By Sue Savoy, Progressive Mass Western Norfolk County

On Saturday, May 4th Progressive Mass Western Norfolk County co-hosted a Canvasser’s Training at the Norfolk Public Library.  The event was co-hosted by the Bellingham, Franklin, Medfield, Milford, and Plainville Democratic Town Committees.  Justin Bates of Progressive Mass Salem provided a dynamic training, inspiring local activists to knock doors this election season and beyond. Justin Bates was the campaign manager for State Senator Becca Rausch’s successful 2022 run for the State House.  Twenty-two people attended the training.

Justin called upon participants to understand the barriers to canvassing as well as to consider personal ideals when preparing to knock on doors for candidates and political issues.  In today’s divisive political climate, many folks reported being nervous about going door to door.  However, targeted planning can result in energizing and positive results, especially when planners design turfs to include friendly doors based on voting history.  Door knocking is a time tested and highly effective strategy for energizing voters.  For example during the Freedom Summer of 1964, door knocking was a central tactic used by civil rights activists, many of them college students, to register black Missisipians to vote.  Participants of the canvasser training took time to share their personal stories in small working groups.  Folks talked about what brought them to activism.  They then reflected upon their most important values that led them to the training, and finally practiced crafting their canvassing messages leading with those values.  

Kevin Kalkut of Norfolk, candidate for 9th Norfolk State Representative shared the importance of canvassing to make personal connections with voters to inspire them to vote on election day. 

Participants reported feeling excited to hit doors following the training.  Leading with personal values is a potent way to get empowered and send a clear message to voters about the issues we care about.  After the training several of the attendees spent the afternoon knocking on doors for a progressive school committee candidate. 

By Enid Eckstein, JP Progressives

Climate change has long been a concern of Jamaica plain residents.  With this in mind, JPP sponsored “Action for Climate Change at the Local, State and National Level” forum on April 30.  Moderated by Kendra Lara, former JP City Councilor, the panel included panelists Hassann Farooqi of Boston Climate Action Network, Roseann Bongiovanni of GreenRoots, Elizabeth Tamton from Mothers Out Front, and our special guest Gina McCarthy, former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the first-ever White House national climate advisor.

Gina McCarthy addressed the big picture of national policy and some of the accomplishments of the Federal government including the infrastructure investments of the Inflation Reduction Act but stressed “the ball starts rolling at the local level and it is the organization of the every bodies that makes change”.  Roseann Bongiovanni emphasized the importance of environmental justice and this is the time to recognize many of the systemic changes necessary.  Hassann Farooqi outlined the importance of enforcement of the new Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance which sets requirements for large existing buildings to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions over time.  Elizabeth Tanton outlined a number of the Mothers Out Front campaigns including the move away from gas infrastructure, fighting gas leaks and the effort to reduce school building indoor pollution.  

When asked at the end, what gives you hope for the future and what should JPers do to address climate change, Hassann Farooqi urged people to “get involved, vote and sign up,  for Community Choice Electricity, which gets its energy from renewable sources”.  Elizabeth Tamton, urged participants to  “get mobilized and stay mobilized, and be part of an environmental justice movement by partnering with various organizations”.  Gina McCarthy talked about the importance of engaging and “pulling up your pants and move and together and we will win”.  Roseann Bongiovanni urged  people “join an organization, support legislation, contact elected officials, volunteer and listen, and center equity into every conversation and uplift the voices of those most impacted”.  All speakers stressed a belief in young people’s involvement and the importance of action.