Dean Emeritus Hubie Jones Awarded $50,000 Purpose Prize

In recognition for his work with numerous Boston organizations and as an advocate for equality across the city’s public school system, School of Social Work Dean Emeritus Hubie Jones was selected from a pool of over 1,400 nominees as one of ten winners for the 2010 Purpose Prize. The Purpose Prize awards people over the age of 60 who are putting their passion and experience to work for an altruistic purpose.

Jones received $50,000 for his efforts in creating new ways to solve tough social problems, and received his prize on November 13 at the Purpose Prize Summit in Philadelphia.

“The Purpose Prize is an outstanding recognition of Hubie’s outstanding skill and commitment,” said School of Social Work Dean Gail Steketee. “It is a very appropriate recognition of his skills in working within communities and garnering support in Boston”

A panel of 32 judges chose Jones for his work with the Boston Children’s Chorus (BCC).  In 2003, Jones founded and built the multi-racial, multi-ethnic chorus for children ages 7-18. According to a November 17 article on Boston.com, Jones was inspired by a performance of the Chicago Children’s Choir.

“I was blown away by such a very diverse group of young people who could sing at such a level of excellence,’’ Jones said. “I realized probably the best way to bring young people together across racial and socioeconomic divides is through the arts, particularly through music.’’

Jones’ vision was to change children’s live by providing them with music education and performance opportunities. According to their website, the BCC unites singers, families and audience members from Boston’s diverse communities. Since 2003, BCC has grown from 30 to 400 members and has performed across the country and internationally.

Jones told the Boston Globe he plans to donate some of the prize money to the chorus and to several other nonprofit organizations. He hopes to expand the chorus and its signature Martin Luther King Day concert, which was broadcast nationally last year.

As the executive director of Roxbury’s Multi-Service Center, Jones led the Task Force on Children Out of School. The task force published a scathing indictment of Boston’s School system in the report The Way We Go to School: the Exclusion of Children in Boston, which brought about groundbreaking special education and bi-lingual laws.

Jones was Dean of Boston University’s School of Social Work for 16 years, from 1977 to 1993.

Article on prize winners in the The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Article on Hubie Jones and his work with Boston Children’s Chorus

Photo taken from Boston.com