The Baldassarri and Diani article (Integrative Power of Civic Networks) caused me to wonder if the organization I volunteer for, Girls’ LEAP Self Defense, has organizational ties similar to those described in the article and if so, what organizations they are to. My conclusion was that LEAP definitely has transaction ties and social bonds to other Boston organizations and businesses. Some examples:
Transaction ties
- Strong Women Strong Girls: Co-hosted events, tabling at each other’s events, shared goals of empowering women and girls.
- The Ring Boxing Club: Shared office space. Shared goal of promoting self-defense.
- Anna’s Taqueria: Anna’s provides funding for the LEAP t-shirts distributed at each program graduation. In return, the shirts carry the Anna’s logo to promote that business.
- School partnerships, especially Citizen Schools: After school programs are where most of LEAP’s classes occur. This process provides the school with programming and provides LEAP with an outlet for our classes.
Social bonds:
- Massachusetts Promise Fellowship program: Part of AmeriCorps, this program places Fellows at non-profits and schools for 1-2 years. Fellows live on a small stipend and receive free courses at Northeastern (opportunity to earn a Masters degree). LEAP currently has three Fellows who are core to the operation of the organization.
- Northeastern’s Civic Engagement Program: Students in this program are required by their scholarship contract to perform 100 hours of service each year. LEAP has about 10 active CEP volunteers each semester.
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