BCCJ

The BCCJ is a social-​justice non-​profit that runs two awe-​inspiring leadership training programs: one for teens called InIt, and one for adults called LeadBoston. I participated in LeadBoston in 2009, and while I can’t say it completely introduced me to the concepts of social justice, but what it did do was take all the theories and ideas about social equality and dump them squarely in my lap where I couldn’t avoid them or pretend not to see them.
LeadBoston takes about 50 adults each year, starting in September, to go through a 10-​month program focusing on a variety of social-​justice related issues: health disparities, racism/​sexism/​homophobia, and puts the participants into neighborhoods in Boston where those issues are a major concern. The program was an excellent way to get out into the city, especially to neighborhoods that I don’t normally spend a lot of time in because they are far away. It also gave me a real close look at issues in my own neighborhood that I never noticed before. The real, serious value in this program is not only learning more about how our society isn’t fair for everyone, but seeing that injustice IN ACTION in our own city, and meeting the people doing substantive work to change that.
The staff who work at BCCJ are progressive educators incarnate. I thought I was lord of progressive politics, until the executive director (very gently) helped me see some serious white privilege I displayed. Pretty much they should all get a halo and angel wings for the wisdom and insight they provide the world.
Now that I’m an alumni of the program, I have access to a vast network of previous LeadBoston alums, who span every conceivable job field and industry. They’ve already given me some seriously awesome life and career advice, and I intend to keep getting more from them over the years.
In addition to the two major programs, BCCJ also runs regular movie nights, networking brunches, and an awesome (although pricey) fundraiser in the Block Party.
The one limiting factor for BCCJ’s amazing programs is the price, although comparing them to a commercial service isn’t really a valid exercise. LeadBoston is about the same cost as a college class at a good university, and BCCJ usually asks the participant’s employer to sponsor them for all or part of the cost.