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Access Strategies Fund Appointed to Co-Chairperson of the Civic Engagement Initiative
Access Strategies Fund Building Bridges in the Black and Latino Community
Access Strategies Fund Leads the Way on Work Place Policies
Access Strategies Fund Appointed to Co-Chairperson of the Civic Engagement Initiative
Kelly Bates, Executive Director of Access Strategies Fund was appointed Co-Chairperson of the funding collaborative of the Civic Engagement Initiative (CEI). Access Strategies Fund will share the leadership with the Boston Foundation, a long-time collaborator of Access Strategies Fund and the initiator of CEI.
The Civic Engagement Initiative was established in 2002 as a non-partisan effort to increase voter participation in Boston and Chelsea’s most disadvantaged communities. Since its inception, the CEI has funded community-based organizations to register, educate, and turnout voters as a vehicle for creating change on issues such as affordable housing, quality public education, job creation, and city services. Funded organizations have increased voter participation rates in almost every election in the last six years.
MassVOTE, a leading voter rights organization provides voter mobilization training and technical assistance to funded organizations. In addition to Access Strategies Fund and the Boston Foundation, the CEI is also funded by the Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation, Hyams Foundation, and New Community Fund.
Kelly Bates, Executive Director of Access Strategies Fund said: “We are pleased to work with all five funding partners, MassVOTE, and the funded organizations to strengthen the voting infrastructure of disenfranchised communities in Boston and Chelsea.”
Visit www.thecei.org for more information.
Access Strategies Fund Building Bridges in the Black and Latino Community
On April 10, 2008 at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Access Strategies Fund Executive Director Kelly Bates co-facilitated an historic gathering of Black and Latino community leaders in Boston to forge unity, understanding, and community change in Black and Latino communities.
The Union of Minority Neighborhoods and community activists sponsored the event, which brought together over thirty people from diverse ethnic and professional backgrounds to dialogue about common concerns such as the faltering economy, unequal education, youth homicide, gang violence, poverty, and anti-immigrant sentiment. In other states around the country, Blacks and Latinos have clashed in the streets and in boardrooms in times of economic and political crisis.
Kelly Bates said, “This gathering has the potential to build long-term alliances for community and civic change. We hope that participants will continue to meet to find practical ways to strengthen the civic power of Black and Latino communities.”
Access Strategies Fund Leads the Way on Work Place Policies
At its spring meeting, the Access Strategies Fund Board of Directors voted to provide health and dental benefits at no cost to employees. Access will pick up 100% of the cost for all full-time employees. According to data from the 2007 Grantmakers Salary and Benefits Report produced by the Council on Foundations, only 35% of grantmakers completely cover the cost of insurance. Access also provides other benefits including paid family leave, flex time, and money for education and training.
John Bonifaz, board member for Access stated, “We wanted to set the bar high for ourselves and bring our policies in line with our values. Our employees and their families deserve quality and affordable health care. Health care should be a right in this country. We are proud that Access strives to be an employer of choice in our Commonwealth.”