Creating Change with Activist Bucks.

In October 2017, the Activist Lab piloted a micro-grant program to support student-led projects that create real-world change through action. The program, known as Activist Bucks, encourages students to go beyond simply recognizing a public health concern to putting this knowledge and desire into action to create change. Masters and doctoral candidates in good academic standing were eligible to apply, and awards ranged from $500 to $3,000. All applicants were required to develop their project plans directly with community partners who would be impacted by their project to ensure students were creating positive support for their partner’s mission and the populations they serve. Each project proposal was then reviewed by a committee made up of BU and Activist Lab representatives, as well as representatives from Santander, the grant’s sponsor.

Dr. Anne Fidler, Associate Dean of Public Health Practice and a manager of the Activist Bucks program, worked closely with program participants throughout the past year, helping them to develop their proposals and manage expectations. “Activist Bucks provides an opportunity to support students in following their passion to do something meaningful to help an underserved community,” says Dr. Fidler. “The projects have not only helped underserved residents of the Boston area, but they have also provided students with an experience that has enriched them both personally and professionally.”

The Activist Lab is proud to have worked with the inaugural Activist Bucks participants and we are also extremely thankful for our grant sponsor, Santander. Without support from Santander, these impactful projects would not have been made possible. It is because of this support and the participants’ dedication and hard work that many communities across Boston have been served and various public health concerns have been addressed. Although much work is left to do to solve these complex public health concerns, the Activist Bucks program has been a great opportunity for students to put what they learn in the classroom into practice in the real world.

The next round of applications is now open will be accepted through February 2019.