Hear from staff and partners about aspirations, accomplishments, and lessons learned along the way.

Barr Awards $23.8 Million in New Grants

Including support for creative placemaking partnerships, student-centered high school models, clean energy technology projects, and the creation of a great public realm throughout Boston’s waterfront.

December 12, 2017 | Category: Barr News

Riding the Bus Is About to Get Better for 30,000 Commuters

Man smiling and looking at the camera in front of a colorful painting.

Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Arlington, Everett, and Cambridge in partnership with Watertown, receive $100,000 grants to demonstrate BRT’s potential.

December 07, 2017 | Category: Climate

Because We All Love our Children

Audrey Schulman Headshot

Audrey Schulman

Guest Author · Co-Founder & President, Home Energy Efficiency Team

They entered the room as adversaries. They left as partners, committed, for their children’s sake, to solve a pressing climate challenge.

December 05, 2017 | Category: Climate

Giving that Considers All Costs

Man smiling and looking at the camera in front of a colorful painting.

Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Three principles that guide Barr's approach to its grant investments.

November 28, 2017 | Category: Barr News

Eight Questions with Barr's New Director of Learning and Evaluation

[STAFF] Yvonne Belanger Brick Photo 2022

Yvonne Belanger

Director of Learning & Evaluation

A conversation about the role of learning and evaluation in philanthropy with Yvonne Belanger.

November 16, 2017 | Category: Barr News

Developing a New Vision of High School Education

Stephen Zrike headshot

Stephen Zrike

Guest Author · Receiver and Superintendent, Holyoke Public Schools

Dr. Stephen Zrike, Receiver/Superintendent of Holyoke Public Schools, shares lessons from the high school design process that resulted in establishing a new vision for high school education in Holyoke.

November 09, 2017 | Category: Education

Arts, Culture and Transportation: A Creative Placemaking Field Scan

Jamie Hand Headshot

Jamie Hand

Guest Author · Director of Research Strategies, ArtPlace America

New analysis bolsters the case for collaboration between arts and transportation to generate innovative solutions to pressing mobility challenges.

November 08, 2017 | Category: Arts & Creativity

Sound Lessons from Seattle

Tim Brennan Headshot

Tim Brennan

Guest Author · Executive Director, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission

Kathryn Carlson Headshot

Kathryn Carlson

Guest Author · Director of Transportation, A Better City

Eight lessons from Massachusetts leaders on a study tour of mobility innovations in Seattle.

November 02, 2017 | Category: Climate

The Imperative for Aspiration

Man smiling and looking at the camera in front of a colorful painting.

Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Five questions for a world-class city to create a great public realm.

October 26, 2017 | Category: From the President

Barr Announces RFP for Cohort Two of the Engage New England Initiative

Leah Hamilton

Leah Hamilton

Former Director of Education

Foundation issues request for proposals for a second cohort of teams to design schools focused on connecting students off track to graduate to success in high school and beyond.

October 24, 2017 | Category: Education