Boston, MA – Power of Place Learning Communities has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Barr Foundation to accelerate its work to create meaningful and energizing learning experiences for educators across Massachusetts. This investment will help to propel the organization’s mission to create cultures of belonging in schools where all students – and adults – can feel valued and thrive.
The Barr Foundation’s support comes at a pivotal moment for Power of Place, as it formally welcomes The Teacher Collaborative—an educator-led nonprofit known for cultivating teacher leadership and peer-driven professional learning—into the organization. The funding will enable a smooth and strategic integration of TTC’s portfolio, while also fueling the design and launch of new learning spaces and networks for educators statewide.
“We’re honored to receive this generous grant in support of our belief in the transformative power of educator-driven practice,” said Jane Feinberg, Founder and Executive Director of Power of Place. “At Power of Place, we know that when educators come together regularly in a judgement-free ‘third space’ to reflect and connect with their peers, everyone benefits.”
Together, Power of Place and The Teacher Collaborative bring deep experience supporting teachers through place-based learning, peer-led professional development, and the growth of collaborative leadership. With Barr’s investment, the expanded organization will broaden its reach and be positioned to deepen its impact—expanding educator access to their peers in neighboring communities, to nationally expert guest faculty, and to high-quality resources and opportunities for learning.
“Barr’s Education Program is optimistic about this new partnership with Power of Place, which builds on our longstanding support of The Teacher Collaborative,” said John Travis, Senior Program Officer at the Barr Foundation. “Investing in the development and support of educators is key to achieving our goal of excellent, equitable school experiences across New England.”
Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler hailed the work and vision of Power of Place at its annual Showcase of Learning last month at the Peabody Essex Museum.
“Teaching can be hard and isolated,” he said to the roomful of educators in his keynote address. “It’s communities like this that make a difference in your professional lives, and by extension, the lives of our students.”
About Power of Place
PoP supports school- and district-based teams with professional learning, coaching, and tools to reimagine what’s possible in our education systems. Its flagship, Essex County Learning Community, includes 20 partner districts on the North Shore, with nearly 150 schools that serve approximately 6600 educators and administrators. The organization is led by Executive Director Jane Feinberg, Ph.D. whose background in communications, teaching, and systems-level leadership reflects a deep belief in educator agency and innovation. The PoP team brings years of experience working across schools, districts, and nonprofit spaces to help communities create equitable, human-centered, place-based learning environments for educators.
Contact: Heidi Guarino hguarino@powerofplacelc.org