Events

RSVP today! Progressive Mass 2022 Virtual Gala

You’ll have turned your clocks forward that morning, so Spring Forward with Progressive Massachusetts at our 2022 virtual Annual Gala on Sunday, March 13, at 7:30 pm!

Let’s gather to celebrate, build community, and be inspired to push Massachusetts to live up to its progressive promise!

We’re excited to have as speakers this year US Senator Elizabeth Warren, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and Rev. Rahsaan Hall. All are champions of progressive policy and perseverance, whether at the national, city, or county levels.

We’re excited to announce our Progressive Champion awardees who will be featured at this year’s virtual annual gala on March 13th:

State Senator Becca Rausch
Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia
Worcester School Committee Member Tracy O’Connell Novick
Massachusetts Voter Table Executive Director Beth Huang

Join activists from across the Commonwealth as we envision and recommit to the work of year-round organizing and honor the work done by four remarkable leaders with our annual awards.

We are proud to have a host committee encompassing policymakers and activists from across the state. Please support our bold progressive vision for Massachusetts by joining the Host Committee, with a donation of $250 or higher.

More information about buying tickets can be found at this link: bit.ly/pmgala22

Please help share the event with your friends and neighbors. You can also share the event via Facebook and Twitter.

Celebrate our speakers, our awardees, and our community at our annual Gala!

Speakers

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth Warren has been one of our US Senators since 2013, the first woman Massachusetts has elected as Senator, and a progressive hero and consumer advocate for longer than that. As a professor and now as our US senator, she has been a national leader focused on fighting for middle-class families.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu

Michelle Wu is the Mayor of Boston, winning a historic election after serving four terms as At-Large City Councilor. She is becoming known for creative approaches to challenges formerly seen as intractable as she works in coalition to deliver bold, systemic change to make Boston a city for everyone.

Reverend Rahsaan Hall

Rahsaan Hall is a civil rights champion at the forefront of local and national issues to reimagine public safety and the criminal legal system to emphasize restoration, healing, accountability, and transparency. Rahsaan has been the force behind the “What a Difference a DA Makes” campaign, is an ordained reverend, was the Director of the Racial Justice Program for the ACLU of Massachusetts and an Assistant District Attorney.

Neponset Valley Progressives: Labor 22 Recap

By John Kyriakis, Neponset Valley Progressives

On January 25th, local Democratic town committees in Dedham, Norwood, Westwood, and Walpole joined to present “Labor 2022” an event designed to bring attention to the needs of our allies in the labor movement.

An inspiring keynote address from Massachusetts AFL-CIO president Steven Tolman was followed by a panel discussion between Dedham DTC Chair Mark Reilly and labor leaders Max German (AFL-CIO), Gabriel Camacho (UFCW), FayeRuth Fisher (SEIU), and Paul McClory (MTA). The panelists presented several key steps where progressives could take action.

1) Of key importance is the defeat of the so-called gig worker ballot initiative. This ballot question seeks to define Lyft, Uber, Instacart, and Door Dash employees as “contractors” rather than traditional employees. This would deny these low wage, front line workers OSHA protection and unemployment insurance. It would also authorize a sub-minimum wage for these workers, and would eliminate most anti-discrimination protections for workers. The initiative would also indemnify tech companies from litigation if the drivers are in an accident (for more information see here and here). The key components of this initiative are in violation of Massachusetts labor laws, and the initiative is already the subject of a lawsuit by Attorney General Maura Healey.

The initiative has gained enough signatures to be turned over to the Legislature who have to either take no action, or enact a legislative “solution” that addresses the issues raised by the initiative. Of note, Lyft made the single largest campaign donation ($14.4 million) to the Massachusetts legislature in support of the imitative. If the legislature takes no action, then the well-heeled supporters must obtain an additional 13,374 petition signatures to put the initiative on the November ballot.

Please urge your state Reps and Senators to take no action on this egregious initiative. After that we must work to prevent the initiative from garnering the additional signatures it needs. If the measure ends up on the ballot, we must work to defeat it. Tell your friends and family that if this initiative fails, Uber, Lyft, etc. will still be there for them (albeit with unhappy rich shareholders). Also let them know that the crumbs being offered to workers as part of the initiative (a base wage, and a healthcare stipend) are not offered to all workers and are far from sufficient. Counter corporate lies with truth

2) It is important that we keep up our efforts to enact the Fair Share Amendment. Check out here to see how you can get involved.

3) Several bills pending in the statehouse also deserve our support. These bills are due to be reported out of committee for floor votes (or killed) on February 2. Immediate action is needed.

S1179/H1959, An Act to Prevent Wage Theft and Promote Employer Accountability. Contact your state Reps and Senators and urge support.
S69/H3710, An Act Facilitating the Unionization of the Cannabis Workforce. Contact your local legislators and urge support. Also, contact Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz and Rep Daniel Donahue, committee chairs overseeing the movement of this bill to the floor and urge them to report this bill out of committee.

workers rights

THIS WEEK: VOTES Act, Common Start Roundtable, & More

Last week was a bad week for voting rights in the US Senate, as Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema refused to support rules changes that would allow for important voting rights packages to pass amidst Republican opposition.

But this week—with your help—might be a good week for voting rights in Massachusetts.
Last October, the MA Senate passed the VOTES Act, which not only makes vote-by-mail and expanded early voting permanent but also goes further by eliminating our arbitrary, exclusionary voter registration cutoff and strengthening protections for jail-based voting.

The MA House is expected to take up this bill this week: on Thursday, January 27.

It’s important that the House pass the VOTES Act in full, especially the provisions on Same Day Registration and strengthening Jail-Based Voting.

Tell your state rep to support the VOTES Act in its entirety.

Driving Families Forward Virtual Briefing Series Continues

Join the Driving Families Forward Coalition for part II of the Driving Families Forward Coalition Virtual Briefing series! Over the last year, the Driving Families Forward Coalition has worked tirelessly gaining the support of more than 270 endorsing organizations, including community, health, faith, labor, business, and law enforcement for the Work and Family Mobility Act, which would ensure that immigration status is not a barrier to obtaining a driver’s license.

Tune in on Facebook Live at the Driving Families Forward page Tuesday, January, 25th to hear from law enforcement leaders supporting our legislation across the state.

Common Start Roundtable: Tuesday @ 6:30 pm

Tomorrow at 6:30 pm, the Common Start Coalition will be hosting a virtual roundtable–featuring Congresswoman Katherine Clark–about the child care crisis and the solutions for it, especially the Common Start bill.

Massachusetts Power Forward Day of Action

Climate Justice can’t wait! Massachusetts needs decision-makers to act fast and move more climate justice policy now!

Join the Massachusetts Power Forward coalition this Thursday for a day of action. 9AM – 10AM : Action Hour, call your legislators https://fb.me/e/1i7OF5oNc
12pm- 1pm: Action hour, take a selfie photo petition and post on twitter to push our legislators https://fb.me/e/3lr4Lo33T

The Fight for Racial Justice and Equity is Year-Round

Yesterday, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, politicians across the Commonwealth (and the country) honored Martin Luther King, Jr., for his commitment to racial equity and social justice.

It was a reminder of how much work we still have to do here in Massachusetts to deliver on his vision, and how we need to demand that elected officials follow through with their rhetoric from yesterday all 365 days of the year.

Three Quick Actions You Can Take Today

(1) Write to Your State Rep in Support of the VOTES Act

While Congress remains stalemated on voting rights action due to Republican and conservative Democratic (we’re looking at you, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema) opposition, we have important action to take here in MA.

Last fall, the MA Senate passed the VOTES Act, which would make pandemic voting reforms like expanded mail-in voting and expanded early voting permanent as well as enact Same Day Voter Registration and stronger protections for jail-based voting. But the House needs to take action too. Write to your state representative today — and if you already have recently, follow up with them.

(2) Write to the Public Safety Committee in support of the Safe Communities Act.

Immigrant justice and racial justice are deeply intertwined. Longstanding state and local involvement in deportations discourages immigrants from seeking medical care, and prevents immigrant victims and witnesses from seeking police and court protection. Many immigrants—and their children—fear that seeking help from local authorities will result in deportation and family separation.

That’s why we need the Safe Communities Act. Send an email to the Joint Committee on Public Safety about why it’s time to pass the SCA.

(3) Pledge to be a Fair Share Voter: For years, Massachusetts’ communities of color have been harmed by inequitable and inadequate access to transportation and public education. Now, the pandemic has heightened these economic and racial inequities that prevent shared prosperity.

The Fair Share Amendment is a transformative opportunity to raise revenue to build a more equitable commonwealth by investing in public education and transportation. Pledge your support for Fair Share today!

Wednesday, Jan 19, 4 pm: Legislative Briefing on No Cost Calls

This Wednesday, the MA Legislature’s Criminal Justice Reform Caucus is hosting a “NO COST CALLS” legislative briefing, open to the public. RSVP here.

They are partnering with the No Cost Calls Coalition and Prisoners’ Legal Services to explain how this legislation will remove barriers to communication between incarcerated people and their loved ones as Connecticut, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego Counties have already done. Join this briefing to hear firsthand accounts of the hardships that phone charges impose and the benefits of facilitating family contact. Worth Rises, based on its experience in jurisdictions that have already eliminated charges, will present a fiscal analysis showing how cost-effective this legislation would be.

Thursday, Jan 20, 7 pm: #NoNewWomensPrison Virtual Forum

Join this Thursday to learn more about S.2030/H.1905, An Act Establishing A [5-year] Jail and Prison Construction Moratorium, and how to take action to support it. The forum will discuss what this bill does and doesn’t do, how it would be implemented, and what it would mean for Massachusetts to invest $50 million into communities, instead of incarceration.

Featured speakers include bill sponsors Sen. Jo Comerford and Rep. Chynah Tyler along with Mahtowin Munro of the United American Indians of New England, and Andrea James of Families for Justice as Healing and The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls.

RSVP here.

Whether or not you can make it, take a moment to email your legislators about the prison moratorium bill here.

In solidarity, Jonathan Cohn
Policy Director
Progressive Massachusetts

PS: Our annual member meeting is THIS SATURDAY, 1 PM TO 4 PM. Have you RSVPed?

decarceration immigrants rights voting rights

Coming Soon: Our Annual Meeting + Hearing on Lifting the Ban on Rent Control

2022 is going to be an eventful year. We’re kicking it off with our annual member meeting on Saturday, January 22, from 1 pm to 4 pm. We’ll have an update on our work from the past year as well as what’s in store for 2022. We’ll also be featuring interviews with 2022 Gubernatorial and Lt. Gubernatorial candidates.

Progressive Mass 2022 Annual Member Meeting

Saturday, January 22

1 pm to 4 pm

Zoom link upon RSVP

RSVP today!

The first segment of the Annual Member Meeting will offer members updates on our organization, plans, and a chance to meet nominees for the Board (to be voted on after). The remainder, the bulk of the meeting, is open to all for the candidate interviews.

Not yet a member? Become one today!

Not sure if you’re a member? Check your status here.

RSVP today for our annual member meeting!

Next Tuesday: Hearing on the Tenant Protection Act

Next Tuesday, the MA Legislature will hear testimony on the Tenant Protection Act (S.886/H.1378), a bill from Sen. Adam Gomez and Reps. Mike Connolly and Nika Elugardo that would lift the statewide ban on rent control and enable municipalities to take action to support housing stability in line with the needs and conditions of each community.

Here are ways that you can show support for the bill:

ways that you can show support for the bill:

Submit written testimony: Send in your comments and ask others to do the same. You can use the form here.
Testify at the hearing. You need to sign up by 5 pm today.
Watch & amplify the hearing: On Tuesday, January 11 follow @HomesForAllMass, @CityLife_CLVU, & other allies on Twitter for live coverage of the State House hearing on rent control. Help amplify the message with retweets and your own posts (helpful talking points here). Watch the hearing livestream on the State House website.
Learn more. For updated info including links to materials about why rent control is an important solution, see www.HomesForAllMass.org/rentcontrol

RSVP Now! Progressive Mass’s 2022 Annual Member Meeting

2022 is going to be an eventful year. We’re kicking it off with our annual member meeting on Saturday, January 22, from 1 pm to 4 pm. We’ll have an update on our work from the past year as well as what’s in store for 2022. We’ll also be featuring interviews with 2022 Gubernatorial and Lt. Gubernatorial candidates.

Progressive Mass 2022 Annual Member Meeting

Saturday, January 22

1 pm to 4 pm

Zoom link upon RSVP

The first segment of the Annual Members Meeting will offer members updates on our organization, plans, and a chance to meet nominees for the Board (to be voted on after). The remainder, the bulk of the meeting, is open to all for the candidate interviews.

Not yet a member? Become one today!

Not sure if you’re a member? Check your status here.

Get to hear from major 2022 candidates!

Gubernatorial candidates confirmed so far:

Harvard professor Danielle Allen
State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz

AG Maura Healey has been invited — awaiting final confirmation.

LG candidates confirmed so far:

Businessman Bret Bero
Mayor Kim Driscoll
State Rep Dr. Tami Gouveia
State Sen. Adam Hinds
State Sen. Eric Lesser

These interviews are going to be key because we will be inviting our members to vote on an endorsement shortly thereafter.

elections

Dec. 4/5: Coming Together: Building Progressive Political Power

Massachusetts progressives are well aware of the crises we face. Climate catastrophes and COVID-19 ravage communities across the country, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and the poor always suffering most. The risk of nuclear war is as close as we have ever been. In Massachusetts, the growing incidence of the diseases of despair; addiction, ODs, and suicide reflect the worsening misery of much of our population while Trumpism threatens our political will to make change happen.

Come to our online Fall 2021 conference, Coming Together: Building Progressive Political Power, on Dec 4-5, where we will explore how we can move our programs forward with maximum impact, strategizing how to engage, unite and build the power needed to reverse the destructive policies of our current governmental structures. We acknowledge the urgency to center those whose lived experiences of resistance to oppression and injustice form the scaffold for our agenda.

Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5, 2021

by Zoom

Massachusetts progressives are well aware of the crises we face. Climate catastrophes and COVID-19 ravage communities across the country, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and the poor always suffering most. The risk of nuclear war is as close as we have ever been. In Massachusetts, the growing incidence of the diseases of despair; addiction, ODs, and suicide reflect the worsening misery of much of our population while Trumpism threatens our political will to make change happen.

Come to our online Fall 2021 conference, Coming Together: Building Progressive Political Power, on Dec 4-5, where we will explore how we can move our programs forward with maximum impact, strategizing how to engage, unite and build the power needed to reverse the destructive policies of our current governmental structures. We acknowledge the urgency to center those whose lived experiences of resistance to oppression and injustice form the scaffold for our agenda.

The 2016 and 2020 national elections, the Black Lives Matter movement, and Indigenous resistance to the Line 3 pipeline have changed power relationships and shifted cultural narratives in the United States. The Sanders presidential campaigns and the elections of AOC, Ayanna Pressley, and other members of The Squad point out the possibilities and the potential for progressive politics in the United States, but we are far from where we need to be. We will examine how we strengthen Progressive influence in our national, state and local governments.

To build power, we must forge coalitions of movements and groups, made up of different racial, ethnic, class, and gender constituencies. We must dismantle white supremacy and understand what it means to be an ally. We will begin the process of building a political agenda that is inclusive of human rights, including frequently under-represented BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, as we confront the threats of economic exploitation, climate change and nuclear war.

Lastly, we will address: how we maintain morale when political incrementalism impacts our power to address broad international issues and crises faced by the grassroots; and how we can conserve stamina, have fun and feel joy in our efforts. We should dance as we work toward a more just and sustainable world.

Sponsored by Massachusetts Peace Action, Our Revolution Massachusetts, Progressive Democrats of America, Progressive Massachusetts, North American Indian Center of Boston, Incorruptible Mass, Boston Democratic Socialists of America, Massachusetts Call 2 Action.

Registration: Pay what you can afford, $0- $100 – unlimited, sliding scale. Average to cover our costs: $20. Read the sliding scale guidance page. Register to attend.

We need 30 breakout facilitators and 30 student recorders! Breakout facilitators should experienced at convening groups of people to work together on a common task, and preferably, be familiar with the conference’s subject matter. There will be a planning meeting for conveners, probably on Dec. 2 or 3. Sign up to be a breakout facilitator (and register for the conference at the same time). You must be able to attend on Sunday as well as Saturday!

Student recorders should be high school or college students who can take notes during breakouts, capture list of attendees, and make a Zoom recording. You will be paid $30 for this work. There will be a brief orientation session on Dec. 3 at 3pm. Sign up to be a student recorder!

Sponsor or Endorse: Massachusetts progressive organizations are invited to cosponsor or endorse. See details and sign up.

Agenda

Saturday, December 4

9:00 am Welcome and Keynote Address

10:00 am Federal Strategy Panel

11:00 am Breakouts

12:00 noon Lunch

1:00 pm State Strategy and Issues Panel

3:00 pm Breakouts

4:00 pm Wrap-up

5:00 pm Adjourn

Sunday, December 5

10:00 am Next Steps

12:00 pm Adjourn

conferences

Our 2022 (!) Annual Member Meeting, Expanding Our Board, New Chapter Info Session, & More

Yes, it’s almost 2022 already. Can you believe it?

So it’s time to mark your calendars for our 2022 annual member meeting on Saturday, January 22nd.

With an important election year coming up, we’ll be hearing from statewide candidates running next year. Stay tuned for more.

WHAT: Progressive Mass 2022 Annual Member Meeting

WHEN: Saturday, January 22 (Time TBD)

WHERE: Zoom (But we hope to see you in person again before too long!)

Not yet a member? Become one today!

Not sure if you’re a member? Check your status here.

2022 Board Elections

Every year, at our Annual Meeting, Progressive Mass elects new Board members to serve 2-year terms. This year, we are looking to elect at least 2 new board members.

Our Board is a working Board, setting direction for all of PM’s external political work and internal organizational development, and leading or getting involved in various efforts. See more info here.

Interested? Email governance@progressivemass.com with a brief bio, an expression of interest, and relevant expertise/experience (as well as with any questions) and, attach this linked form providing at least ten names of dues-paying members of Progressive Mass who will support your candidacy.

Forms are due by Thursday, December 23.

Join or renew before the end of 2021!

Were you active this year and are looking for a home base to stay involved?
Are you looking for like-minded, mission-driven fellow activists and organizers?
Do you want to have a say in PM’s priorities and endorsements?

Then be sure to join or renew your PM membership!

You’ll be supporting PM’s grassroots movement to make Massachusetts live up to its progressive reputation.

No PM chapter in your area? Want to start one?

Join us for an information session on Saturday, December 11, at 10 am to find out what’s involved in starting and running a chapter.

What do chapters do?
What difference do they make?
What are the steps to launch a chapter?

Sign up here for our chapter interest info session!

In Two Weeks — Coming Together: Building Progressive Political Power

Massachusetts progressives are well aware of the crises we face. Climate catastrophes and COVID-19 ravage communities across the country, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and the poor always suffering most. The risk of nuclear war is as close as we have ever been. In Massachusetts, the growing incidence of the diseases of despair; addiction, ODs, and suicide reflect the worsening misery of much of our population while Trumpism threatens our political will to make change happen.

Come to our online Fall 2021 conference, Coming Together: Building Progressive Political Power, on Dec 4-5, where we will explore how we can move our programs forward with maximum impact, strategizing how to engage, unite and build the power needed to reverse the destructive policies of our current governmental structures. We acknowledge the urgency to center those whose lived experiences of resistance to oppression and injustice form the scaffold for our agenda.

Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5, 2021

by Zoom