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Community Action Program (CAP)

The Community Action Program (CAP) is an opportunity for work-study eligible students to do community service for up to 20 hours a week and get paid for it through Federal and Babson work-study funding. Under the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Amendments, Congress mandated that 7% of college’s work-study allocation must be utilized in community service. Students will gain real life experience at an agency, while at the same time gaining a greater sense of some of society’s problems and what can be done to help.

Traditionally, the Community Action Program recruits over 120 students to participate in 18 community based projects within the local community. The purpose is to provide Babson students with opportunities to engage in intensive service experiences with communities in need and through reflective activities, promote community engagement, leadership development, and appreciation of diversity. The program challenges students to participate in an extended and intensive service experience.

2020-2021 Programs

Due to COVID-19, this year the Community Action Program (CAP) is looking a little different. Instead of students physically going to the community partners, they are immersing themselves virtual. CAP projects will continue to focus on youth mentorship, teaching entrepreneurship, internships at nonprofits, and providing free tax support for people and families living below the poverty line. All these programs students will be doing remote from the comfort of their residence halls. These experiential learning opportunities continue to help students develop a sense of personal identity, as well as an understanding of important societal issues, while helping others who are in need of assistance. Babson students are still making a major impact on their local communities even if it’s done remotely. Programs that have online 2020-2021 will be happing virtually this academic year with more to follow.

Please contact Josh Stevenson if you wish to learn more about these positions.

Positions Available

Community Assistance Programs

The Community Assistance Program provides students to engage with local nonprofits. Several of the organization have been long-standing community partners for over 20 years. Students will have the opportunity to work in soup kitchens, shelters other community assistance nonprofits.

  1. Cradles to Crayons
  2. Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore (Online 2020-2021)
  3. Harvard Square Church Meals at Christ Church
  4. Price Center
  5. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) (Online 2020-2021)
  6. Hope and Comfort (Online 2020-2021)
  7. Community Servings
  8. 826 Boston

Youth Afterschool Programs

The Afterschool Programs take place at the Wellesley, Needham, and Framingham Housing Authorities. A housing authority is section 8 housing, a state or federally funded program aimed to assist low-income families pay for rent. The Afterschool Programs focus on providing mentorship through after school homework help, as well as providing activities that are both safe and fun for the children who live at the Housing Authorities.

  1. Barton Road (Wellesley) Afterschool Program 
  2. Needham Housing Authority Afterschool Program
  3. Pusan Road (Framingham) After School Program (Online 2020-2021)
  4. Hoops and Homework (Framingham) (Online 2020-2021)
  5. Interfaith after school program (Framingham) (Online 2020-2021)
  6. STEAM Academy and All-Stars (Online 2020-2021)

Youth Entrepreneurial Leadership Programs

The Entrepreneurial Leadership Programs takes place at the Wellesley, Needham, and Framingham Housing Authorities. A housing authority is section 8 housing, a state or federally funded program aimed to assist low-income families pay for rent. The Entrepreneurial Leadership Programs focus on mentoring 7th-9th graders in developing everyday life habits that can lead them to be successful entrepreneurs and to think about entrepreneurship in a new way.

  1. Barton Road (Wellesley) Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
  2. Needham Housing Authority Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
  3. Musterfield (Framingham) Entrepreneurial Leadership Program  (Online 2020-2021)
  4. Boys and Girls Club of Boston (Online 2020-2021)