Before we get wholly caught up the workflows and news cycles of the new year, let’s take a moment to celebrate the year that was. Many of us limped along in 2021 still addled by the pandemic and concerns about equity and representation across our country. But as always, Teak’s clients continued to make a positive impact on our planet and in our communities — and that kind of good news shines the beacon of optimism that we need to dive head-long in to 2022.
Here are highlights from some of our clients whose work helped people overcome pandemic related challenges in 2021. We hope their diligence and perseverance inspires you too.
Boston Uncornered continued to use its solution to gang violence to provide mentoring and financial support to its students who were strongly impacted by the pandemic. The organization welcomed its first Executive Director Tito SantosSilva, elevated two of its peer mentors to the position of College Readiness Director and started the Uncornered Internship program. It also brought the Uncornered Photo Project featuring the Boston mayoral candidates to Boston’s Seaport District. The striking installation of portraits by photographer John Huet reveals the universal experience of what it means to be Uncornered, whether you’re a powerful public figure, an athlete, a business leader, a celebrity, or gang involved.
Project Bread ramped up its efforts to ensure children have year-round access to food through school and summer meal programs. In partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and 438 sponsors, more than 93,000,000 school meals were served to students for free through federal waivers. In addition, the nonprofit filed legislation and launched a campaign for School Meals for All in Massachusetts. When passed, Massachusetts could be the third state in the nation to permanently guarantee all school children have access to healthy breakfast and lunch at no charge to families.
The pandemic forced museums and other cultural institutions including the Cape Ann Museum to fundamentally rethink how to engage with the public. While the Gloucester museum is now open to visitors, many of their efforts from the early days of the lockdown bore fruit in 2021. A grade school outreach program evolved into a broader community effort that culminated in an exhibition of self-portraits of local residents. An e-newsletter that delivers nuggets of art and insights continues to brighten inboxes today, introducing the treasures from this smaller institution to new audiences near and far.
For nearly two years, clinicians, staff members and volunteers of Salem Hospital—one of the state’s hardest hit community hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic—have worked tirelessly to provide compassionate care to patients along the North Shore while ensuring their colleagues also have the supplies and physical and mental support needed. In addition to caring for patients, they have also been deeply involved within their community addressing food insecurity, from launching creative food distribution programs to creating a new community farm—a community hospital supporting its community in multiple ways.
The economic conditions of the pandemic have made many low-income families vulnerable to predatory lenders who charge triple digit interest rates. Capital Good Fund finances low interest loans for a variety of purposes including COVID related expenses, making energy upgrades to homes, immigration costs, security deposits and covering other moving expenses. In 2021 the nonprofit CDFI lender increased their number of loans by more than 60% and added Colorado to the states they already serve which are Rhode Island, Florida, Massachusetts, Illinois, Texas, and Delaware.
Low-income families struggling to pay rent often can’t afford basic childhood necessities, and COVID-19 further exacerbated many people’s financial struggles. Cradles to Crayons, with footholds in Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago, stepped up to deliver much needed necessities — from seasonally-appropriate clothing to diapers to school supplies. Over the holidays, the nonprofit distributed more than 100,000 pieces of clothing, and over the last 18 months of the pandemic they supplied nearly 12 million diapers. The need for diapers to keep babies healthy is also driving them to advocate for the End Diaper Need Act, currently in committee in Washington.
Throughout the pandemic, the New England Aquarium has never wavered in its mission to protect the blue planet. Once it was safe to invite families back, the aquarium continued educating future ocean protectors and introduced new ways to enjoy the waterfront with a giant mural on its front plaza. Its rescue biologists have continued to care for cold-stunned sea turtles during another record year for seasonal strandings. Aquarium researchers are also on the frontlines of saving another endangered species — the North Atlantic right whale — and have found reason to celebrate the births of a few calves.
This smattering of good news highlights a fraction of our clients’ accomplishments in 2021 — and we can assure you that they aren’t slowing down one bit. We can’t wait to see how they make our world better in 2022!
