Boston Mayor Launches Community Empowerment Grants Worth $500,000 For Nonprofits Supporting Black Men

Source: Boston Globe / Getty

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has partnered with the Office of Black Male Advancement to launch the third installment of the Community Empowerment grants program for local nonprofits. The $500,000 grant was created to support non-profit organizations dedicated to empowering Black men in Boston.

“These grants will support organizations in expanding their work and amplifying their impact across the city’s neighborhoods, with funding provided through the Black Male Advancement operating budget,” the city of Boston wrote in a press release.

The release also provided details about the Community Empowerment grants, explaining that the program will have seven focus areas: mentoring and out-of-school time, youth and young adult pathways, housing mobility, economic inclusion and wealth-building, workforce training and development, fatherhood engagement, and mental health and wellness.

“I’m grateful to the Office of Black Male Advancement for their critical work to invest in and empower our communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We’re excited to relaunch these Community Empowerment grants and look forward to partnering with the community in our shared goal to provide multi-faceted, comprehensive programming and support that uplift our Black men and boys across neighborhoods.”

Entering its third consecutive year, the grant program will provide personalized coaching, nonprofit training courses, expert tools, and resources to selected organizations aimed at enhancing their impact in the short term and building long-term capacity, according to the City Of Boston.

“The third year of our Community Empowerment Small Grants represents a commitment to build stronger, more resilient communities by investing in organizations that uplift our Black men and boys,” said Mariangely Solis Cervera, Chief of Equity and Inclusion. “By pairing these grants with capacity-building support, we aim to create sustainable change and foster lasting opportunities that resonate across Boston’s neighborhoods.”

Frank Farrow, Executive Director of the Office of Black Male Advancement, also talked about the importance of the program.

“For three years, our Office has supported local organizations doing critical work in Boston neighborhoods. On a daily basis, their direct impact is felt within our communities. We are investing in their systemic work to create lasting change for Black men and boys across Boston today,” Farrow told the City Of Boston.

Applications are now open and are due on Monday, Jan 6.  Applying organizations may request up to $20,000 in financial support, but must be based in Boston and have a successful track record of working positively with Black men and boys.

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