Who We Are
Andrew Bundy and Elaine Fersh are co-founders and partners at Community Matters (CM). In 2001, after many years of work in their respective fields, and several years of collaboration on shared ventures, they formed Community Matters.
Andrew Bundy began work as a preschool teacher, and later became a children’s advocate and social worker. He was an early leader in developing local education foundations and full-service schools, and has experience across a broad spectrum of youth development and educational issues. An independent consultant to local and national organizations since 1987, he has helped found and lead multiple public/private partnerships to ensure the academic success and healthy development of children and youth.
Andrew’s recent work focuses on leading and sustaining reforms which engage leaders across traditional boundaries, particularly in labor-management-community collaborations in public education. His work involves synthesizing diverse perspectives, clarifying options, and helping groups take action. He often writes about the work of CM's clients (see Writing for Results). Active in the Greater Boston community, he has served as a board member, volunteer and advisor to a variety of public and private institutions.
Andrew can be reached at abundy@communitymatters.net
Andrew Bundy began work as a preschool teacher, and later became a children’s advocate and social worker. He was an early leader in developing local education foundations and full-service schools, and has experience across a broad spectrum of youth development and educational issues. An independent consultant to local and national organizations since 1987, he has helped found and lead multiple public/private partnerships to ensure the academic success and healthy development of children and youth.
Andrew’s recent work focuses on leading and sustaining reforms which engage leaders across traditional boundaries, particularly in labor-management-community collaborations in public education. His work involves synthesizing diverse perspectives, clarifying options, and helping groups take action. He often writes about the work of CM's clients (see Writing for Results). Active in the Greater Boston community, he has served as a board member, volunteer and advisor to a variety of public and private institutions.
Andrew can be reached at abundy@communitymatters.net
Elaine (Lainy) Fersh worked as a community organizer, housing advocate, and human services administrator before founding Parents United for Child Care in 1987. She led this organization – Boston’s forceful, highly regarded non-profit champion of child care and youth development programs, program quality, and increased public and private financing – for 13 years. Throughout her civic and professional career, she has advocated and achieved reforms on a wide range of social, educational, and community development issues.
Now based in Providence RI, Lainy has extensive experience in strategic planning, executive coaching, program development, institutional leadership, legislative and policy advocacy, finance reform, and nonprofit management. She plays a wide range of roles, from designing grassroots, community-driven strategies to counseling senior leaders of large institutions. Recently, she has been facilitating the efforts of large organizations to accelerate systemic reforms.
Elaine can be reached at: efersh@communitymatters.net
Now based in Providence RI, Lainy has extensive experience in strategic planning, executive coaching, program development, institutional leadership, legislative and policy advocacy, finance reform, and nonprofit management. She plays a wide range of roles, from designing grassroots, community-driven strategies to counseling senior leaders of large institutions. Recently, she has been facilitating the efforts of large organizations to accelerate systemic reforms.
Elaine can be reached at: efersh@communitymatters.net