Social Innovation Forum
Join the Social Innovation Forum on March 22, 2019 from 12:00-1:30 pm for the Social Issue Talk "Investing in Innovative Approaches to Early Childhood Education." Lunch will be provided. Space is limited so please RSVP below.
MODERATORMarcia Galazzi, Founder and Executive Director of Brewster Day Camp
Marcia Galazzi is Founder and Executive Director of Brewster Day Camp (BDC). She holds a Master of Education from Harvard University and a BA from Simmons College. Marcia has over a half-century of experience in recreation programming and is a national leader in early childhood education. She is a passionate organizer in her local community serving as past president of the board of directors of the Orleans Academy of Performing Arts and of the Nauset Rotary Club. When not at work, Marcia can be found with her husband Stefan enjoying a kayak paddle or sail on Little Pleasant Bay on Cape Cod. She is passionate about reading, writing, and cooking her favorite Italian recipes with her extended family close by.
SPEAKERSMel King, Founder and Director of the South End Technology Center
Melvin H. 'Mel' King is an educator, activist, and writer. Mel has been active across the landscape of neighborhoods and politics of Boston for over fifty-five years, while also being an educator, youth worker, social activist, community organizer and developer, elected politician, author, and an Adjunct Professor at the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning. He is responsible for creating community programs and institutions for low-income people in Boston. He is the founder and current director of the South End Technology Center.
Jeri Robinson, Former Vice President of Childhood Initiatives at Boston Children's MuseumJeri Robinson has recently retired from her position as Vice President of Childhood Initiatives at the Boston Children's Museum. Jen offers 45 years of experience in teaching and consulting in the field of early childhood education. Jeri received her B.S., M.S. Ed. and an Honorary
Jeri is the developer of the PlaySpace exhibit, (one of the earliest prototypes for early learning family spaces in children’s and other museums), founder of the Boston Cultural Collaborative for Early Learning and co-founder of both Families First Parenting programs and “Count Down to Kindergarten". She currently is a member of the Boston School Committee and servs as co-chair of the City of Boston’s Thrive in Five program and the Mayor’s Universal Pre-K Task Force. She is currently a member of the board of the Association of Children’s Museums and the Boston School Committee. Jeri also serves as co-chair of the Opportunity and Achievement Gaps Task Force for the City of Boston and the Boston Public Schools.
In recognition of her long-term service, Jeri Robinson has received several awards including Wheelock Centennial Award, the Boston Parents Paper Family Advocate Award, the Women Who Care Award, and the Lucy Wheelock Award.
2019 Social Innovator Paige Academy Paige Academy is an independent community school offering a culturally-resonant and academically rigorous curriculum of arts, sciences, humanities, and technology for children from infancy to 12 years old. For almost fifty years, Paige Academy has educated over 10,000 students from Boston's inner city neighborhoods. The school's approach to teaching and learning is grounded in African and African-American culture, the Nguzo Saba, also called, the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. TRACK PARTNER Wellington Management Foundation_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________About the Spring Social Issue Talk Series
This year, the Social Innovation Forum (SIF) is excited to announce the expansion of our annual March Social Issue Talk Series to all of spring. With the optimistic energy necessary to live and work in Boston, we are ushering in the start of spring early with our first event on February 21. The newly renamed Spring Social Issue Talk Series is still made up of eight free, educational events across the city but now takes place throughout the months of February to April. At each event, funders and community leaders can hear from leading experts and our 2019 Social Innovators about the latest trends, best practices, and exciting innovations across a variety of fields.
Learn about the entire series here.