Boston Neighborhood Fellows Program (BNF) - The Philanthropic Initiative

2007 Boston Neighborhood Fellows

Image by Faye photo

On Tuesday, March 13, 2007, Mayor Thomas M. Menino presented these six Bostonians the Boston Neighborhood Fellows Award:

Abdi Ali, Boston Arts Academy

Christopher Byner, Streetworker Initiative/Boston Centers for Youth & Families

Elizabeth Commerford, Mission Hill Health Movement, Boston Self Help Center, VEDA

Sister Mary Hart, R.G.S., St. Katharine Drexel Children’s Programs

Marvin Martin, Greater Four Corners Action Coalition

Jim Stevens, Cradles to Crayons

Learn more about the 2007 Fellows

TPI designed the Boston Neighborhood Fellows Program for an anonymous donor as one strategy to achieve the donor's goal of recognizing individuals of unusual creativity, vision, and initiative who are quietly making the community a better place. Each year, six individuals nominated by "spotters," are chosen to receive $30,000 "no strings attached" awards.

Through this initiative, the donor achieves the dual goals of recognizing the power of "unsung heroes" to make a difference while reminding others that hope and possibility exist, even in difficult times.

BNF is an awards program that provides recognition and direct financial support to individuals of creativity, vision and leadership who work in community service in Greater Boston. The Boston Neighborhood Fellows Program celebrates the builders of the community; the social entrepreneurs who often go unrecognized, but who make a vital contribution to our quality of life.

The individuals chosen as Boston Neighborhood Fellows work for government, community organizations, or are outstanding volunteers. Diverse in race, class, occupation, and age, their one common characteristic is that they fulfill a conception of leadership articulated by John Gardner: they will be people who have become less "a servant to what is," and more "a shaper of what might be."

Nominations
Nominations to the Boston Neighborhood Fellows Program are made by a group of "spotters", individuals representing diverse parts of the Boston community. They serve for a two-year period. During that time the spotters agree to identify individuals who, by virtue of their leadership and service in Boston neighborhoods, qualify for this award. The spotters serve on a voluntary basis.

There is a tendency in all award programs for the selection to gravitate towards individuals who are more visible and less likely to need the recognition and support the program offers. Using "spotters" and keeping them focused on the goal of identifying "unsung heroes" helps TPI mitigate against this tendency.

Eligibility
Nominees must be engaged in some form of community service. They may work for a government agency or a community organization, or they can be doing volunteer work. Some of the Boston Neighborhood Fellows may be hard working community activists engaged in improving Boston neighborhoods. Others may be the dedicated cop on the beat, the inspiring teacher or youth worker, or people with special talents who enhance community life.

They represent the best practitioners of their form of community service, those who perform their jobs with creativity and initiative, contributing to the community in ways that go beyond the scope of their specific job description.

Their working lives represent extraordinary stories of courage, struggle, and commitment. They are self-starters who are likely to make good use of flexible resources. The Boston Neighborhood Fellowships are not awarded to individuals who hold public office.

Selection Process
A small selection committee reviews the nominations and makes the final selection. TPI's staff conducts a complete review and reference check for each finalist.

Selecting a group of fellows that represents the diversity of Boston is prime consideration.

Each Boston Neighborhood Fellow receives a grant of $10,000 each year for a period of 3 years.

The funds are absolutely unrestricted. The recipients may use them to stabilize their personal finances, to take time off for special projects or a sabbatical. Some might choose to go back to school or obtain some skills training. Others might choose to use the funds as social venture capital to seed new projects. Recipients will not be required to continue in their present work.

No reports will be required of recipients on their activities. Other than appearing at an initial presentation, they will not be required to work together or to attend meetings. Fellows are invited to share their experiences and discuss their work over the course of the year, but participation is not mandatory.

One goal of the BNF Program is to be a highly visible mechanism for public recognition of excellence in community service. Press coverage of the awards presentation is encouraged.

The Boston Neighborhood Fellows Program provides an opportunity to identify and support the best practice of community service in neighborhoods of Boston.

This program has been replicated in Florida by the Palm Beach Community Foundation, and a similar effort is now in the planning stages in Baltimore.