Tweet Access is proud to have our Executive Director, Alexie Torres-Fleming, present at the 2016 IDEAS UMass Boston event today. “IDEAS highlights some of the region’s leading thinkers. These leaders push boundaries and share their latest big ideas to create fertile ground for innovation.” It’s an honor to have our very own be chosen as […]
Tweet (L-R) Alexie Torres-Fleming Executive Director, Maria Jobin-Leeds Board President, Dayna L. Cunningham, and Diana Salas on Wednesday July 20, 2016, discuss the future of our communities, and Access’ role in it.
Tweet Access Strategies Fund’s Executive Director, Alexie Torres-Fleming, will be traveling to Buffalo, New York this week to attend and present at the New Economy Coalition’s Common Bound Conference. We are excited to highlight the work of Access’ Massachusetts Solidarity Economy Initiative. We hope you can join us. For more information and updates on the conference, check out […]
Tweet June 27, 2014 On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce that Alexie Torres-Fleming has accepted the position of Executive Director of Access Strategies Fund! Alexie is an activist, community organizer, advocate and urban planner from the South Bronx, New York with over 20 years of experience in social justice […]
Tweet Since our Executive Director Kelly Bates’ departure in August, Access Strategies Fund has engaged in an in-depth process of organizational assessment and strategic direction setting. Working with Third Sector New England, (a capacity building non-profit which has guided numerous organizations through executive transition), Access is taking a fresh look at how it will align […]
After six years of committed service, Kelly Bates will be stepping down from her role as Executive Director of the Access Strategies Fund on August 8, 2013. “I have sincerely treasured the experience of leading Access. We have made significant public impact in Massachusetts to build the civic and political engagement of diverse communities,” says Kelly Bates.
Tweet Access Strategies Fund is highlighted in a new report, State of the Work 2013, Inspiration & Ideas for Advancing Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in Philanthropy. It was produced by the D5 Coalition, a five-year effort to increase philanthropy’s diversity, equity and inclusiveness. The D5 coalition is an unprecedented effort by leading philanthropy associations and […]
Tweet The Boston Globe chose Access Executive Director Kelly Bates as 1 of 12 “Diversity Champions” in Boston. She was recognized for her work advocating for communities of color. Read more here.
Tweet 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. 1. Why a Mass Voter Table, and why now? The Mass Voter Table is long overdue. The voices of low income communities and communities of color are […]
Tweet Listen to Kelly Bates, Executive Director of Access Strategies Fund talk about the 2012 Presidential Elections and Mass. US Senate Race on Boston’s NPR Station, WGBH 89.7 Listen NOW
Tweet We interviewed Gloribell Mota, Lead Organizer of Neighbors United for a Better East Boston about the 2011 Municipal Elections. Voter Mobilization is Alive and Well! What was the most exciting aspect of your work during the past Municipal elections? For NUBE it was our third round of doing civic engagement and our member leadership […]
Tweet Access Strategies Fund sponsored a timely teleconference for Massachusetts social justice funders on October 27, 2011, FROM WALL STREET TO DEWEY SQUARE –Occupy Boston, Right to the City & the Emerging Movement for Equality in our Economy and Democracy–Listen to the recording now.
Tweet Watch this Video. Access Strategies Fund signed onto the national campaign, Philanthropy’s Promise. We are committed to providing at least half of our grant dollars for the intended benefit of underserved communities, broadly defined, and at least one quarter of our grant dollars for systemic change efforts involving advocacy, community organizing and civic engagement.
Tweet On Tuesday October 18, 2011 the legislative redistricting committee released their maps for State Representative and Senate. The Drawing Democracy Project had a great influence in both maps and we are very pleased with the result. The Senate increased the number of majority minority seats from two to three and they doubled the number […]
Tweet Drawing Democracy Project grantees created two statewide maps suggesting how to reduce the number of congressional districts and increase the voice of underrepresented people. Both maps were created collectively by grantees with no regard to incumbency. The two maps highlight ways to keep two seats in Western Massachusetts and how to increase the voting power of minorities in eastern and southeast Massachusetts. Check out […]
Tweet This summer the Drawing Democracy Project grantees held a press conference to introduce their two suggestions on how to more fairly redraw Massachusetts Congressional districts. Check out the maps. Check out the press. Boston Globe, Dorchester Reporter, The Bay State Banner
Tweet – unique grassroots educational outreach and mapping effort aims to impact state redistricting process – WHEN: MONDAY, July 11, 2011 WHERE: STATE HOUSE STEPS TIME: 12 NOON – 1PM Speakers: Malia Lazu, Drawing Democracy Project Rahsaan Hall, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights under the Law […]
Community Leaders to Census Officials: We Can Do Even Better Next Time
Community Leaders in Massachusetts are already advising Census officials on how to do better next time. Among their concerns is the outdated nature of the racial and ethnic categories on Census forms. Many want the word “Negro” removed from the Census, as it evokes images of segregation…
Tweet Kelly Bates, Executive Director of Access Strategies Fund talks redistricting, politics, and minority inclusion on Boston’s NPR Radio Station WGBH 89.7FM Listen to the commentary here Download the remarks here
Check out this interactive map released by the US Census with new data from the 2010 census. See changes in population and demographics at a state, county or tract level! What does your community look like today?
Tweet 6/29. Listen to Kelly Bates, Director of Access talk politics on the Callie Crossley Show. Topics included the Boston City Council election, President Obama’s economic plans, Republican candidates for President, and redistricting. Kelly Bates is a regular political contributor on WGBH 89.7, Boston’s NPR Radio Station. Listen now
Tweet Kelly Bates, Executive Director of Access Strategies Fund is a regular commentator on Boston’s NPR Station, WGBH 89.7FM. Download her commentary, “Year of the Congress” to hear a wrap up analysis of 2010 politics and what is ahead in the New Year.
Voting Rights and Civil Rights Organizations Call for Transparency in Drawing New 9 Seat Map of Massachusetts Congressional Districts.
Tweet Access celebrated its Tenth Anniversary on November 10, 2010. Watch the video that showcases the work of the last decade of Access Strategies Fund.
Tweet Access Strategies Fund executive director was interviewed on WGBH’s show “Basic Black” on the evening of the Fund’s Tenth Anniversary event in November. Listen in! Basic Black was created in 1968 during the turmoil of the civil rights movement as a response to the demand for public television programs reflecting the concerns of African Americans.
Tweet FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE A Decade of Daring: Access Strategies Fund Celebrates its 10th Anniversary! Nov. 3, 2010 – Cambridge, Massachusetts: It’s hard to imagine that ten years have passed, but even harder to imagine how the lives of many would fare, if it were not for the boldness of Access Strategies Fund (Access), and […]
Tweet Tuesday, November 2nd, there are good reasons to get yourself to the polls for the minutes it takes to vote. There are three very compelling reasons to vote in Massachusetts on Tuesday, November 2nd: This time around, your vote will make the critical difference in the election. The races for Governor, Treasurer, and Auditor […]
Tweet Need a resource to help you or your community understand how to vote? MassVOTE, an Access Strategies Fund grantee, produced 5 short “How to Vote” videos in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Portuguese, plus an English version for voters with a disability. Watch here
Tweet Access is proud that our grantees engaged in two campaigns that ended in victory at the State House thanks in large part to grassroots women leaders who organized alongside men to make major gains for ballot access and CORI reform. After years of organizing, voter engagement, grassroots advocacy, marches, and community events, grantees Boston […]
Tweet Cambridge, MA, August 4, 2010 – – Access Strategies Fund announced today that it has funded fourteen Massachusetts organizations for a total of $165,000. (See list below of grantees by community.) The grants, which cover a dozen communities, are aimed at helping to transform electoral structures in order to make government more responsive, accessible, […]
Tweet Hear Kelly Bates, Access Strategies Fund Director talk on public radio about the need to adopt a National Popular Vote system for Presidential Elections. She is a regular commentator on the new WGBH 89.7 radio station in Massachusetts, Boston’s NPR station. Listen & Download the text version (to listen – scroll down and click on “Electoral College, 6/15”)
Tweet Hear Kelly Bates, Access Strategies Fund Director talk on public radio about the disease of racism that continues to exist well after the election of President Obama. She is a regular commentator on the new WGBH 89.7 radio station in Massachusetts, Boston’s NPR station. Listen here
Tweet Listen to Kelly Bates, Executive Director of Access Strategies Fund on public radio talk about how we must clean up politics inside and out. Kelly Bates is a regular commentator on the new WGBH 89.7 radio station in Massachusetts, Boston’s NPR station. Listen here
Tweet For immediate release Massachusetts Census Equity Fund Answering Call to Prevent Census Undercount in Underserved Communities February 12, 2010 Contact: Kelly Bates (617) 494-0715, x 201 Toll Free: (888) 920-1969 Cambridge, MA: February 12, 2010: Communities of color and low-income, people with disabilities, homeless, and immigrant communities are important productive members of society who have been […]
Tweet In 2009, Access Strategies Fund awarded a $25,000 grant to the Union of Minority Neighborhoods. The UMN was founded in 2000 with one staff member and a promise; to ensure that skilled, committed, grassroots activists of color are recruited and developed into leaders who can effectively organize on issues of concern in their communities. […]
Tweet In June 2008, more than 500 people from across Massachusetts joined Access Strategies Fund, Commonwealth Seminar, Governor Deval Patrick, and Access grantees for the New Networks and New Power Celebration. Kelly Bates, Executive Director of Access Strategies Fund delivered a speech at the event calling on government and community leaders to use their power […]