For more than 130 years, the Elizabeth Peabody House (EPH) has been a cornerstone of community life in Boston and Somerville. Now, with a bold new five-year strategic plan, the organization is charting a course that both honors its legacy and reimagines its future.
In a recent interview, Executive Director Matthew Caughey described the plan as an ambitious, yet grounded roadmap. It extends EPH’s focus from high-quality childcare to a broader cradle-to-career vision.
Expanding the Vision Beyond Early Education
Elizabeth Peabody House has long been known for providing affordable, accessible, high-quality early education.
The new strategic plan builds on that strength, but challenges the organization to expand further. “What would it mean for Elizabeth Peabody House to be cradle to career?” Caughey asked. That question is at the heart of the plan. Instead of focusing primarily on early childhood, EPH envisions a comprehensive continuum of care from birth through adolescence and into early adulthood.
Over time, the population grows, but the mission remains the same: empowering children and families to thrive.
Pillars of the Plan
The plan is anchored by three strategic pillars. Each one is aligned with the organization’s mission: thriving children, thriving families, thriving communities.
1. Education for Success
This pillar strengthens what EPH already does best—early education—while expanding pathways for older youth beyond middle school. The goal is to walk alongside each young person from their earliest years through college, career training, or entry into the workforce.
For many families, this continuum already exists—children who began in EPH’s early education programs, staying through middle school, return years later as educators, mentors, or group leaders.
The new strategic plan commits to expanding this informal system so that more youth and families can experience this continuum of care, education, and opportunity.
2. Building for Sustainability
This pillar focuses on strengthening the foundation that makes EPH’s work possible. It includes deepening relationships with community partners, donors, and corporate supporters, as well as enhancing the organization’s operations and systems.
A key part of this work is the transformation of EPH’s historic Somerville building. Planned renovations will make the space more accessible, functional, and welcoming—ensuring it continues to serve as a vibrant hub for children, families, and the broader community.
3. Driving Change as a Community Anchor
The final pillar focuses on advocacy and systems change. Caughey emphasized the importance of amplifying voices that are too often unheard. Peabody House hopes to help residents shape solutions for themselves at the city, state, and even broader levels by building leadership and advocacy capacity within the community.
This work positions EPH not just as a service provider, but as a platform for community voice, leadership, and change.
“It’s not about Peabody House,” Caughey said. “We have the space and the connections to give people a platform.”
Grounded in History, Focused on the Future
While the plan looks forward, it is deeply rooted in the organization’s history. EPH was part of the settlement house movement. This plan connects more than a century of service to the realities families are facing today—and the opportunities ahead.
Importantly, the plan embeds mechanisms for accountability and growth. Stakeholder feedback and continuous improvement are built into each pillar, with designated committees overseeing progress over the next five years.
Caughey is clear that this is not a reinvention. “We’re not reinventing ourselves,” he said. “We accomplish a lot every year. This plan is about deepening our impact.”
In other words, the new strategy builds on who Elizabeth Peabody House already is: a lifelong partner for children and families, and a steady anchor for a community that continues to grow and change.