Community Works member organizations are continuously working for equity and social justice in Boston and surrounding areas.
Check out their programming for the week starting Monday March 28th, 2016.
1. ACLU of Massachusetts: Community Town Hall Forum on Police Decertification in Massachusetts
Date: Monday, March 28th 2016
Time: 6:00pm-8:30pm
Location: Media Arts Auditorium, Roxbury Community College, 1234 Columbus Avenue, Roxbury Crossing 02120
Massachusetts is one of only six states without revocation authority. The others are California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.
Many professionals are licensed, and if found guilty of wrongdoing, they can lose their license to practice. Lawyers, doctors, plumbers, electricians, accountants, taxi drivers, teachers, real estate brokers, architects, psychologists and barbers are all subject to losing their license or being decertified. Even your personal driver’s license can be revoked for serious infractions.
Why not police?
This panel discussion will be moderated by Prof. Roger L. Goldman, Callis Family Professor of Law Emeritus at Saint Louis University School of Law. Don’t miss out on a thought-provoking discussion very relevant to our time.
2. Boston Women’s Fund: When Race Meets Gender
Description: You are invited to a discussion with Teresa Younger, President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women. Younger has been on the front lines of some of the most important battles for women’s health, safety and economic security. She is a tireless advocate and well-respected feminist leader, with a proven track record in nonprofit management and fundraising. She most recently served as the executive director of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW), where she has spearheaded successful campaigns for women’s health, safety and economic empowerment.
Date: Tuesday, March 29th 2016.
Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm
Location: Semel Theater, Emerson College, 10 Boylston Place, Boston, MA 02116
3. Emerge (Counseling and Education to Stop Domestic Violence): Registration for Counseling Abusers Training
Description: This course is intended for anyone working with families affected by domestic violence. The course meets BIP group leader training requirements in Massachusetts and in many other states. Over the past 6 years, over 1000 people from 45 states and 15 nations have taken this course.
Dates: Wednesday, May 18th-Friday, May 20th 2016
Location: First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church
630 Massachusetts Ave.
Arlington, MA 02476
Tuition: $250 for the first person and $175 for each additional person from an agency.
For more information and to register, visit the website.
4. Greater Four Corners Action Coalition: Call to Action- Save our Parks!
Boston Park Advocates is part of a coalition that is working to get the Community Preservation Act (CPA) adopted in Boston this year.
The CPA is a state program that would allow Boston to raise $20 million/year for parks and recreation, historic preservation, and affordable housing, by adding a 1% surcharge to property tax bills. Almost half of the cities and towns in Massachusetts have already adopted the CPA and have collectively generated a total of $1.4 billion to address community needs. During last year alone, CPA enabled Massachusetts communities to undertake over 300 land acquisition, open space, and recreation projects. Take a look at the project database.
Our city councilors need to hear from us that we want CPA to be on the ballot for this fall. The time to let them know is now. There are two ways to send the message:
A. City Hall Hearing
Date: Tuesday, March 29th 2016.
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Christopher Iannella Chamber 5th floor, 1 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02108.
B. Contact your Councilors
Communicate to your district city councilor and the four at-large city councilors that you support the CPA. See below for sample message and contact information. We encourage you to personalize the message, i.e. why is it important to you for Boston to preserve open space, improve parks, and enhance recreational amenities? Please copy mail@bostonparks.org on the e-mail to your district councilor or let us know what response you receive.
For further information on how you can participate, visit the campaign website.
5. Paige Academy: Spring Has Sprung! Party
Description: Parents for Paige (P4P) will hold a school-wide party for Paige Academy parents, students and staff. There will be snacks and activities– cookie decorating, face painting, jewelry making– and a dance party for all. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Date: Friday, April 1st 2016
Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm
Location: Umoja Room, Paige Academy, 26/28 Highland Ave., Roxbury, MA 02119.
The Voting Rights Act was signed into law in 1965 to ban discriminatory voting practices that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote. Despite this pivotal moment in U.S. history, there remain institutional obstacles today that disenfranchise voters, primarily people of color. In certain states, stringent voter ID laws result in those without government-issued photo ID being restricted from participating in elections. Those affected by such regulations are usually low income, people of color. Gerrymandering is another contributing factor to the disenfranchisement of certain voters. This practice involves the re-drawing of district lines that can sometimes lead to an unequal re-distribution of Democratic and Republican voters. In anticipation of this year’s national elections, here are some of the rights Massachusetts voters should be aware of.
Boston Social Justice 