss these trends in the growing multi-racial population through the release of a new Boston Indicators report. 

Watch a recording and read a recap of the webinar
A mother in a hospital gown holding a swaddled baby.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

First 1,000 Days Forum

This forum provided a discussion about the First 1,000 Days program, a novel intervention that works across early-life systems to prevent obesity, promote healthy routines and behaviors, and reduce health disparities among young children and their families. Dr. Elsie Taveras, the lead researcher, presented the study’s research findings, the factors that led to the study's successful outcomes; and what can be done to disseminate these practices more broadly. 

Watch a recording and read a recap of the webinar
On the right, two students wearing caps and gowns. On the left, three different images of adults who are smiling.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Success Boston Coaching: A Report on Coaching Effectiveness on College Persistence and Completion

In October, we released  a new Success Boston report about the effectiveness of transition coaching on the college success of Boston Public Schools graduates. The latest in a series of reports, this analysis focuses on the BPS Classes of 2013 through 2016, and includes updated findings on persistence and academic performance, along with the first set of findings on the impact of coaching on degree completion. The research—and the accompanying conversation—will also discuss the characteristics of effective programs that move the needle on college completion; what it takes for coaching to work; and what we can do to maintain the citywide gains we have made over the last decade.

Watch the video and read a recap of the event
A gold colored map of Greater Boston. Blue text over it says "15-Minute Neighborhoods: Repairing Regional Harms and Building Vibrant Neighborhoods For All."
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

15-Minute Neighborhoods: Repairing Regional Harms and Building Vibrant Neighborhoods For All

At this forum, Boston Indicators and Massachusetts Housing Partnership Center for Housing Data released a new research paper, 15-Minute Neighborhoods: Repairing Regional Harms and Building Vibrant Neighborhoods for All, which details a vision for building a regional network of mixed-use neighborhoods where all residents can reach their daily needs within a 15-minute walk from their home. 

Watch the video and read a recap of the event
A purple, blue and yellow sunset over Boston.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

2021 Greater Boston Housing Report Card - Pandemic Housing Policy: From Progress to Permanence

This forum marked the release of the Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2021, Pandemic Housing Policy: From Progress to Permanence. This year’s edition of the Greater Boston Housing Report Card makes the case that the region’s most difficult housing challenges are still with us, that those challenges were compounded by recent events, and that the bold federal, state and local responses to the acute economic crisis should be parlayed into long-term responses to our ongoing housing crisis. The research presentation will be followed by a panel discussion of experts, each with a unique perspective on lessons learned during this unprecedented time.

Watch the video and read a recap of the event
A picture of three women of color on graduation day. Two are wearing purple graduation robes, smiling, one of whom has her hands in the air. The third woman is standing in between the two graduates, wearing a black coat and holding an umbrella. Graduates and their families are in the background.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Pathways to Economic Mobility: Identifying the Labor Market Value of ​​​​​Community College in Massachusetts

The Boston Foundation and MassINC released a new report on the employment and earnings outcomes of community college students and graduates in Massachusetts. Drawing on a new statewide system linking data across high schools, postsecondary institutions, and employers, this research explores important and timely questions to better understand the impact of community colleges on students’ career trajectories and their value as a pathway to economic mobility in the Commonwealth.

Watch a recording and read a recap of the webinar
Boston Opportunity Youth Collaborative logo; teal and black text on a white background
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Opportunity Youth Collaborative Data for Impact

Can a focus on data improve outcomes for Opportunity Youth? Since 2019, the Opportunity Youth Collaborative (OYC) has been partnering with the Boston Public Schools and Bunker Hill Community College, the largest youth- and young adult-serving institutions in the city, to incorporate a more comprehensive data strategy into their work to address racial inequity in student experience and outcomes. At this forum, representatives of both institutions, as well as youth and young adult leaders who will share lessons learned from this work and goals for the future.

Watch a recording of the webinar
Health Starts at Home
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Health Starts at Home: Final Evaluation Forum 

Since 2014, the Boston Foundation’s Health Starts at Home initiative has brought together housing and health-care organizations in a series of partnerships. The purpose was to support work that demonstrates the benefits of stable, affordable housing on children’s health outcomes. This event marked the culmination of the seven-year Health Starts at Home initiative, with an assessment of its innovative and significant body of work. Representatives from the four Health Starts at Home partnerships described their work and researchers from Health Resources in Action (HRiA) and Urban Institute share the final findings from the Health Starts at Home outcome evaluation.

Watch a recording and read a recap of the webinar
AAPI Power event cover
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Building AAPI Power: Uniting Against Hate and Mobilizing for Our Shared Future 

In the wake of anti-Asian hate and inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, increased visibility has allowed for a conversation about how Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities can build AAPI-led capabilities to mobilize for lasting change. On May 24, 2021, in honor of AAPI Heritage Month, the Asian Community Fund and the Boston Foundation shared a data presentation assessing the current needs of AAPI communities, followed by a panel discussion featuring community leaders who shared how we can build AAPI power.

Click here to watch the video of the webinar
A man sitting at a desk in front of a computer. He is holding a cell phone up to his ear.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

The Color of Capital Gap: Increasing Capital Access for Entrepreneurs of Color in Massachusetts

Boston Indicators, the Coalition for an Equitable Economy and the Boston Foundation’s Economic Inclusion teamed up for the release of The Color of the Capital Gap: Increasing Capital Access for Entrepreneurs of Color in Massachusetts. The report analyzes the dynamics behind persistent racial disparities in access to capital and presents a set of bold and actionable solutions. After a presentation of the research, participants heard from policymakers, local experts advancing capital access solutions now, and entrepreneurs themselves.

Watch a recording and read a recap of the webinar
The Boston Opportunity Agenda logo. Over a sky-blue background: On the left, a black and white photo of the side of a child's face, who is looking up. To the right of that is large yellow text that says "The Boston Opportunity Agenda". To the lower right of that is smaller white text that says "A Historic Education Partnership".
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Boston Opportunity Agenda: 9th Annual Report Card Release

The COVID pandemic provides us with an opportunity to reimagine education in Boston. Join us to explore data trends across our cradle to career outcomes in Boston and explore what data on student outcomes will be available in the near future to guide our recovery efforts. Attendees heard from community leaders about new ways that we can work together to advance equity and a just education ecosystem in Boston. 

Watch a recording of the webinar
Seizing the Moment v2
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Seizing the Moment: Proposals for a Just and Equitable Recovery

Through March and April, Boston Indicators released policy briefs through its new Seizing the Moment project. Written by a range of community leaders, briefs present concrete ideas for advancing equity and justice as we emerge from the pandemic, working to ensure that our region is more resilient when the next crisis hits. Guests at this unique event on Wednesday, April 14 to heard from and engaged with these authors. 

Watch recordings of report authors' breakout discussions
Studio B at The Record Co. - a warmly lit recording studio with a red carpet and a drum set in the center of the room.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Bright Spots and Big Questions: Cultural Spaces in Greater Boston

While the coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for the region’s arts sector and creative workers, there is some good news. Cultural organizations are finding new ways to build and finance space for rehearsal and recording, classes, performances, culinary enterprises, and more. Leaders of four Boston-area organizations operating or seeking to build new cultural space shared how they are approaching new business models, how they are faring in the pandemic, and the challenges and opportunities they see in retaining and creating new arts and cultural workspaces in the region.

Watch a recording of the webinar
A woman of color standing behind a glass door, smiling as she hangs up an "open" sign.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Unleashing the Potential of Entrepreneurs of Color in Massachusetts: A Blueprint for Economic Growth and Equitable Recovery

MassINC, the Coalition for an Equitable Economy and the Boston Foundation mapped out the tools, resources and commitments necessary to achieve racial and ethnic parity in business ownership by the end of the decade. Presenters spotlighted findings from a new MassINC report, Unleashing the Potential of Entrepreneurs of Color in Massachusetts,  and leaders and small business owners spoke about how we can come together to help more people of color achieve their business aspirations.

Watch a recording of the webinar
A man standing behind a stack of boxes and bags of food, wearing a mask and holding two thumbs up. A truck and other food bank volunteers in the background.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Chelsea 2021 and Beyond: Toward a Just and Equitable Recovery

The City of Chelsea has been an epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis in Massachusetts. This webinar focused on the innovative “Chelsea 2021” initiative, a new donor and community partnership aimed at ensuring a just and equitable recovery for Chelsea through deep engagement and enlightened philanthropy.

Watch a recording of the webinar
Four young people sitting indoors in a row, 3 of them writing in notebooks in their laps, one looking up and in front of her.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Mobilizing for Opportunity: Connecting Low-Income College Students to Internships and Good First Jobs 

This forum marked the release of a new research report on the labor market experiences of recent college graduates from the Boston Public Schools. The report examines how well graduates of local four-year colleges and universities are connecting to internships and landing “that good first job” after graduation. 

Watch a recording of the webinar
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Learning From Place: Placemaking and Philanthropy in a Pandemic 

At this event, community leaders shared their learnings about investing in place and advancing spatial justice. The forum will address the promise and shortcomings of a place-based philanthropic strategy and, ultimately, highlight the role of community leaders in shaping vibrant, resilient, and equitable places.

Watch a recording of the webinar
SkillWorks
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Advancing Workforce Equity in Boston: A Blueprint for Action

SkillWorks partnered with PolicyLink, the National Equity Atlas, Burning Glass Technologies, and the National Fund for Workforce Solutions on the newly-released report Advancing Workforce Equity in Boston: A Blueprint for Action. This event included presentation of the report's data followed by a conversation about how we can leverage this data in Greater Boston to implement the changes necessary for an equitable economic recovery and future.

Watch a recording of the webinar
A group of racially diverse young people sit at a table in doors, having a discussion.
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

Building a Better Democracy Through Civic Engagement

The Boston Foundation and Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tisch College invited guests to join in a conversation on evidence-based lessons on how to prepare young people to thrive in civic life. In this webinar, experts shared evidence-based research on how we can prepare young people to be active citizens. 

Watch the webinar video and recap
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

An Orientation to the TBF Racial Equity Capacity Builders Directory 

In November 2020,  the Boston Foundation released the Racial Equity Capacity Builders Directory, a compilation of individuals and organizations that provide consulting and training services to Greater Boston nonprofits seeking to advance racial equity within their organizations. Directory authors Curdina Hill and Molly Mead explained how to get the most out this resource and start or deepen your organization's racial equity work. 

Click here for the webinar video and recap

All past forums and other videos