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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S CORNER
Overcoming the Tide of Election Suppression
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FOUNDER INSIGHTS
 Greg Jobin-Leeds is co-founder of the Schott Foundation for Public Education, Access Strategies Fund and Partnership for Democracy and Education, LLC. He writes and speaks on successful social movements, highly effective international educational practices, school leadership, and political strategies. We are pleased to share his new blog on Daily Kos with our network. Click on the link below to comment and read Greg's Blog. |
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GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Boston Women's Fund:
The Boston Women's Fund is a progressive foundation that supports community based organizations and grassroots initiatives run by women and girls in order to create a society based on racial, economic and social justice.
The Boston Women's Fund currently uses a Letter of Intent format. After reviewing each letter of intent, which is due on December 21, 2012, a number of organizations will be asked to submit a full proposal by February 22, 2013.
Click Here for information about the Boston Women's Fund's Request for Letters of Intent.
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MEET OUR ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY FUND GRANTEES
The Access Strategies Fund Board and Grantmaking Committee awarded grants to empower underserved communities in urban centers in Massachusetts to transform and restructure our economic, electoral and political systems to make them genuinely democratic, participatory, inclusive, and equitable.
The Board and Committee made 9 grants this summer ranging from $10,000-$20,000 to organizations fighting for changes in our economy and democracy. We are proud that a majority of these groups and initiatives are led by women, and almost all are led by people of color, low-income people, and immigrants committed to building power for their communities.
Groups are working to get out the vote, challenge redistricting policies that disenfranchise voters of color, institute new structures for participatory budgeting, end prison-based gerrymandering, reform city charters that remove legislative authority from local elected officials, put tester questions on local ballots to raise taxes on the 1%, develop legislative accountability tools for local elected officials and halt foreclosures and bad banking practices.
To learn more about our grantees click here.
Access Strategies Fund Board and Staff would like to send a Special thank you to our 2011-2012 Working Group members who guided our strategy, and our Grantmaking Committee team for funding recommendations. We are so excited to work with this round of grantees for justice! |
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FEATURED GRANTEE
Our staff interviewed Interim Coordinator
Tony Mack
Mass Voter Table
a new Access Strategies Fund Grantee.
1. What is the Mass Voter Table? When did it start?
The Mass Voter Table is a coalition of groups that are working to mobilize voters in low-income communities and communities of color. We register people, educate them about what's at stake in any give election cycle, and most importantly we get them out to vote. We educate communities about issues at stake in the election like funding for education, housing, healthcare, basic needs, aid to communities and local services.
Massachusetts Voter Table is collaborating with 55 organizations to turnout 175,000 voters across the state in November. Just weeks before the Presidential Election, Access had the opportunity to interview Tony Mack, Interim Director of the Mass. Voter Table about their voter engagement efforts throughout the state.
Click here to read our entire interview with Tony Mack, Interim Coordinator of the Mass Voter Table |
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CELEBRATING RECENT VICTORIES!
Access Strategies Fund is pleased to announce that our Grantees, Board, Community Leaders and Network Partners have secured new voting rights and systemic changes that will amplify our collective voices and voting power
1/2 MILLION LOW-INCOME PEOPLE GAIN NEW ACCESS TO VOTER REGISTRATION
In May a federal court lawsuit was filed because Massachusetts hasn't been complying with its obligation to provide voter registration at public assistance offices, as required by the National Voter Registration Act. The state agreed to an interim agreement which included a mailing to 478,000 people who've been through the offices in the past year and may not have been offered voter registration. It included a postage-paid, pre-addressed voter registration application. Click Here to read More.
We would like to thank Demos (who has served on the Access Strategies Fund Grantmaking Committee) and MassVOTE, Access grantee, for their work on this.
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE CALLS ON CONGRESS TO ENACT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
REVERSING CITIZENS UNITED DECISION
A sharply divided Supreme Court decided that the American people are powerless to stop corporations from using corporate funds to influence state and federal elections. The 5-4 decision ruled that restrictions on corporate expenditures in elections contained in the federal Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (known as BCRA or "McCain-Feingold") violated the First Amendment protections of free speech.
The Massachusetts State House passed a resolution calling on the United States Congress to enact a federal Constitutional Amendment to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, and restore fair elections and constitutional rights to the people. The State Senate passed its resolution by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 35 to 1, with all Republicans joining all but one Democrat in approving it. The Access Strategies Fund Board and Staff would like to send a special thanks to our Board member John Bonifaz of Free Speech for People for his work on this victory in the Commonwealth. To Learn More about Citizens United visit Free Speech for People .
MASSACHUSETTS MAKES VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS AVAILABLE ONLINE
The Secretary of the Commonwealth's Election Division embraced 21st century technology and posted voter registration forms online. The Massachusetts Mail-In Voter Registration Form can be used to register to vote in Massachusetts, to update registration information due to a change of name, make a change of address, or to register with a political party.
***DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS
OCTOBER 17, 2012***
Download the Forms:
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HIRING SEARCH!
BOSTON WORKERS ALLIANCE 
The Boston Workers Alliance is a 501(c)3 grassroots member-led organization of under- and unemployed workers, united to end the crisis of joblessness in Boston's urban communities of color. Through cooperation, political awareness, organizing and the development of its members as social change agents, BWA fervently challenges the political and economic structures that oppose full civic participation and the potential to live well.
BWA is seeking a progressive, experienced leader with a heart for social and economic justice, organizing and community empowerment to succeed its founding executive director.
For the complete position profile and application guidelines, please visit here.
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To receive the latest information visit our website www.accessstrategies.org
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