Partners & Programs

Boston Bridges Initiative awards grants to schools, parent organizations, and other community organizations that support socially interactive activities beyond the classroom. These programs foster lasting friendships and dialogue among students and families within racially diverse communities and between suburban and urban communities. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis (no deadline) with a $5,000 per calendar maximum per district.

  • Schools

    BBI supports educators in planning and implementing socially interactive activities that take place outside of school and are designed to bring students (and families) from diverse backgrounds together to have fun, learn from one another, and build meaningful relationships. Example include:

    Braintree: Buses funded for before and after school programs for Boston resident students

    Walpole: Bowling event for Boston and Walpole resident students and families, host family kick-off event

    Sudbury: Black History and Excellence celebration

  • Parent Organizations

    Many school districts have parent-based groups that work directly with the schools to assist in the creation of socially interactive programming among diverse student groups beyond the school day, where school staff often lack the time and resources to do so. BBI funds grants to these organizations that directly impact students and families. Examples include:

    Friends of Wellesley METCO: Annual family hike and picnic event

    Lincoln METCO Parent Board: Annual Juneteenth celebration

    Westwood Welcome Club: Elementary storytelling events, Middle School orienteering trip, and a Fall Welcome event at Powisset Farm for Boston and resident families

  • Community Organizations

    BBI also funds grants to wider community organizations that work with school-aged children and families but may not be directly associated with the schools. Organizations that work to create events and activities to bring diverse student and family populations together in social situations aimed at creating understanding, dialogue, and friendship are welcome to apply for BBI funding. Examples include:

    METCO, Inc.: METCO Presents theater events, tours of Nubian Square and METCO Headquarters for Boston and suburban families

    METCO Directors’ Association: Movie social for multiple METCO communities

    Mosaic: Interfaith Youth Action: Annual MLK Jr. Service Day

    Bedford Parent Diversity Council: METCO 50th Anniversary Black Excellence Celebration, theater trips, stay-and-plays for Boston and resident students, town-wide author visit

    Newton Youth Success Collaborative: Peer-mentoring based “I’m Amazing” program

METCO & BBI

BBI has been a longtime partner of local METCO districts around Greater Boston and has funded programs for these school districts as well as the METCO Directors' Association and METCO Headquarters. To learn more about METCO, see below.