A Joyous 2016 Social Innovator Showcase

On Wednesday, May 18 more than 300 philanthropists, business leaders, and others gathered at the MIT Media Lab for the Social Innovation Forum's 13th annual Social Innovator Showcase featuring eight of greater Boston’s most innovative nonprofit organizations pitching their solutions to our community's toughest social issues. The event was sponsored by Eastern Bank, John Hancock, Nutter, and the Margaret Stewart Lindsay Foundation.

Social Innovation Forum (SIF) Executive Director Susan Musinsky opened the evening by highlighting the vibrant social impact community that the Social Innovation Forum has created.

To date, this 'marketplace' has directed more than $24 million in cash and in-kind services to 99 social impact organizations.

“Over the past 13 years, we’ve built an extraordinary community of innovators and entrepreneurs and investors and supporters, like many of you here tonight,” said Susan. “We have created a 'marketplace,' where people exchange resources (time, money, expertise, and social capital) in order to collectively create social change. To date, this 'marketplace' has directed more than $24 million in cash and in-kind services to 99 social impact organizations – both nonprofits, like our Innovators tonight, and for-profit social impact businesses, many of whom have joined us for this event as well.” 

Then, each Innovator had five minutes to pitch their investment opportunity to the audience:

• Anita Saville, the Executive Director of Budget Buddies, described her organization’s plan to launch an affiliate network, which will enable Budget Buddies to triple the number of low-income women served by its award-winning financial literacy program.
   
• Project Manager Darnell Adams of the Dorchester Community Food Co-op, presented a plan to build a community-owned grocery store that makes healthy food accessible and advances economic opportunity in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston.
   
• Sovanna Pouv, Executive Director of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (CMAA), asked the audience to invest in CMAA’s efforts to strengthen and expand programing for Cambodian young professionals and youth in Lowell, MA.
   
• Deputy Director Al Vega of MassCOSH, shared his organization’s plan to achieve public policy changes that increase protections for contingent workers and expand access to medical treatment for injured workers.
   
• Executive Director Jeff Butts presented SMART Team’s plan to expand its ability to provide positive transitions for court-involved, homeless, and traumatized youth.
   
• Kaska Yawo, the Executive Director of African Community Education, shared his organization’s plan to increase program capacity and reach 60% more African refugee and immigrant students in Worcester, MA.
   
• Eric Arnold, Executive Director of Hale, shared his organization’s plan to raise funds to expand the flagship Hale Outdoor Learning Adventures (HOLA) program to by 185%, providing more inner-city students with summer academic programs and outdoor recreational opportunities.
   
• Tina Chéry, Co-founder and President/CEO of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute presented her organization’s plan to launch a Training & Technical Assistance Center, which will increase the capacity of public health professionals and institutional stakeholders to implement coordinated, consistent, and compassionate homicide response protocols.

The pitches were well received by an energized and engaged audience, who gave a standing ovation to Tina Chéry as she wrapped up her moving presentation about the work the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute is doing to support individuals, families, and communities impacted by homicide.

Social Innovation Forum Board Chair Ryan Dings offered his perspective on the immense joy that this work brings to donors, volunteers, supporters, staff, and nonprofit leaders.

“Tackling the social problems these innovators are addressing here this evening isn't easy. It requires a lot of hard work," said Ryan. "But this work also produces incredible joy - from the joy experienced throughout the accelerator program - to the feeling in this room tonight - all the way to the folks throughout greater Boston whose lives are being uplifted by these inspiring organizations. That is a lot of joy.”  

This event is not about quick check writing. It's about a community working together for change. When you and we come together, something deeper happens here.

In closing, Susan circled back to the theme of community. "This event is not about quick check writing. It's a about a community working together for change. When you and we come together, something deeper happens here."

These eight organizations were selected from more than 170 applicants to form the 2016 cohort of the Social Innovator Accelerator, a 24-month capacity-building program that helps small, effective nonprofits scale their work. The Showcase marks the completion of the initial, intensive, six-month consulting component of the accelerator, with 18 months of additional coaching, performance tracking, and support to follow.

Missed the Showcase?

Our Innovators will be presenting once again on June 29 from 8:30 am – 10:00 am at Brown Rudnick in downtown Boston at a “Second Look” event. The event is a great opportunity for those who missed the Showcase to meet our Innovators and hear their presentations. Please visit our Second Look page for more information or to RSVP.