Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, YOUTH DESIGN TONY RICHARDS II When Tony Richards II was a kid growing up in Dorchester, his grandfather impressed on him the importance of giving back to the community. "He was always dragging me out to food pantries and campaigning on behalf of representatives when it wasn't fun," he says. His father, an ironworker and union activist, founded the oldest and largest youth basketball league in Boston, called No Books, No Ball. Richards initially explored a different path, attending college in Atlanta to study media communications and then working in marketing and corporate communications. But something kept pulling him back to the old neighborhood. "I felt unfulfilled, like there was a chunk of me missing," he says. "I came back to Boston and dove in." Now a self-described "community service junkie," Richards has since started programs to spur youth employ- ment and civic engagement and to make micro-grants to neigh- borhood entrepreneurs in the tough Grove Hall section of Dorchester. His latest project, Youth Design, fosters the creative skills of talented young people and provides them with paid summer internships in fields such as architecture and industrial design. Recently his family legacy came full circle when his students painted a beam that was lifted up onto a new building— and his father, the ironworker, came to the groundbreaking. Leadership is… "Vision. It's important to be able to see not just the next step, but a few steps ahead—to know where you're going and not shy away from making the tough decisions." Coat, Canali ($5,580). 1211 Centre St., Newton, 617-969- 4540; canali.com. Sweater, Burberry London ($695). 2 Newbury St., 617-236-1000; burberry.com. Dress shirt, Paul Smith London ($325). paulsmith.co.uk. Pants, Ermenegildo Zegna ($495). Copley Place, 617-424-9300; zegna.com. Tie, Polo Ralph Lauren ($125). 93-95 Newbury St., 617-424-1124; ralph lauren.com. Pocket square, Tom Ford ($165). 1-800-TOM-FORD; tomford.com. Belt, Louis Vuitton ($500). Copley Place, 617-437- 6519; louisvuitton.com. Dressage Petite Seconde watch, Hermès ($8,050). 320 Boylston St., 617-482-8707; hermes.com. Belgravia trainers, Jimmy Choo ($765). Copley Place, 617-927-9570; jimmychoo.com BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 109