3rd EyE Youth Empowerment, Inc. Selected as a Finalist for Root Cause’s 2013-2014 Social Innovation Forum

image_pdfimage_print

3rd EyE Youth Empowerment, Inc. doing positive things in New Bedford for decades

3rd EyE Youth Empowerment, Inc. was one of 5 innovative, results-oriented nonprofit organizations in Greater Boston selected as a finalist for Root Cause’s Social Innovation Forum in the social issue track focused on Youth in Gateway Cities: Investing in Young People, Revitalizing Communities. An evaluation committee made up of more than 70 social issue experts from the business, government, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors reviewed more than 100 applications to select the finalists.

3rd EyE Youth Empowerment, Inc. was selected for its commitment to engage and empower young leaders to positively transform their community through skill-based mentoring, organizing and the arts in New Bedford, Massachusetts and surrounding areas. It now will participate in a rigorous interview and assessment process for the opportunity to receive access to cash and capacity-building services from Root Cause and its partners valued at more than $135,000.

“From the beginning, the application process has been eye-opening and very helpful in identifying our organizational efforts and priorities. We are honored to be selected as a finalist since this opportunity is not only what our organization needs, but also our community and ultimately our youth. Founded by youth, 3rd EyE has been in existence for 15 years and is now at a critical point of growth. Having the expertise and attention of Root Cause’s Social Innovation Forum is just what we need to take us to the next level. We are proud of what we’ve accomplished and that we are one of the five incredible organizations that have been engaged in this process thus far. We are also thankful to the anonymous individual who nominated us.” Jennifer DeBarros, Executive Director.

The Social Innovation Forum is Root Cause’s demonstration of how resources can be allocated based on performance to accelerate progress on social issues. Each year, the Social Innovation Forum identifies five nonprofits at a critical stage in their development (“Social Innovators”) and four to eight for-profits and hybrid organizations (“Impact Entrepreneurs”) through an intensive six-month selection process. Root Cause staff then helps these organizations gain visibility, expand their networks, and build capacity.

For the 2013-2014 program year, the Social Innovation Forum will select one Social Innovator for each of the following five social issue tracks:

  • Anything Goes: Innovative, Effective, and Sustainable Approaches to our Region’s Toughest Social Issues
  • Track Sponsor: Boston Open Impact
  • Breaking Down Barriers to Effective Mental Health Services
  • Track Sponsor: Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund General Fund
  • Expanding Opportunities and Improving Services for Veterans in Massachusetts
  • Track Sponsor: Highland Street Foundation
  • Sustainability in Our Communities: Building Greener and Healthier Cities
  • Track Sponsor: Schrafft Charitable Trust
  • Youth in Gateway Cities: Investing in Young People, Revitalizing Communities

Track Sponsor: Amelia Peabody Foundation
The chosen Social Innovator for each track will be notified by December 2. It then will present its work to leaders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors at Root Cause’s Social Innovator Showcase on Wednesday, May 7, 2014. Each Social Innovator also will receive access to:

  • $10,000 from the social issue track sponsor
  • A package of Root Cause consulting, executive coaching, and other in-kind services valued at more than $115,000
  • A second Root Cause consulting engagement 18 months out from the Showcase valued at $10,000
  • Support from the Social Innovation Forum staff on performance tracking and relationship-building
  • Access to the Social Innovation Forum’s growing network of nonprofit, business, government and foundation leaders

Since 2004, the Social Innovation Forum has directed close to $13 million in cash and in-kind support to 59 Social Innovators and Impact Entrepreneurs. For every $1 donated to the Social Innovation Forum, innovators and entrepreneurs have seen a $3 increase in their budgets.

About Root Cause
Root Cause is a nonprofit provider of high-impact and strategic consulting and research services for mission-driven organizations nationwide. Over the past 10 years, Root Cause has improved the performance of nonprofit, public and philanthropic institutions to create enduring social change. For more information, please visit http://www.rootcause.org.


About Michael Silvia

Served 20 years in the United States Air Force. Owner of New Bedford Guide.

Check Also

S&P cites New Bedford’s ‘very strong management’ in affirming City’s Bond Rating

“NEW BEDFORD – A leading credit rating agency has affirmed the City’s credit rating, pointing …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Translate »