Thank you, Jamie Raskin, and thank you, IMC

By Regina Edmonds Many of us in Grassroots Central Mass were really excited when we learned that Indivisible Mass Coalition (IMC) would be hosting Representative Jamie Raskin on their Statewide Call on August 27, 2024. And we were even more fired up when we learned that our own Grassroots Central Mass colleague and IMC Board member from CD-1, Karen Nothe-Valley, would be one of the three chat monitors on the call. In this role Karen and the other monitors fielded questions placed in the chat, organized the questions seen there into themes, and related the questions to elements of the…

Work to change the flag and seal of Massachusetts

By David Detmold The flag and seal of Massachusetts show a settler’s hand holding a Colonial broadsword over the head of an Indigenous man, with a Latin motto beneath, commonly translated: “She seeks a quiet peace with liberty under the sword.” A recent special commission established by the state legislature concluded in November of 2023, that the image on our state flag and seal is easily interpreted as “a celebration of the history of settler violence perpetuated against Indigenous people.” No one wants to have a sword hanging over their head. In 1985, former state representative Byron Rushing, a Boston civil…

‘Stick your neck out’

Grassroots Central Mass member Colin Brown joined the podcast "Be the Change," to discuss his activism with the group to support progressive candidates, promote government transparency, and work for climate justice. Hear about his inspiration, aspiration, and advice for young people beginning their activism. Listen to the podcast. Thanks for being a voice for change, Colin!

Biden-Harris administration accomplishments

Compiled by Eric von Bleicken Legislation and executive orders Biden accomplished or helped accomplish: CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT – Focused on international companies to build and reinvest in the US with good-paying union job – supply chain to come home $1.2 trillion bipartisan INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE - $ to fund bridges, highways, upgrade airports, ports, electrical and internet, solar and wind $1.2 trillion INFLATION REDUCTION ACT - $369 billion to climate change – goal on target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to pre-2005 levels and achieve net zero before 2050 Rejoined the Paris Climate Accord to help accelerate climate legislation and…

A Tree-mendous Success!

Grassroots Central Mass hosted its third Trees are Treasures Earth Day celebration at Wells State Park in Sturbridge on Saturday, April 22, 2023. We treated families and park-goers to music, stories, climate resources, crafts and activities. Interpretive stops along the nature trails told the story of New England's stone walls and why beavers and muskrats are key to the health of our wetlands. And we gave away 162 trees to plant! Check out the feature in the Quaboag Current, and enjoy some pictures below. Many thanks to our volunteers and our sponsors, Brookfields Fight Fear and Indivisible Mass Coalition!

Why we need to change the Massachusetts flag

Join us Thursday, May 25, 6:30 p.m., at the Merriam-Gilbert Public Library in West Brookfield to learn the history of the Massachusetts flag and seal, and the effort to create a new flag and seal to represent peace, justice, equality, and inclusion for the Commonwealth. A resolution on the June Annual Town Meeting warrants in West Brookfield, Brookfield and Oakham will ask voters if they are in support of changing the flag and seal of Massachusetts. More than 20 percent of the towns and cities in Massachusetts are already formally on record in support of changing the flag and seal.…

Patricia O’Connor organizes Oakham DTC

Patricia O'Connor serves on the leadership committees of Brookfields Fight Fear and Grassroots Central Mass, and is on the Coordinating Board of Indivisible Mass Coalition, representing Congressional District 2. She is chair of the newly established Oakham Democratic Town Committee.

Welcome new member Colin R Brown

From Hardwick, Mass., Colin, 18, is a senior in high school and a state leader for Teens 4 Change. He is an advocate and activist for climate action, climate justice, education, and common sense gun laws.