Roca, Inc. works to enable young people residing in the East Boston, Chelsea, and Revere neighborhoods of Boston, MA to lead healthy, independent lives.  Through intensive outreach efforts that engage youth “on the street,” Roca staff form deep “transformational relationships” with youth and then engage them in various education, employment, and civic programs that help them develop the skills they need to become productive members of their communities.  One of the Foundation’s first Youth Development Fund grantees, Roca serves approximately 1,000 youth annually.  

To learn more about Roca’s programs, read Young People and Families Striving for Change.

EMCF Investment and Business Plan Highlights

Since 2000, the Foundation has invested $4.75 million in Roca to develop and implement its business plan.  In 2002, the organization was hit (along with all other youth serving agencies in Massachusetts) with significant state funding cuts that adversely impacted its operations.  Since then, Roca has bounced back and re-established its funding base.  It has also rigorously realigned all aspects of its widely respected and innovative service model with a strong theory of change outlining how the model should lead to intended outcomes.  In addition, Roca recently established a promising transitional employment program for youth.  

Today Roca is expanding its transitional employment program, implementing performance management and evaluation systems across the entire organization, and continuing efforts to strengthen the organization's staffing and leadership.

For more information about Roca, visit the organization’s website at www.rocainc.org.