Beacon Academy

Beacon Academy closes the opportunity gap for a cadre of Bostons bright and determined students. Through education and social advocacy, we help our students create life-changing opportunities as they build lives of integrity, economic independence, and impact. Trusted with the responsibility of an exceptional education, Beacon graduates are bold co... ntributors to a more authentic, just, and compassionate world. Cindy Laba and Marsha Feinberg founded Beacon Academy in July 2005 to address under-education in Boston. Their mission was to create a jump year for a small group of bright, motivated, under-educated Boston area 8th graders eager to escape the downward spiral of education failures, economic dependence, and social challenges that low-income students face. Cindy and Marshas vision was to give these students the academic, social, and emotional tools they would need to earn scholarships at competitive independent high schools around New England and achieve success in high school, college, and into their first careers. Cindy conceived of this extra year between 8th and 9th grades in 2003-04, after shed completed her first year as Vice President of City on a Hill Charter School in Boston. In her previous role as a psychiatric social worker, Laba had become all-too familiar with the challenges structural inequality posed to Bostons most vulnerable children and adolescents. Even so, she was surprised to confront the immense obstacles low-income students faced as they reached for first-rate educations. She refused to accept the stark contrast between the experiences of students at City on a Hill and those of affluent students in local independent schools. Cindy moved this concept from an idea to specific program by partnering with Marsha, a social entrepreneur and consultant with decades of experience in strategic planning, fundraising, and community building. Together, they raised seed money, hired staff, secured in-kind classroom and administrative space at Temple Israel Boston, and recruited a group of ...Read More