Programs: Organizing for Equity

Supporting and working with multi-racial groups taking action are central to CCI’s mission. Through coalition building and joint efforts to address social justice issues in Boston and throughout New England, we focus on social systems that are particularly affected by racism – education, criminal justice, housing, employment, voters’ rights, and environmental justice, among others.

Racism & Employment

Boston Society of VULCANS (organization of black and other minority men and women firefighters):
Organizing in an effort to reform fire department’s racist policies in hiring and promotion, CCI initiated meetings and collaborations between the Vulcans, the Greater Boston Coalition for Civil Rights, and Kathy O’Toole, at that time the acting chief and Commissioner of Boston Fire Department. This led to the formation of the Coalition of Firefighters for Civil Rights.

Massachusetts Alliance to Save Affirmative Action (MASAA):
MASAA was organized by the Union of Minority Neighborhoods to challenge Governor Mitt Romney’s attack on Affirmative Action for state employees. Active throughout the history of MASSA, CCI played a major role organizing a public hearing in front of the Governor’s Commission on Affirmative Action in June 2004. Co-sponsored by the Black Congressional Caucus’s, this hearing was attended by more than 400 people, enough to pressure Romney to stop the process to change the AA policy.

Racism & Health Care

The Angry Heart:
CCI organized the Angry Heart Task Force to promote awareness and action surrounding racism in health care institutions. Community Change and Brigham and Women’s Hospital presented the “The Angry Heart,” a stirring documentary capturing the impact of racism on heart disease among African-Americans. This film exposes health care workers to institutional racism in health care organizations and alerts the community to the racism in our health care facilities. The Angry Heart Task force began as part of CCI’s monthly Brown Bag series of events designed to foster dialogue about the struggle against racism and to provide opportunities for networking and taking action. Angry Heart forums have been held throughout Massachusetts and the United States.

Racism in the Criminal (In)Justice System

Prison Advocates Strategy Session:
In collaboration with American Friends Service Committee and the Campaign to Build Safer Communities, CCI worked to identify ways to influence the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission and to develop next steps for advocacy and action in order to help end the inhumane treatment of our fellow brothers and sisters in prison.

CORI (Criminal Offenders Record Information) Reform:
CCI is part of the MA Alliance to Reform CORI (MARC), which is organizing a two year campaign to influence and support legislation to reform CORI. On April 6, 2005, CCI offered a Brown Bag Luncheon on “CORI: What’s Wrong & What Can We Do?” an action-oriented presentation and discussion led Ernest (Tony) Winsor, Esq., and Francisca D. (Fran) Frajana, Esq. of the CORI Project at Mass. Law Reform Institute.

Racism and ...

Participation in civil rights amicus curiae brief to the MA Supreme Judicial Court:
In collaboration with GLAD, CCI responded to the state Senate’s request for an advisory opinion on a bill restricting marriage but providing civil unions to same-sex couples.

Fund the Dream Alliance:
Universal Health Care, Affordable Housing, Quality Public Schools, co-sponsor.

Boston Social Forum (BSF):
CCI staff and interns sat on the Planning Committee for the BSF and provided workshops on: Racism and Healthcare, Racism and Progressive Organizing, White Privilege, and Gentrification.

Organizing White Anti-Racists in Boston:
Working planning group, three large-group organizing meetings, continued participation to build white antiracist group and continued work with white antiracist men’s group.

Developed relationships with antiracist organizers in Northern Vermont:
This has led to work planned for fall 2005 with faculty at Lyndon State College. We are also working to connect with organizers in Montpelier.

Community Change Inc.
14 Beacon Street, Room 605
Boston, MA 02108
Telephone: (617) 523-0555
Fax: (617) 523-1847

© 2006 Community Change, Inc.