Urban College Joins Forces with City of Boston to Empower Youth-Focused Nonprofits
Urban College of Boston is proud to announce a new partnership with the City of Boston that brings professional development opportunities to grassroots organizations making a difference in the lives of young people across the city.
As part of the City’s Youth Development Fund, this initiative supports 21 emerging nonprofit organizations in the Emerging Organization Learning Community, a selected cohort designed to strengthen leadership, sustainability, and impact. For the first time, the City is teaming up with an external partner to deliver training, and we’re honored that Urban College was chosen to lead this effort.
Participants will engage in online courses taught by our dedicated faculty, covering essential topics like fundraising, nonprofit management, governance, and board and staff development. These virtual sessions will be complemented by in-person gatherings that foster collaboration and community among Boston’s youth-serving leaders.
“We welcome the opportunity to support the organizations and leaders of the Emerging Organization Learning Community, whose work reflects the diversity and resilience of our city” said Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernández, president of Urban College of Boston. “The City’s investment in grassroots youth organizations helps remove a too-common barrier for small and mid-sized organizations and puts them on a path to long-term sustainability. Young people are vital to the Boston’s future.”
Alongside establishing this training initiative, the City’s Youth Development Fund awarded $1,512,163 to 127 nonprofit organizations serving youth and young adults through two tracks – small, emerging organizations and larger, established organizations – with this year’s priorities aligned to the City’s Connect, Learn, Explore commitment.
“The Learning Community offers emerging leaders in nonprofit youth development with an opportunity to connect with one another and build community, while simultaneously building their management and leadership skills,” said José F. Massó, City of Boston Human Services Chief.
The kickoff event, which was hosted at Teen Center at St. Peter’s, also featured opening remarks from Larry Mayes, senior vice president for government and community relations at Catholic Charities, and a presentation of Youth Speaks Survey findings from Pedro Cruz, executive director of the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement. The room was filled with energy and hope, as representatives from the City, nonprofit partners, and Urban College came together to celebrate this new chapter.
Urban College is deeply committed to supporting Boston’s communities through education, collaboration, and empowerment. We’re excited to see how this partnership will help build stronger, more sustainable organizations that uplift our city’s youth.
To learn more about our programs and community partnerships, explore our website.
From left to right: Larry Mayes, senior vice president for government and community relations at Catholic Charities; Joao Dos Santos, director of the Catholic Charities Teen Center at St. Peter’s; Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernández, president of Urban College of Boston; José F. Massó, City of Boston Human Services Chief
Representatives from Urban College of Boston, the City of Boston, and Catholic Charities gathered to announce a new professional development partnership.