BOSTON, MA - August 21, 2023 - The Boston Public Library Fund, opens a new window (BPLF) received a grant from Bernstein Private Wealth Management, opens a new window to extend the Boston Public Library, opens a new window’s (BPL) Entrepreneur-in-Residence program to a second year.
Based in the BPL’s Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center (KBLIC) in the Central Library in Copley Square, the Entrepreneur-in-Residence program aims to reduce barriers and advance equity in Boston’s business community. By offering mentoring, workshops, and resources—free of charge—the program empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners to build business plans and develop professional networks.
Boston resident Leonard Tshitenge, the founder of Consciously Exposed Consulting, began his residency in August and currently offers one-on-one mentoring and group workshops. “Leonard’s experience founding his own business, as well as his previous work as an in-house consultant to start-ups, makes him an excellent resource for aspiring entrepreneurs,” said KBLIC Curator Gregor Smart. “We’re excited to have him join us!”
Funding from Bernstein supports the stipend for the eight-month residency. “We are grateful to Bernstein for their generous commitment to create a more equitable start-up environment for Greater Boston Area entrepreneurs,” said Paula Sakey, Executive Director of the Boston Public Library Fund. “With this grant, programs offered by the Entrepreneur-in-Residence are free to all patrons seeking to start or scale their business ventures.”
“We are proud to partner with such a historic and innovative institution as the Boston Public Library to inspire and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs. We share their belief that business can be a center for growth and opportunity in a community, and we look forward to contributing to the success of the Boston economy through this joint venture,” said Kimberly Davis, Managing Director at Bernstein Private Wealth Management in Boston.
The Entrepreneur-in-Residence is one component in the BPL’s system-wide workforce development programming through the KBLIC. The KBLIC provides technology, co-working space, career counseling, and more to build business skills and foster creativity and innovation. All services offered are free to all.
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ABOUT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library is a pioneer of public library service in America. It was the first large, free municipal library in the United States; the first public library to lend books; the first to have a branch library; and the first to have a children’s room.
The Boston Public Library of today is a robust system that includes the Central Library in Copley Square, 25 neighborhood branches, the Norman B. Leventhal Map and Education Center, the Kirstein Business and Innovation Center, and an archival center, offering public access to world-class special collections of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and prints, along with rich digital content and online services.
The Boston Public Library serves nearly 4 million visitors per year and millions more online. All of its programs and exhibitions are free to all and open to the public. The Boston Public Library is a department of the City of Boston, under the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu. To learn more, visit bpl.org.
ABOUT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FUND
The mission of the Fund is to provide financial support to the Boston Public Library, ensuring that it remains viable, engaging, accessible, and free to all. The Fund fulfills this mission by working in partnership with the Library, donors, and other funders in supporting BPL programs and special initiatives. Support from the Fund supplements, but does not supplant, other BPL resources, including City of Boston funding.
ABOUT BERNSTEIN PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Bernstein Private Wealth Management advises ultrahigh- and high-net-worth clients on planning for—and living with—the complexities that come with significant wealth. Bernstein is distinguished among major wealth managers by its expertise in navigating life’s transitions through a holistic approach. A flexible process—paired with innovative research, sophisticated modeling, and cutting-edge investment solutions—also sets Bernstein apart. Headquartered in Nashville, Bernstein is a business unit of AllianceBernstein, which ranks among the largest investment managers in the world, with offices in major world markets across 26 countries and jurisdictions and over $670 billion in assets under management. For additional information visit Bernstein.com, opens a new window.
