A powerful example of the way networks can help build community and drive social change. Kudos to the entire Barr team for showing how this approach can work, and how it will continue to produce additive results over time. -David Brotherton
I appreciate the benefits this program has had for the Fellows involved but if the Barr Foundation really wants to change the DNA of the sector in Boston, why are they working with such small numbers? 48 Fellows represents only 1% of the 4600 charities. With an endowment of over a billion dollars and the history of the programs’ success, isn’t it time to scale up?
How best to scale is an interesting question. The Barr Fellowship is clearly a bet on depth not breadth. So its impact on the DNA of the sector in Boston will depend not only on the growth of its membership, but on how members of this network engage in the many other efforts in the city to foster collaboration and positive change - like Boston’s District-Charter Compact (http://www.barrfoundation.org/news/come-together-right-now/) or Thrive in Five (http://thrivein5boston.org/) or the Boston Opportunity Agenda (http://www.bostonopportunityagenda.org/) to name a few.
COMMENTS
BY David Brotherton
ON May 17, 2012 04:54 PM
A powerful example of the way networks can help build community and drive social change. Kudos to the entire Barr team for showing how this approach can work, and how it will continue to produce additive results over time. -David Brotherton
BY Christy Schumann
ON July 12, 2012 05:00 PM
Thank you for sharing this story. Indeed one of the “movements of movments” and a role model for influencing positive change.
BY Carl Mastandrea
ON July 13, 2012 07:36 AM
I appreciate the benefits this program has had for the Fellows involved but if the Barr Foundation really wants to change the DNA of the sector in Boston, why are they working with such small numbers? 48 Fellows represents only 1% of the 4600 charities. With an endowment of over a billion dollars and the history of the programs’ success, isn’t it time to scale up?
BY Stefan Lanfer
ON July 17, 2012 01:43 PM
How best to scale is an interesting question. The Barr Fellowship is clearly a bet on depth not breadth. So its impact on the DNA of the sector in Boston will depend not only on the growth of its membership, but on how members of this network engage in the many other efforts in the city to foster collaboration and positive change - like Boston’s District-Charter Compact (http://www.barrfoundation.org/news/come-together-right-now/) or Thrive in Five (http://thrivein5boston.org/) or the Boston Opportunity Agenda (http://www.bostonopportunityagenda.org/) to name a few.