smallMatters Institute

smallMatters Institute is a 501-c-3 social think space dedicated to leveraging the power of undervalued social and structural capital to reinvent and sustain stronger community assets. Recently, we partnered with the Rochester City School District and the Rochester Education Fund to bring more nature into the lives of public school children with initial installations at World of inquiry School and Edison Tech High School. Another project we just launched is Shelter Goods, a project that recognizes the contribution of front line community service providers such as EMTs and post office workers by creating care packages for their families so that - when their parents are sacrificing their time and sometimes their very lives to care for the rest of us - someone is caring for their families too.

We identify gaps in local community outreach efforts, develop prototype models to fill those gaps and then partner with other public/private groups to sustain the changes necessary to sustain the solutions we seek.