Inspiring story by Megan Woolhouse in today's Boston Globe, "Building resumes, rebuilding lives," about More Than Words, the Waltham, MA, bookstore that employs teens as they learn about business. Funded by a mix of bookstore revenues, donations, and grants, the "hybrid social enterprise," as founder and exec director Jodi Rosenbaum calls it, the program has a great track record: "Two years after completing the program, 80% of [the teens going through it] were involved in some combination of school, whether college courses or a certificate program, and work."
The program is aimed at kids "whose lives have been turned upside down by addiction, abuse, or neglect, who often end up in foster homes, homeless shelters, or the court system."
What a great idea. I can't believe that it's just a mile and a half from where I live - and that I've never heard of it. Plus there's a cafe for the all-important coffee-sipping while paging through books.
Downsizer alert: you can donate books, which they'll even come and pick up. There are guidelines, of course... but, wow and wow and wow.
Plus locals - it's on Moody Street. Enough said...
