Notices about opportunities to take action in the community.
Mothers Out Front is “building a movement of mothers, grandmothers and caregivers who use their collective energy and voice to convince elected officials and business leaders to push for a swift and complete transition away from fossil fuels, to clean energy.”
Click to find out how you can get involved.
The is an activist organization focused on national policies to address climate change. Its stated purposes are:
It has proven to be one of the most effective organizations fighting to address climate change. To get involved go to .
350 Massachusetts is a volunteer-led statewide climate action network. 350MA is made up of hundreds of engaged activists who work with the media, organize events, educate their communities, lobby lawmakers, and more. 350MA is currently focusing on campaigns to eliminate fossil fuels and to promote divestment of oil, gas, and coal companies from the state pension fund.
To find out you can get involved, click .
is a “good government” organization, working on issues such as voting rights, campaign finance reform, transparency, and election modernization. They have a long track record of meaningful achievements in Massachusetts.
Executive Director Pam Wilmot was named ESB’s Humanist of the Year in 2009.
Common Cause actively seeks volunteers to help with projects and to take action on various issues. Click to find out more.
On April 27, 2014, Professor Erin O’Brien of UMass/Boston addressed ESB on the issue of voter access in Massachusetts. We learned that our state has fallen behind many others. We have one of the highest rates of inequity in voter turnout between races. Although there are reforms in the works, our state has a long way to go to catch up.
Right now, it’s important to contact , and urge them to support House Bill H3788 and Senate Bill S1981. This bill has been passed and is now in a conference committee. The Senate version is preferred.
One of the groups that has played a key role in this reform is . MassVOTE works to educate, register, and organize voters across the state. Check their web site to see how you can and support their efforts.
On March 30, Andrea Barron, an Adjunct History professor at George Mason University, spoke to ESB on the topic Combatting Religious Fundamentalisms and Misogynous Cultural Practices. She discussed female genital mutilation (FGM), which affects one-fourth of African girls and women; so-called “honor crimes” in the Middle East; gender segregation and forced marriages among ultra-orthodox Jews in Israel and the United States, and radical anti-abortion policies in Latin America as well as a movement in the U.S. to pass “personhood” amendments that would classify fertilized eggs as human beings. Andrea encouraged ESB activists to choose an issue(s) they care about and support one or more of the following organizations by signing a petition, receiving their newsletter or making a donation. Continue reading
Each Year, sponsors the Walk for Hunger in Boston. From their site:
On Sunday May 4th, 2014 more than 40,000 Walkers, 2,000 volunteers, and a generous group of donors will join together in a community event like no other in America. Together, they will raise awareness around hunger in our state, make a powerful statement about our shared commitment to help people in need, and, importantly, raise the dollars that make it possible for Project Bread to develop, fund, and facilitate much-needed programs—programs that interrupt the cycle of food insecurity in our communities, programs that improve the lives of individuals and families, programs that provide hope.
To find out how you can join the walk, click . If you can’t do the walk, but would like to help, you can sponsor ESB member Terry Goldzier who walks the Walk every year!
ESB supports the Massachusetts campaign for a single payer healthcare system. Mass-Care is working with with doctors and legislators to make this happen.
On Saturday, April 12, 12 PM to 5 PM, Mass-Care will hold its annual Spring Gala at Ryle’s Jazz Club, 212 Hampshire St (Inman Square) in Cambridge. Don Berwick, candidate for governor, will speak. Check for more information.
If you would like to get involved in supporting Mass-Care, check their .
Compassion and Choices is a national organization that is “committed to helping everyone have the best death possible.”
In Massachusetts, Compassion and Choices is working on legislation that would offer end of life choices. ESB has advocated for the passage of this legislation.
To get involved, visit
Move to Amend is a national organization with a local chapter in Greater Boston. Several ESB members are active in this group. The fundamental principles of the group are:
The group advocates changes to the Constitution that would deny corporations the rights that are granted to individuals. They further believe that it is in the best interests of the nation to allow Congress to regulate excessive election spending.
The group holds monthly meetings, usually in Cambridge. Visit for updates. The next meeting is at 7PM on March 20, 2014, in the Democracy Center on Mt. Auburn St, Cambridge.