BOSTON–(Business Wire)–Crittenton Women’s Union, the Boston-based nonprofit that has, since 2006, helped thousands of low-income families to move permanently out of poverty with increased income, education, and assets, announced their new identity, as Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath).

The new name reflects not only the nonprofit’s transformative impact and methodical approaches, but also the individualized focus it has on every family it serves. Over the past decade, EMPath’s impact has grown beyond helping Boston families attain economic self-sufficiency. By sharing its acclaimed program model, Mobility Mentoring®, with partner organizations nationwide, the organization is now poised to transform over a quarter of million lives globally.

“Our new identity is built upon of the triumphs, setbacks, and feedback of the women who have passed through our programs,” says Elisabeth D. Babcock, EMPath President and CEO. “Participants’ insight, coupled with the experiences of a diverse group of social service providers who have embraced Mobility Mentoring® through our Economic Independence Exchange, have poised us to reach more women and families across the country.”

Today, EMPath reaches 1,400 people annually in Boston through its Mobility Mentoring®, housing, education and workforce development programs and 3,500 individuals through the Economic Independence Exchange – a growing network of at least 50 organizations applying EMPath’s tools to systematically disrupt poverty.

Five states - Washington, Kentucky, Minnesota, Tennessee and California - have introduced the Mobility Mentoring® inspired models within their systems and are applying it to an array of social service programs aimed at ending poverty. Mobility Mentoring, EMPath’s metric-based, mentor-led, incentivized programming, has been yielding exceptional results. Program participants are earning degrees, becoming community leaders, pursuing fulfilling careers and providing stable homes for their children. A recent ROI study conducted by Brandeis University shows that participants of EMPath’s most rigorous (5-year) economic mobility program, Career Family Opportunity, have over a 60-month period:

• Increased their income by 72%
• Reduced their dependence on subsidies by 20%
• Increased their tax payments by 120%.

These changes demonstrate that the costs of the program are offset by participant subsidy reductions and tax and earnings gains in less than one year after program completion. More significantly, the results attained by the Boston participants have positioned the organization to share its frameworks, tools and learnings with other like-minded organizations across the country and around the globe.

The EMPath name and identity was formally announced Friday, among the organization’s friends and supporters at the annual Live! Work! Thrive! Gala, which raised over $370,000 to support EMPath’s innovative work. Mayor Marty Walsh declared this year’s celebration Economic Independence Day, to honor the achievements made by the families served by EMPath, and the impact EMPath is making in shaping the broader conversation around poverty disruption.

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