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Greetings!
Over the past couple of weeks, the world has seen the power of peaceful demonstration. And while we have all been inspired by the voices of Egypt, many of us across Massachusetts have been inspired by the democratic actions of powerful youth activists much closer to home.
 It has been refreshing to see this new wave of young activists from Teens Leading the Way gathering together at the State House to advocate for a bill that would make civics a high school graduation requirement in Massachusetts. [Senate Docket 01635] Their hard work has already helped gather over 40 co-sponsors of the bill.
In the words of nineteen year old activist, Symmone Robinson, "It felt like a great accomplishment to do more than just talk about change, we were presenting our plans to people in power! Some of the staff were surprised to see us on a Friday afternoon, like we should be home preparing for a weekend out. Not us! We had other plans."
If you - or your organization - would like to get involved with the campaign, please feel free to contact Geoff Foster from UTEC.
And that's not the only legislative action going on across our state! With help from network members like you, we've been working hard to engage our communities and advocate for our 2011 Legislative and Action Agenda:
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Step Up and Ask Your Budget Question
State officials are coming to a town near you - defending their budgets and justifying priorities. Keep your eyes peeled for local hearings, launching March 2nd.
 Senator Steven Brewer, Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, released the list of Joint House and Senate budget hearings on Facebook, of all places [PDF]. For good measure, here is another list of the Members of all the Joint and Standing Committees from the State House News Service.
Although the purpose of these meetings is for Ways and Means Members to hear from the Governor's staff, it doesn't hurt to go to one of these hearings if it's in your area and you are available. It is certainly an opportunity to talk about your program to any local members of the House and Senate Ways and Means Committee, and to the local media. Sometimes - though rarely - the committee will let local people testify at the end even if it's not on the agenda... [More info at realclout.org]
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Re-Draw Your District
Statewide hearings seek public input in redistricting efforts.
![District Map [masslive.com]](http://media.masslive.com/thefray/photo/9212635-large.jpg) "At the end of last year, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that Massachusetts was among 10 states that would lose a Congressional seat." [More Background: masslive.com]
"State lawmakers are now in the process of figuring out how to re-draw the electoral map as the state prepares to lose one of its 10 congressional seats to redistricting. Sen. Stanley Rosenberg and Rep. Michael Moran are leading the process and held private talks with several Massachusetts Congress members Wednesday... The Legislature plans to hold at least 12 public hearings across the state to seek input from residents. 'We are doing everything we were doing 10 years ago, and more, so the public can be assured that we will do everything we can do to hear them,' Rosenberg said."
[Full Article: Wbur.org]
"In a TV interview this week, Murray called the crafting of so-called minority-majority districts "most important" and said "it would be a lot easier" to drop from ten to nine Congressional districts if one of the current members of the state's delegation opted not to seek re-election."
[State House News Service]
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Build More Transparency
Help push for more efficient economic development.
 In order to increase transparency in the way our state government grants tax credits to corporations, Representative Carl M. Sciortino has sponsored, along with forty-one State Representative and nine State Senator co-sponsors, an Act to Promote Efficiency and Transparency in Economic Development [House Docket 02946].
The act establishes that if a company fails to meet its job creation commitments within two years, the state will be required to recapture (clawback) a pro-rated portion of the subsidy.
[More info at ONEMassachusetts.org] ONE Massachusetts network members will be working with MassPIRG to support this act. If you are interested in participating in a campaign that will include with OpEds, Letters to the Editor, testimony at hearings, and other events, please contact Carmen Arce-Bowen. Free coaching and feedback on writing materials and letters is available! |
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Advocate for Your Issues
During Hard Economic Times
Nonprofit and community advocates like you are working hard to build - and to rebuild - our neighborhoods and to keep our families healthy and strong. But recent budget seasons have proven difficult for those advocating for funding:
 "Gone are the days when advocates could just appeal to lawmakers' hearts. Now they say they have to come to the Statehouse armed with hard data about the success of their programs.
'You can no longer go and just say it's the right thing to do. You have to make your case statistically and put a human face on it,' said Brian Condron, director of advocacy for The Home for Little Wanderers. 'It takes a lot more research and work,' he added."
[Full Article: Boston Herald]
So how do you put a human face on your work? What kind of success data do you need to present? How do you answer the inevitable questions, "We have no money... what would you suggest we cut to fund your program?" and "Will you support me if I support new taxes?"
ONE Massachusetts is taking a lead role in educating our network members about the most effective ways to speak to legislators about funding options and how we can reform revenues to close the budget gap, moving forward (including the current Act to Invest in Our Communities, filed by Representative James O'Day and Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz [House Docket 02261 & Senate Docket 1012]).
The first of these special training workshops will take place in Boston on March 2nd, 2011. Further trainings are currently being planned with network members, and may include events in Northampton, Worcester, Boston, Chelsea, Lowell, Newton, Fall River, New Bedford, Fitchburg, Pittsfield, Lawrence, Framingham, and Lynn.
If you are interested in hosting or attending any of these events in your community, please contact us at carmen@realclout.org. We will keep you posted about future training events in your area!
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 Want more information on ONE Massachusetts and how you can get involved? Check out our: |
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