| Founder(s) | Melnea Cass [1] |
|---|---|
| Type | 501(c)(3) |
| Founded | July 24, 1962 [2] |
| Location | 178 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111 USA |
| Origins | Boston Community Development Program (BCDP) in 1961 |
| Key people | John J. Drew, President/CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler, Executive Vice President Syvalia Hyman III, Chairperson of the Board |
| Area served | Boston neighborhoods |
| Focus | Anti-poverty |
| Method | centralized and neighborhood education, services, training, counseling, and advocacy; Area Planning Action Council (APAC); Neighborhood Services Center (NSC); Family Service Center (FSC) |
| Revenue | $132,326,374 (funding 2008) [3] |
| Employees | Approximately 1,000 |
| Motto | "Overcoming Poverty." |
| Website | bostonabcd.org |
Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) is an anti-poverty and community development organization founded in 1962 in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest non-profit human services agency in New England, serving serving more than 100,000 low-income Greater Boston residents through its city-wide network of neighborhood-based organizations.[4]
Every year since 1974, ABCD has a Community Awards dinner honoring people and organizations who have made significant contributions to the Boston community especially through their volunteerism.[5][6]
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ABCD provides services to the community through a decentralized, city-wide network, which includes 13 neighborhood centers. [7]
These centers are usually an Area Planning Action Council (APAC), a Family Service Center (FSC), or a Neighborhood Services Center (NSC).
The neighborhood centers include:
ABCD operates two schools for specialized populations and serve as alternative learning environments.
The ABCD President/CEO provides operational and visionary leadership to ABCD, reporting to the 50-member ABCD Board of Directors. The Vice Presidents provide management covering every program and employee. Department Heads and Program Directors manage ABCD programs. Neighborhood Directors oversee operations in the many neighborhood-based centers.
ABCD runs a variety of programs for individuals and families living in the City of Boston. The agency's stated goal through these programs is to "meet needs, empower individuals and families, and strengthen communities." [17] These programs include Career Development, Charitable Campaigns, Early Child Care & Education, Elder Services, Financial Futures Initiative, Food Pantries, Fuel Assistance/Energy Conservation, Health Services, Housing & Homelessness Prevention, Youth Development.
ABCD Head Start and Children's Services is the largest early childhood provider in Boston, and is among the top three early childhood providers in the state [18]
ABCD Head Start and Children's Services is a family development program that serves pregnant women, children from birth to age five, and their families. The Head Start programs that ABCD runs are child-focused and designed to provide opportunities and services to low-income children and families of Boston.[19]
ABCD Fuel Assistance helps more than 15,000 low-income households in Boston, Brookline and Newton pay fuel bills during the heating season.[20] During the 2009 season, the Fuel Assistance program was able to expand eligibility requirements thanks to increased federal and state funding, up to a family of four with an income of $53,608 being eligible for some assistance.[21] Funding sources have included the NSTAR foundation, which in 2001 donated $80,000 to the Fuel Assistance program.[22]
ABCD's SummerWorks program, started in 1965, found jobs for 2,200 people between the ages of 14-24 during the summer of 2009. In 2010, SummerWorks is projected to receive between 7,000 and 8,000 applications, a 200% increase over 2009.[23] [24] Participants receive guidance, comprehensive work readiness and life skills workshops ranging from resume writing, financial education, conflict resolution and workplace etiquette.[25] Many of them will be placed at local non-profit organizations such as hospitals, health centers, museums, day camps, government agencies and child care centers.[26]