Grantee Successes

The Civic Engagement Initiative helped close the voting gap in Boston (see figure below). For decades, voter participation in Boston’s majority white neighborhoods far exceeded participation in communities of color. Since the inception of MassVOTE and the Civic Engagement Initiative, turnout in communities of color has moved toward the citywide average.

MassVOTE recruited new poll workers to make elections more accessible. New young adults of color and speakers of Spanish, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, and Chinese assisted voters at the polls in Massachusetts.

Chinese Progressive Association campaigned to protect Asian American voting rights and secure Chinese and Vietnamese bilingual ballots in future elections. They provided 14 voter education workshops in Boston, and mailed to over 4,000 voters.

¿Oíste? held the first-ever statewide Latino Convention at the State House. They are building a powerful statewide civic agenda to advance progressive policies for Latinos in Massachusetts.

Commonwealth Seminar graduated 79 leaders of color from their public service training program in 2007. They are approaching their goal of educating 500 leaders over 5 years who will learn the intricacies of legislative and budget action to improve their communities.

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition mobilized its civic engagement infrastructure to spearhead a local and national response to the New Bedford immigration raid in 2007. Their Student Immigrant Movement knocked on 14,000 doors, registered 100 Latino voters, and got 656 previously registered to vote.

Initiative for Diversity in Civic Leadership’s first class of 28 people of color graduated from this non-partisan training program to achieve more elected and appointed leaders of color. This class produced Governor Patrick Administration appointments, one state representative candidate, and ten graduates considering a run for office in 2009.

ARISE for Social Justice, Springfield, won ward representation (replacing 9 all at-large seats with 8 ward seats of 13 City Councilors) by an overwhelming 74% ballot vote after 20 years.

CAPACITY BUILDING

Improved financial systems: Chinese Progressive Association received funds
to develop strong financial systems and fiscal controls during a critical period of
organizational growth.

Expanded fundraising capacity: Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee
Advocacy Coalition was supported to launch an individual donor fundraising campaign.

Leveraged new funding: ¿Oíste? was supported to leverage a prestigious fellowship, which will help start a national model for Latino civic engagement around the country.

Supported leadership transitions: Neighbor to Neighbor was awarded a grant to
hire and transition their new executive director of color and to create culture change in the organization to ensure leadership of people of color.

Prepared for growth: Access Strategies Fund hired its new executive director, increased its board membership, produced its first marketing brochure, launched a new professional website, developed plans for technology and equipment upgrades, and created new financial systems to improve efficiency.