Program/Administration Operations Team Marion B. Davis, Founder, Executive Director / Director Of Program Operations Marion Davis, President of Self Esteem Boston is an inspiring, energetic and dynamic visionary leader. She founded Self Esteem Boston in December of 1993 with a vision of providing self esteem programs to everyone in the Greater Boston area regardless of ability to pay. She has built a dynamic service delivery program for individuals in shelters and transitional facilities across Boston and is working to fill several gaps in services for the homeless, individuals in recovery, individuals returning to the community from the correctional system, women who have been victims of domestic violence. She is uniting the community through her programs and commitment to providing these important services. For 9 years, Marion hosted the weekly public service program “Self-Esteem Talk Radio” on 1600-AM WUNR. Now she Hosts the new weekly cable television show “Ring My Bell” on Boston Channel 9. She has been President and Executive Director of the Self Esteem Boston Educational Institute for 16 years. Marion is a member of the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance and the National Association For Self-Esteem.

Self Esteem Boston Educational Institute (SEB) provides a unique, psycho-educational program for people living and working within the Greater Boston Area. There are no other city or state programs that directly teach the tools of self-esteem as the basis for improving the lives of at-risk individuals. SEB is the only agency in Massachusetts whose sole purpose is self-esteem education.  Moreover, SEB is the only agency whose primary purpose is to teach self-esteem skills to the homeless, substance abusers, victims of domestic violence, individuals transitioning out of the criminal justice system, and the unemployed.  Our uniqueness also comes from our hundreds of collaborations with those who provide workforce development programs to these populations--essentially training providers whose goal is to upgrade the skills of people to become socially and economically successful.

SEB is funded by a public/private partnership of State Government and private foundations.  During the past 16 years, the agency has helped over 30,000 service providers and families build their self-esteem and essential life skills as a foundation for building healthy family relationships and job readiness programs. We do this by providing participants with:  1) education about the principles of self-esteem and how it determines the quality of our lives, 2) training in concrete skill development, and 3) support towards making effective, healthy life choices.  SEB’s programs have become important to a wide variety of health, educational and skill development programs such as job readiness programs, substance abuse recovery programs, prerelease programs, domestic violence shelter and transitional living programs, shelters and transitional programs, human service programs, and public health programs. It is our belief that all of these programs are our potential partners.

Organization’s mission:  Self-esteem is the foundation for success in life.  How someone feels about themselves has everything to do with the choices they make.  Through our program women learn to develop a sense of self worth and then how to apply this understanding to setting and achieving goals, making good decisions, creating healthy relationships, positive communication, coping with change and managing stress.  Reclaiming one's self-esteem is a critical issue for homeless women and families, especially those who were involved in substance abuse, and abusive relationships.

Participants who successfully complete the program will increase the skills for over 80%  of their clients or employees in: Making good decisions; Avoiding negative behaviors;  Managing anger and stress; Maintaining good health practices; Developing personal and career goals; Setting priorities; Communicating effectively; Working with people in positions of authority; Working cooperatively with others; Developing a network of support;  Becoming an effective advocate for one's self; Resolving conflicts; Developing & maintaining positive relationships; Developing self-respect and self-worth.