At its annual meeting, the Boston After School & Beyond Board of Directors elected new leadership. James Morton, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston and vice-chair of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, will serve as chair of the Boston Beyond board of directors; Margaret McKenna, president emerita of Lesley University and chair of the Boston Human Rights Commission, will serve as vice-chair of the board.
“Margaret and I look forward to working in partnership with Chris Smith, our fellow Board members, and the leadership of Boston Beyond to advance its commitment to the success of all children, in school and in life,” said Morton. “The relevance and importance of this work has never been clearer than in these times when persistent disparities in education, health and wealth challenge us to do better, to do more, and to do it now.”
“There has never been a more important time for Boston Beyond’s work. We have known about summer learning loss for decades, but Covid-19 has exacerbated existing disparities. I look forward to working with Chris Smith and one of our great community leaders, James Morton,” said McKenna.
Morton and McKenna succeed Jill Medvedow, Ellen Matilda Poss Director of the ICA, and Rahn Dorsey, formerly chief of education for the City of Boston, both of whom will remain on the
board. Under their leadership, Boston Beyond significantly increased the diversity and expertise of the Board and was designated a finalist in the MacArthur Foundation’s worldwide $100 million grant competition.