Location: Washington, DC

The Institute for Inclusive Security uses research, training, and advocacy to promote the inclusion of all stakeholders, especially women, in peace processes. To achieve this mission, Inclusive Security staff members work with a global network of well over 1,000 women leaders from more than 40 conflict regions; conduct research that gives policymakers new strategies to drive inclusion; provide leaders training in the specialized skills and knowledge to direct local, national, and international peacebuilding, and advocate to high-level policymakers for change that makes peace processes more broad-based, and thus sustainable. Inclusive Security is a growing, cutting edge program with an annual budget of $3M and 20 staff members. To learn more about The Institute for Inclusive Security, please visit http://www.inclusivesecurity.org.

Location: Reston, VA

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) and Practice Greenhealth (PGH) are committed to transforming the health care sector so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to the public’s health and the environment.  To that end, they are working to implement ecologically sound and healthy alternatives to health care practices that pollute the environment and contribute to disease.  HCWH and PGH share complementary missions as well as a Board of Directors but operate as two distinct nonprofit organizations. 

Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition of hospitals and health care systems, medical professionals, community groups, health-affected constituencies, labor unions, environmental and environmental health organizations and religious groups that advocates globally to eliminate healthcare practices that harm people and the environment.

Practice Greenhealth is the nation’s leading membership and networking organization for institutions in the healthcare community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. Members include hospitals, healthcare systems, businesses and other stakeholders engaged in the greening of healthcare to improve the health of patients, staff and the environment.

Location: Boston, MA

Founded on the belief that young people have the power and responsibility to change the world, Peace First (formerly Peace Games) builds effective school climates by focusing on two major efforts within a school: teaching children the skills of cooperation, communication, conflict resolution, and civic engagement; and providing educators with the critical skills and knowledge to integrate social-emotional learning into the school’s curriculum and culture.  Combined, these efforts strengthen schools’ social and academic environments, leading to stronger schools and more successful students.  An innovative, weekly curriculum taught by young adult volunteers, and reinforced by intensive coaching for principals and a cohort of teachers engages whole school communities in transformative experiential education.  Since its founding in 1992, Peace First has worked with over 64 schools in Boston, Los Angeles, and New York.  We have promising data from our schools:  a USC study found a 60% decrease in disruptive incidences at the school, 36% decrease in physical aggression, and 81% of students reporting they can walk away from a fight.  A recent strategic planning process strengthened the core program model and set an ambitious plan in motion to triple the organization’s reach in three years.  For more information, please visit http://www.peacefirst.org.

Location: Brighton, MA

Cradles to Crayons (C2C) was founded in 2002, with the mission of providing children with the basic essentials they need to feel safe, warm, ready to learn and valued. These essentials include clothing, shoes, school supplies, and much more. By partnering with social-service organizations in the Boston area, C2C connects communities that have surplus resources—new or gently used items in good condition—with communities that desperately need access to those resources.

While meeting the immediate needs of low-income children, C2C also sets a foundation for lasting change by providing meaningful, tangible volunteer opportunities to thousands of individuals and hundreds of organizations each year. This innovative and highly effective model has led to C2C receiving the highest possible rating from Charity Navigator. Headquartered near Boston, MA, C2C also opened a Philadelphia location in 2006. In 2009, C2C-Boston served 45,000 children through its Everyday Essentials and Ready to Learn programs. With a current operating budget of $1.5 million and a staff of 21, C2C-Boston plans to double the number of children served to 90,000 within the next three to five years.