Building resiliency for people and communities
Our partners are building stronger, more resilient communities by expanding access to education and career development opportunities and responding to the challenges of climate change.
At Liberty Mutual, we believe in expanding educational opportunities for underserved students. Our community partners reach young people in a broad spectrum of learning environments, from accessible play spaces and summer camps to college campuses and more. In every case, they empower and inspire young people not only to pursue their dreams but also to achieve them.
Meet our featured community partners
New Ecology
New Ecology, in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and MA Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC) have joined together for a new climate resiliency partnership focused on catalyzing sustainable development in underserved communities. In 2023, we awarded the collaborative a grant for equitable decarbonization implementation and capacity-building in Greater Boston. The goal is to facilitate the equitable distribution of federal funds to decarbonize low-income housing. The collaborative also co-convenes the Energy Cohort, a peer learning group for affordable housing professionals interested in energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate resiliency and resident health. Funding is used to retrofit low-income multi-family homes and demonstrate an effective approach to decarbonization.
"It’s been valuable to have a funder with deep knowledge within our area of focus. Our partnership, in this way, feels mutually beneficial – we share the goal of building resiliency in communities through green infrastructure.” - Kim Stevenson, CEO, New Ecology
Massachusetts Farm Resiliency Fund
The Foundation also contributed to the Massachusetts Farm Resiliency Fund, a partnership between philanthropic organizations and private foundations to support farms in Central and Western Massachusetts impacted by flooding.
Inclusive Futures Fund
The Inclusive Futures Fund provides grants for accessibility projects to early childhood education and out-of-school-time facilities, with a focus on outdoor play space. Awardees in 2023 were granted $175,000 each for programs that will, collectively, serve over 150 children. Projects include:
By working with our community partners, we seek to enhance workforce development opportunities for vulnerable youth and young adults by preparing them for post-secondary and career success. Whether improving services and support for disconnected youth, leveraging government and other investments in youth and young adult workforce development, or creating workforce opportunities, our partners enable pathways that lead to fulfilling, stable careers with opportunities for growth.
Jewish Vocational Sevices (JVS)
Liberty Mutual has worked with JVS since 2003 to provide vital services that help individuals gain skills and education and find quality jobs. In 2023, Liberty Mutual awarded a grant to support JVS’s Transitions to Work program, which equips young people with disabilities in Greater Boston with skills needed to compete for jobs, while building overall job readiness and life skills through training and internships. Through this program, JVS works with employers to design employer site trainings to give clients job-specific skills in a real workplace setting. The employers serve as mentors to students to help them succeed as interns and compete for jobs. With help from this grant, JVS has a goal to enroll nearly 90 individuals and place at least 60% of participants in a job – almost 40% above the workforce engagement rate for the American disability community.
“Our longstanding partnership with Liberty Mutual has helped our organization serve hundreds of individuals, creating pathways for people with disabilities to transition to employment before they age out of the school system. Liberty Mutual’s investment paves the way for a future workforce that is inclusive, resilient and the backbone of the Massachusetts economy.” - Kira Khazatsky, President and CEO, JVS
YouthBuild Boston
YouthBuild Boston offers underserved youth aged 17-24 a path toward sustainable, well-paid careers in the trades, through hands-on education and employment opportunities. 74% of the young people YouthBuild serves identify as Black or Latinx, more than 50% live below the poverty line, and many have had difficult experiences in school. Through YouthBuild’s training and apprenticeship programs, they gain the skills and experience they need to succeed in construction and design, along with a newfound sense of confidence and direction.