The power of community organizing is exemplified by Ex-prisoners and Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement (EPOCA), in Worcester, MA. CTAC has supported EPOCA's social change efforts for 5 years with technical assistance and small grants. This successful collaboration has been made possible by the Intermediary Support for Organizing Communities program of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

EPOCA is a membership-led organization that works to create opportunities for those who have paid their debt to society. Through community organizing, EPOCA's many victories include helping lead and win a groundbreaking 6-year statewide campaign to reform the Criminal Offender Record Information System in Massachusetts. In the past, misuse of criminal offender record information, by employers, schools and landlords, has left individuals and families in poverty and desperation. Thanks to the efforts of EPOCA and its allies, criminal records are no longer such an insurmountable barrier to employment or housing.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signing the groundbreaking Criminal Offender Record Information System legislation.

While EPOCA is widely known for its contribution to this campaign that won statewide reform, Steve O'Neill, Executive Director for Inter-state Organizing, explains that the organization is the most proud of how its work changes the nature of who demonstrates leadership and how decisions are made. EPOCA is dedicated to each member's growth as a leader and the organizational structure is designed to train community organizers. Because of this very structure, which came out of a series of strategic planning processes supported by CTAC's technical assistance, EPOCA is able to maintain a culture of empowerment and connection.

We celebrate the leaders and members of Ex-prisoners and Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement for their achievements and commitment to community organizing. Learn more about EPOCA at www.exprisoners.org and about CTAC at www.ctacusa.com.