b'Celebrating our nonprofitsIn May, we formally saluted our 150 nonprofit partnersfor the important work they do and announced thewinners of the inaugural Social Innovation Award. Saluting the nonprofitspeople and ideas came through that we werent awareCambridge is known more for higher education andof, said board member Lori Lander, who managedinnovation than for its social sectorbut every year,the panel of judges, which included Cambridge Mayor our 150 nonprofit partners quietly work to support theMarc McGovern; Conan Harris, executive director ofcity, addressing hunger, homelessness, elder services,My Brothers Keeper; and Mary Ann Bates, executive workforce training, housing challenges, youth and director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Labearly childhood services, education, and the arts.North America at MIT. This May, CCF saluted the hard work of the nonprofits Emerging social innovatorswith a party at the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Churchs Christian Life Center on Bishop Allen Drive. Sisters Unchained, a program dedicated to healingFor nonprofit staff who are used to working events, and activism for women, nongender conforming people, a party honoring them was a pleasant surprise.and children of color whose parents are incarcerated, was selected as the winner, followed by four runners-up Seeding innovation (see stories at right). The Foundation is providing these The event also marked the launch of the Foundationsnascent organizations not just with financial assistance Social Innovation Award. We were looking for greatbut also with structural support in the form of consulting, ideas that could be game-changerslight-touch inno- logistics, and connections that can help them grow. T N N N I E L E B R AT F SG O U R O P O I C R vations that have an oversized impact but dont require a lot of money, resources, or infrastructure, said boardWere taking chances on forward-thinking ideas in the member Phil Johnson. community because theyre at the vanguard of whats coming next in the nonprofit world, said Johnson.The 41 applicants really delivered. We were incrediblyAnd because we know that tucked away in corners of excited by the depth and breadth of the proposals andthe city are really smart, dedicated people who arenominations we received, and humbled by how manydoing amazing things. We want to shine a light on them.Photo by Allegra Boverman8'