CAP in Action
Turning ideas into action
While most of CAP’s work is in developing new and diverse leadership for public policy-making in the Commonwealth and promoting cross-sectoral collaboration in that policymaking, we also use our experience and resources to take leadership positions on issues that reflect our values.
Some of these issues, like the Commonwealth Development Compact described below, involve a full commitment from CAP and its staff and resources. Others, like the Youth Sports Betting Safety Initiative and Boston Desegregation and Busing Initiative, also below, are projects that one or more of the Founders takes on personally and that CAP agrees to endorse.
CommonWealth Development Compact
With funding from the Eastern Bank Foundation, we and our partners are collaborating with municipal planning agencies and other thought leaders on development across the Commonwealth to adopt the CommonWealth Development Compact – to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion principles into both public and private sector development in our state. The work of the Compact will begin in Boston, Cambridge, Lynn, Salem, and Somerville, thanks to commitments to the Compact principles from their mayors.
With a construction sector that represents 3.7% of GDP in Massachusetts, we believe that there are few, if any, other policy moves that can so dramatically affect our racial economic disparity and social diversity, with so little effort or cost.
Youth Sports Betting Safety Initiative
In collaboration with the Mass Council on Gaming and Health, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, the Mass Gaming Commission, and the NCAA, CAP has helped lead the development of a public-private coalition that will develop a curriculum for kids 12 to 20 to help them deal with the temptations and risks of newly legalized sports betting that is advertised and promoted so prolifically. The Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, and Revolution, along with licensed sports books and sports media, have joined the Coalition to move this agenda forward.
Boston Desegregation and Busing Initiative
CAP co-founder Ira Jackson is a member of the Boston Desegregation and Busing Initiative (BDBI). Ira was Chief of Staff to Boston Mayor Kevin White during the first phase of busing and was featured in a recent PBS documentary, Busing Battleground. The BDBI is dedicated to examining, learning from, and charting a path forward from the tumultuous era of desegregation in the Boston Public Schools. Through forums, exhibits, partnerships, research, and interviews, we seek to answer crucial questions about our past: what happened, what lessons were learned, and what lies ahead for Boston's educational landscape.
Our commitment extends to honoring the resilience and activism of Black residents who fought for equity in education, confronting the institutional resistance they faced. We acknowledge the divisiveness that characterized the busing era and recognize the courage of those who stood up for justice amidst adversity.
As a committee of diverse voices, including community leaders, educators, and individuals directly impacted by busing, we strive to foster dialogue, understanding, and healing. By acknowledging both the progress made and the lingering challenges, we aim to contribute to the ongoing improvement of Boston Public Schools, ensuring equitable opportunities and outcomes for all students.
