Special Projects
Commonwealth Compact was born in 2007 of twin convictions:
that Massachusetts history demonstrates the economic and social benefits of diversity
and that our state’s current reputation as an unwelcoming place for people of color must be turned completely around if we want to achieve our potential.
To change both that negative reputation, and the reality that too often still contributes to it, civic leaders created Commonwealth Compact to encourage organizations to make significant progress by measuring themselves annually on a detailed series of Benchmarks. The Compact works with existing programs, and will provide additional resources, including a talent database.
Give US Your Poor is a national public education campaign addressing homelessness. In 1999, Give US Your Poor began as a documentary film project looking at homelessness, and has grown into a wider education campaign utilizing networks, media, public support, and the latest research on homelessness. From the beginning, Give US Your Poor has existed not to compete with other homeless organizations, but rather to complement and work with them.
John Joseph Moakley Chair of Peace and Reconciliation
Padraig O’Malley is the John Joseph Moakley Distinguished Professor of Peace and Reconciliation and a celebrated facilitator/convener and author on topics related to divided societies, O’Malley has played major roles in breaking the gridlock and promoting peace in South Africa, Northern Ireland and more recently the Middle East.
John Joseph Moakley (1927-2001) was born in nearby South Boston and is fondly remembered as a compassionate and capable public servant. His early political career included positions as a state representative, a state senator, and a Boston city councilor before going on to fill the congressional seat once held by Speaker John W. McCormack. Joe proudly represented the Massachusetts’ 9th District for nearly thirty years.
