More Than Words Inc

THE ORGANIZATION IS ORGANIZED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES OF PROVIDING EMPOWERING LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORTIVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH WHO ARE IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, COURT INVOLVED, HOMELESS, OUT OF SCHOOL, OR WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.

MORE THAN WORDS INC., (MTW) IS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE THAT EMPOWERS SYSTEM-INVOLVED YOUTH TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR LIVES BY TAKING CHARGE OF A BUSINESS. WE SERVE THE BOSTON AREA'S MOST UNDERSERVED YOUNG PEOPLE WHO FACE COMPOUNDING RISK FACTORS: 50% ARE INVOLVED IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, 25% ARE COURT-INVOLVED, AND 30% ARE HOMELESS. OVER THE PAST 19 YEARS, MTW HAS DEVELOPED AND REFINED A MODEL THAT CONSISTENTLY EMPOWERS YOUTH TO ACHIEVE MEASURABLE OUTCOMES IN EDUCATION, WORK, AND LIFE.AT MTW, YOUTH EARN A JOB MANAGING EVERY FACET OF A $3M+ BUSINESS, DEVELOPING VALUABLE, TRANSFERABLE SKILLS APPROXIMATELY 20 HOURS/WEEK. YOUTH SOURCE USED BOOKS AND CLOTHING ITEMS, SELL THEM ONLINE AND IN TWO RETAIL STORES, AND RUN A FLEXIBLE EVENT SPACE. THEY ALSO HOLD A SECOND, EQUALLY IMPORTANT YOU JOB, IN WHICH THEY RECEIVE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT TO WORK TOWARDS PERSONAL GOALS. TWO YEARS OF CONTINUED SUPPORT IN THE CAREER SERVICES PROGRAM HELP YOUTH TRANSITION TO OTHER JOBS AND PERSIST IN EDUCATION. THROUGH THIS TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAM, WE BUILD UP THE SELF-EFFICACY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. WE PROVIDE THE STRUCTURE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO EMPOWER OUR YOUTH TO DO THE HARD WORK OF TRANSFORMING THEIR OWN LIVES.THIS MODEL WORKS BECAUSE WORK WORKS. IN OUR MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED FISCAL YEAR WE SERVED 314 YOUTH. 67% OF GRADUATES WERE PRODUCTIVELY ENGAGED IN SCHOOL AND/OR WORK OVER 30 HOURS/WEEK AND 92% OF YOUTH EITHER HAD EARNED OR WERE ON TRACK TO EARN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR HISET.