The hard work being done by coalition partners across Massachusetts to promote green jobs, is beginning to have national impact.  This week, The Nation reports that while national politicians are giving a lot of lip service to green jobs, Massachusetts is THE state where community organizations are blazing a strategic path that promotes both job growth for low income communities and the reversal of environmental degradation.  In addition, a recent study comparing energy policies in each state noted that Massachusetts is a national innovator in creating policies to increase demand for green energy and using this demand to increase green job growth.  Congratulations to the Green Justice Coalition and Community Labor United, Boston for your great work and national leadership.

Click Here to see The Nation article

Click Here to see the Build Clean Energy Report studying each U.S. state.

Upcoming Events (Details of each event at Read More and on our Environmental Justice Task Force page):

JALSA Program:  Friday; October 29:  12:30-1:30PM  First Friday Speaker Edith Murnane, First Ever Boston Food Policy Director JALSA Office.  RSVP jalsaoffice@gmail.com

JALSA Program: Friday, November 12: 12:30-1:30. First Friday Speaker Gus Schumacher, chairman of Wholesome Wavy speaking on “Prescription Vegetables” JALSA Office.  RSVP jalsaoffice@gmail.com

Community Events:

Saturday, Sept.25, 10AM-2PM. Codman Square Energy Fair. Second Church in Dorchester, 600 Washington Street.  If  you have green information, products or services write to otoney@juno.com

Wednesday, Sept. 29, 6-8PM, Film and Panel Discussion on “Food Sustainability”. Suffolk University Sustainability Program,.  Suffolk University, Amenities Conference Room, 73 Tremont.

Thursday, October 7: 1-2:30PM, “Exploring the effects of the Gulf Oil Spill”, Suffolk University. Munce Conference Room, Archer Building, 20 Derne Street. Lunch will be provided.  Sign up by Oct 1.to greensuffolku@gmail.com

Read more…

To thank Bob Glassman and Wainwright Bank as it considers a merger with Eastern Bank

Tuesday, October 5 –5PM-7PM, Goulston and Storrs; 400 Atlantic Avenue, Boston

Jewish Alliance for Law & Social Action is proud to recognize the work of Bob Glassman and Wainwright.   The Wainwright Bank has been a model of social responsibility in this community proving that you can “do good by doing right.”

JALSA is a Boston-based social justice organization, committed to many of Wainwright’s priorities, including defending civil rights and constitutional liberties, and pursuing social and economic justice.  Like Wainwright’s leadership, many of JALSA’s recent initiatives include encouraging  green job development; counseling  tenants and homeowners on foreclosure issues; protecting equal marriage rights; and focusing attention on progressive solutions to the economic  crisis

Invitation and Sponsorship Information to Follow

Honorary Committee
Patricia Aburdene           Ronald Ansin
Kevin Bowen                   Fran Froehlich
Paul S. Grogan                Kevin McCall
Mayor Thomas Menino
Norma and Ben Shapiro
Matt Patsky                     Timothy Smith
Robert Brooke Zevin   (Committee in formation)

VOTER BALLOTS reflect voters’ positive attitudes toward paid sick days policy according to a recent study by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.  The NORCstudy shows that 75% of the public supports guaranteeing workers a minimum number of paid sick days.  The study also shows that over 3 times as many voters are likely to support a candidate who is in favor of paid sick days legislation than not.

Held on Thursday, State House – Coalition members lead by moms and kids from MomsRising will meet at the Grand Staircase to deliver stories from moms across the Commonwealth who desperately need paid sick days before the school year begins.

The advocates cheered as Governor Patrick signed the Neighborhood Stabilization Bill at the site of a Brockton home newly renovated by local affordable housing group.

Congratulations to all who worked hard on this bill.  Great strides for tenants; new education on reverse mortgages; increased time for workouts.

Jody Newman and Kathy Weinman of Dwyer and Collora, LLP  accepted JALSA’s Community Leadership Award for their outstanding leadership on the issues of diversity, equal opportunity, and inclusion. Bob Turner and Georgianna Melendez accepted the special recognition of the Commonwealth Compact for its work retooling Boston into a warm and receptive place for persons of color.  The Compact is currently working with 180 companies setting out benchmarks for the measurement of improvements.