Posts by Jim Canales

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Jim was named president and a trustee of the Barr Foundation in May 2014. Since his arrival, Barr has experienced significant growth. Annual grantmaking has tripled and the staff has more than doubled in size. Prior to Barr, Jim spent over two decades at The James Irvine Foundation, including service as president and CEO from 2003 through 2014. Before working in philanthropy, Jim was a high school English teacher. Jim currently serves as vice chair of the Kaiser Family Foundation and as a trustee of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston Public Library, and Eastern Bank Foundation. Jim’s prior board service includes a ten-year term as a Stanford University trustee and as chair of the boards of the College Futures Foundation, KQED Public Broadcasting, Stanford Alumni Association, and Larkin Street Youth Services, and as vice chair of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Jim’s writings on a range of topics have appeared in the Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Chronicle of Philanthropy, and Stanford Social Innovation Review, among other outlets. And he has been a featured speaker, panelist, moderator, or guest at a variety of forums dedicated to a stronger social sector, including the Center for Effective Philanthropy, Communications Network, PEAK Grantmaking, and Inside Philanthropy.

A Time to Be Steadfast

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Jim Canales

President & Trustee

A 2024 New Year’s message from Jim Canales, Barr’s president

January 03, 2024 | Category: From the President

Undeterred, Our Work Continues

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Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Barr’s president responds to the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action

July 05, 2023 | Category: From the President

A Learning Journey to Alabama

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Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Barr’s president describes a recent staff trip to Alabama.

June 20, 2023 | Category: From the President

Welcoming New Barr Colleagues

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Jim Canales

President & Trustee

President Jim Canales introduces new faces – and familiar faces in new places - at Barr.

February 15, 2023 | Category: Barr News

A Time to Embrace

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Jim Canales

President & Trustee

The official unveiling of Boston’s newest public memorial – The Embrace – offers inspiration and hope for a New Year.

January 17, 2023 | Category: Racial Equity

Taking the Long View 

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Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Barr’s President provides an update on a new racial wealth equity initiative, as the Foundation brings 2022 grantmaking to a close.  

December 15, 2022 | Category: Barr News

Jenny Curtin Named Education Program Director

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Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Jenny Curtin assumes leadership of Barr’s Education Team and strategies to advance educational equity in high schools across New England.

November 10, 2022 | Category: Barr News

Closing the Racial Wealth Gap

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Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Jim Canales describes Barr’s initial grantmaking focused on racial wealth equity in Greater Boston.

June 16, 2022 | Category: Racial Wealth Equity

Dismantling Racism is Everyone’s Work

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Jim Canales

President & Trustee

The murders in Buffalo are, yet again, a call to action.

May 16, 2022 | Category: From the President

Reimagining Philanthropy’s Commitment to Racial Equity

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Jim Canales

President & Trustee

The realities of white supremacy, systemic racism, and violence against people of color and LGBTQ+ people — always present but rarely challenged by those with power — demand intense reflection and tangible action.

March 24, 2022 | Category: Racial Equity