Pine Street President Recognized for 'Innovative' Leadership

Lyndia Downie, President of , has been named one of the state’s most innovative people in a recent Boston Globe roundup.

Downie, who has worked at the South End homeless shelter for 27 years, was recognized for her leadership in efforts to transition the shelter's chronically homeless population into permanent housing by reducing the number of emergency beds at the Harrison Avenue inn.

"That initative has helped contribute to a roughly 30 percent drop in Boston's homeless population in the last five years," the Globe wrote.

Downie was listed at the top of the Nonprofits and Philanthropies category in the Globe’s “Most Innovative” list, which included the top three innovators in ten categories. The list was compiled by a panel of 70 judges selected from a pool of “local executives, academics and venture capitalists,” according to Boston Globe Business Editor Shirley Leung. The 30 winners were chosen from 211 nominations.

Downie was joined on the list by Johnny Earle, founder of Johnny Cupcakes, Dr. Atul Gawande of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Kathleen McCartney, Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

“I am truly honored,” Downie said of her inclusion on the list. “I see this recognition as a reflection of the hard work of the staff and board and the tremendous importance of Pine Street’s mission and efforts toward ending homelessness.”

The list appeared in a special section of the Boston Sunday Globe’s May 22 edition. To view the list online, click here.