GRASSROOTS CENTRAL MASS provides opportunities for folks to get involved in activism with their like-minded neighbors. By joining forces, we can help move our communities forward on issues that impact us all, whether it be climate change, providing a fair and safe transition from immigrant to citizen, common sense gun control, or helping grow our regional economy. To let us know about an organization to add to this list, please email us.
Climate Emergency
If you want to speak with a Grassroots Central Mass member about these environmental organizations contact: climate@grassrootscentralmass.org
Central MA Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization and part of the national Citizens’ Climate Lobby. CCL is working for the passage of the Carbon Free and Dividend Act as a way to reduce carbon emissions.
Contact: Gene at centralma@citizensclimatelobby.org
350 Central Mass (local chapter of 350.org) A grassroots movement to fight the climate crisis and transition to a just and sustainable future. Meetings 1st & 3rd Weds, 7:00 – 8:30 pm. Email Janet at janetqcason@verizon.net for Zoom link.
Sunrise Movement is a youth-led organization to make climate change an urgent priority, to create millions of good jobs and to elect leaders who stand up for the health and well-being of all people.
Sierra Club is volunteer organization dedicated to exploring, enjoying, and protecting the planet. The goal is to educate and enlist humanity to restore the quality of the natural and human environment.
Mass Divest Coalition works to divest pension funds in Massachusetts from fossil fuel companies and to instead promote investment in clean and renewable energy.
Mothers Out Front is an environmental advocacy organization whose tag line is “Mobilizing for a livable climate.” Powered by moms, they are united by the drive to protect all children from the climate crisis that impacts their health today and a livable climate for them tomorrow.
Gun Safety
If you want to speak with a Grassroots Central Mass member about these organizations devoted to violence reduction contact: justice@grassrootscentralmass.org
March for Our Lives works to harness the power of young people across the country to fight for sensible gun violence prevention policies in order to save lives. This group formed in the aftermath of the school shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School.
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America was founded in the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School and is dedicated to fighting for public safety measures to reduce gun violence.
Center for Nonviolent Solutions is dedicated to teaching about nonviolent conflict resolution and peacemaking as ways of reducing violence and fostering greater understanding, harmony, and justice.
Progressive Action Groups
Rise Up Western Mass Indivisible (RUWMI) serves Congressional District 1 in Massachusetts and supports a progressive agenda at all levels of government while working to engage and empower voters.
Swing Left is a grassroots group focused on winning elections by mobilizing volunteers nationwide to write, text, and call in support of progressive issues and candidates at the state and federal levels.
Indivisible Mass Coalition is part of the national Indivisible Movement that began in 2016. Its goal is to realize the promise of democracy and justice for all in Massachusetts through actively educating volunteers on important organizing strategies.
Sister District Project works to build enduring progressive power across the nation by harnessing the energy of volunteers to write, text in support of progressive candidates and issues. Volunteers from progressive districts are often matched with the needs of more conservative districts.
Brookfields Fight Fear is an energetic local group working to highlight human rights issues by organizing standouts on the West Brookfield Common and sharing creative ideas for change on Facebook. Currently it is a closed Facebook group but always open to new members.
Act on Mass is a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting corruption and inaction in the Massachusetts State House. The goal is to hold legislators accountable and to create greater transparency in the legislative process.
Incorruptible MA is an organization focused on transforming the Massachusetts State House by supporting a slate of candidates across the state who are passionate about passing bold, progressive legislation to uplift working families.
MassCall2Action was founded to highlight creative and forward looking plans which many in the Massachusetts Democratic Party embrace. The goal is to bring more people with new ideas into the party in order to re-invigorate it and foster change.
Progressive Central Mass works to highlight economic inequality and advocates for working families in our region. They are a chapter within the larger state organization.
Racial Justice
If you want to speak with a Grassroots Central Mass member about these organizations for racial justice contact: justice@grassrootscentralmass.org
Southern Poverty Law Center is a catalyst for racial justice with the goal of dismantling white supremacy, identifying and taking legal action against hate groups, providing resources to teach tolerance.
Black Lives Matter is a global network that exists to bring justice, peace, and freedom to all Black people while also working to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene when violence is inflicted upon Black communities.
SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) is a national organization involved in mobilizing white people to join the work of creating justice for people of all races and classes. A local chapter exists in Worcester.
CARE, the Coalition for Anti-Racism, Equity and Justice in Education, is a group advocating for legislation that will establish a commission and the funding necessary to change the curriculum and increase educator diversity in Massachusetts.
COPE (Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment) works with the leadership of the Navajo Nation to prevent the spread of Covid and to address other health disparities including food insecurity.
Honor the Earth is one of many movements of Indigenous peoples dedicated to protecting the earth and water from fossil fuel and pipeline development. Art, music, and indigenous wisdom inform their work.
Water Protector Legal Collective is an Indigenous-led legal non-profit to provide legal assistance to those protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock and other fossil fuel development sites.
Cultural Survival envisions a future that respects the inherent rights of all Indigenous Peoples including the celebration of their languages and cultures and the protection of their lands.
MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda works to support legislation before the Massachusetts State House that will benefit Indigenous Peoples. Currently there are five bills pending that affect the rights of Native Americans in Massachusetts.
Native Wellness Institute is an organization working to support the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health of North America’s indigenous peoples. The organization provides training, webinars, and other resources to Native Americans.
LGBTQ+ Rights
If you want to speak with a member of Grassroots Central Mass about organizations which support the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals contact: justice@grassrootscentralmass.org
Mass Equality is the leading Massachusetts grassroots advocacy organization working to ensure that everyone can thrive without discrimination and oppression based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Human Rights Campaign envisions a world where every member of the LGBTQ+ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear and with equality under the law.
Postcard and Letter Writing Campaigns
If you want to talk with a Grassroots Central Mass member about postcard and letter writing contact: political-action@grassrootscentralmass.org
Lift+Every+Vote is an organization focused on fighting voter suppression while promoting voter registration and large-scale structural voting reform. The goal is to achieve universal suffrage.
Vote Forward increases voter turnout by recruiting volunteers to write letters to others encouraging them to vote. Each volunteer provides in the letter the reason why voting is so important to them.
Postcards to Voters encourages volunteers to write friendly, self-designed postcards and to send them to targeted voters hoping to give Democrats a winning edge in close, key, nation-wide races.
Immigration Reform
If you want to speak with a Grassroots Central Mass member about immigration issues contact: justice@grassrootscentralmass.org
MIRA Coalition (Massachusetts Imigrant and Refugee Advocacy) Advocates for the rights of immigrants, no matter their immigration status, within Massachusetts. They work to pass legislation to insure that no one has to live in fear and that the rights of immigrants will be protected.
Ascentria Care Alliance is a Worcester-based organization involved in providing many sorts of direct social service to the community, including the resettlement and support of refugees and asylum-seekers. They are a local partner of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Abuelas Responden/Grannies Respond exists to provide compassionate and respectful care to those seeking asylum. They bear witness to the horrors occurring at our southern border while also helping families travel safely once released from detention.
Movimiento Cosecha is a national non-violent movement fighting for permanent protection, dignity, and respect for all undocumented immigrants. They have a special emphasis on farm workers.
United We Dream is a nationwide, youth-led community dedicated to developing leaders in the struggle for immigrant rights. They work to transform fear into activism and participation in campaigns for justice.
National Immigration Law Center was developed to defend and advance the rights of immigrants of low income. They use their litigation and policy expertise to challenge unjust immigration policy.