Justice & Civic Engagement
The Urban League of Massachusetts champions justice by promoting equal opportunity, dismantling systemic barriers and advocating for policies that empower marginalized communities. Our commitment to justice is rooted in the belief that every individual deserves fair treatment and access to quality education, employment and housing. We work tirelessly to influence public policy, engage community leaders and partner with organizations to create pathways for success, ensuring that our society reflects the values of equity and fairness.
Civic engagement is at the heart of our approach to community transformation. We inspire individuals to participate in the democratic process, voice their concerns and drive positive change through active involvement in local governance and community initiatives. By fostering a culture of civic responsibility, the Urban League of Massachusetts empowers residents to collaborate on innovative solutions that address the challenges of today and build a more inclusive, resilient future for all.
We are defending our democracy against a variety of tactics to suppress the Black vote including:
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Voter Suppression Tactics
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Voter ID Laws
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Voter Intimidation
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Lack of Access to Early Voting and Mail-In Voting
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Underrepresentation
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Gerrymandering
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Prison Gerrymandering
When we demand diversity, we are:
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​Fighting for fair access to jobs, education, and leadership roles
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Pushing back against discrimination, bias, and inequality
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Ensuring representation in every industry and institution
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Creating pathways for future generations to succeed
We believe that defeating poverty is not only achievable, but a fight for the soul of our nation that we cannot lose. This is what a fight against poverty looks like:
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Expanding Access to Quality Education
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Making Childcare Affordable
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Expanding Access to Financial Services
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Expanding Social Services
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Reduce Student Debt
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Make Healthcare Affordable
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Create Affordable Housing
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Decriminalize Poverty
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Pay People a Living Wage
Clean Slate Initiative
The Clean Slate Initiative supports the work of the Expungement Project and is focused on record relief for citizens. The Initiative advocates for changes to legislation on the federal, state, and local levels to reduce the financial burdens the record-clearing process creates for justice-involved citizens. Supporting EJSI’s work on Clean Slate will contribute to developing public education campaigns to educate individuals on their rights and the process for having their criminal records expunged or sealed. It will also enable EJSI to engage in coalition-building efforts to pass legislation, host convenings, and facilitate training for advocates, among other costs.
Why Vote?
Civil rights are under attack.
Efforts are underway to roll back hard-fought advances in equality of opportunity. We cannot afford to let our voices be silenced.
Our schools are in danger.
Urban public schools are under-funded and civil rights enforcement in education is under attack. We must be a nation that respects educational inclusion.
Everyone deserves healthcare.
Politicians want to repeal and deny access to Obamacare, which will increase the rate of uninsured Blacks. The healthcare for millions depends on you.
Racially-motivated hate crimes are on the rise.
Use of unjustified violence by police against unarmed people of color goes unchecked. Your vote is a voice for those whose lives have been taken.
Follow the money.
Black household income is 40% less than that of White Americans. The poverty rate is more than twice as high. Black workers are paid less than whites at every educational level.