BOSTON, MA—October 01, 2014—The Bridgespan Group announced today that journalist and researcher Paul Tough has been selected as a Bridgespan Fellow, a six-month appointment, designed to create opportunities for leaders and Bridgespan to advance insights and action on key issues. Tough is the first person to serve in this capacity, and he’ll co-investigate major questions with Bridgespan’s education team.
Jeff Bradach, Bridgespan’s co-founder and managing partner said, “We could not be more thrilled to have Paul as our inaugural fellow. He is an extraordinary journalist/researcher who has written two leading books on issues and organizations that are making strides toward breaking cycles of intergenerational poverty, which is at the heart of Bridgespan’s mission: Whatever it Takes, about the Harlem Children’s Zone; and, How Children Succeed, which centers on the importance of the emerging field of social and emotional learning.
According to Tough, “I am honored to be part of the launch of The Bridgespan Fellows initiative and I look forward to spending time with the group’s education team collaborating on topics of mutual interest.”
As part of the half-year fellowship, to begin October 1, Tough will work in an advisory role with Bridgespan teams initially in two areas: post-secondary education and social and emotional learning. Bridgespan and Tough will jointly pursue related themes through March 2015.
Mike Perigo, Bridgespan’s education practice head said, “We are looking forward to getting Paul’s input on our convenings and research and also welcome the opportunity to assist him in advancing his research.”
Said Bradach, “The launch of the fellowship program underscores Bridgespan’s commitment to collaborating with leaders and experts to search for solutions to the most important challenges we face. We are excited that Paul will pilot the program with us, and we are committed to making the fellows program an ongoing part of Bridgespan.”
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About The Bridgespan Group
The Bridgespan Group (www.bridgespan.org) is a nonprofit advisor and resource for mission-driven organizations and philanthropists. We collaborate with social sector leaders to help scale impact, build leadership, advance philanthropic effectiveness and accelerate learning. We work on issues related to society’s most important challenges and to break cycles of intergenerational poverty. Our services include strategy consulting, leadership development, philanthropy advising, and developing and sharing practical insights.
About Paul Tough
Paul Tough is the author, most recently, of How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, which has been translated into 25 languages and has spent more than a year on the New York Times hardcover and paperback best-seller lists. His first book, Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada’s Quest to Change Harlem and America, was published in 2008. Paul is a contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine, where he has written extensively about education, parenting, poverty, and politics, including cover stories on college completion, character education, and the achievement gap. His writing has also appeared in the New Yorker, Slate, GQ, and Esquire.
He has worked as an editor at the New York Times Magazine and Harper’s Magazine and as a reporter and producer for the public-radio program “This American Life.” He was the founding editor of Open Letters, an online magazine.
