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Calls to the state domestic violence hotline have doubled in the

last four years. Safelink, the hotline, received 9,781 calls between

January and July 2009 alone. The recession has increased risks

for those in violent relationships, especially women and kids.

Cuts to state services people in violent relationships with fewer

ways to get help. And, economic struggles can exacerbate an

already abusive relationship.

It’s not the cause or an excuse. It’s an unfortunate reality –

violence increases when times are tough. But, you should know

there is also a good reason for the

spike in calls – increased public

awareness of domestic violence.

More people are seeking support for

themselves. And others are naming

violence when they see it. Some

call the hotline to help a friend, a

relative, the woman upstairs.

Close to Home believes everyone – you, me, your neighbors,

my family…everyone – has a role to play in preventing domestic

and sexual violence. And, our innovative work in local

neighborhoods with real people has raised awareness at home

and across the state.

• Close to Home’s high-impact public awareness campaigns

reach tens of thousands of people in Dorchester alone each

year.

• Our Youth Team is swamped with requests for their violence

prevention workshops. They go to after-school programs,

youth clubs, local nonprofits, and neighborhood associations.

Core topics include how to be an “active bystander” and how

to intervene in the life of a friend.

• Knitting circles and meringue classes are just two ways that

Close to Home forms social networks in a neighborhood.

Intergenerational and cross-cultural,

these activities build trust and create

space to talk. More importantly, they

result in people watching out for each

other after they walk out the door.

Unfortunately, the economy isn’t going

to recover overnight. And, more state

budget cuts to critical services are

looming. So, people are going to be

depending even more on their neighborhood support networks.

People are going to be depending even more on those “close

to home.”

You can find out more about

preventing domestic violence

in your neighborhood by

calling Elizabeth Reardon

at 617-929-5151.

Calls to Massachusetts Domestic Violence Hotline Double

Spike due in part to increased public awareness

Phi’s Story: Rockin’ the International Conference!

Meet Barbra: A Member, A Survivor

The trip to Germany with Close to Home was an experience

unlike no other, but the most memorable moment to me was

when I was presenting with at a conference, called “Ways out

of Domestic Violence – An International Perspective” with

Aimee Thompson [Close to Home’s Executive Director] and

my fellow co-worker Daniel Fairclough in front of about 100

professors and social workers from around the world.

This was my first time

presenting at a conference

with Aimee. The level of

sophisticated information

that she presents with made me very nervous and not to

mention many of our audience members do not speak English.

However after everything was said and done both Daniel and I

were showered with praise at our level of professionalism and

how we presented the information. Never have I thought that

in my life I would be praised by social workers from the Middle

East and college professors from Germany. They remarked on

how we were better than most presenters our age.

Usually Daniel and I would do teen trainings that comprise

of teens from 13-21, but never to a group of well-educated

adults that work in the same field as we do. In the end,

having a chance to share our model and ideas about healthy

relationships and domestic violence prevention was good

enough for me, but meeting people from around the world

wasn’t bad either!

Support, passion, fun events, commitment, good food,

community: these are all reasons why people get involved with

Close to Home. And once you get involved, you often stay.

Barbra Trybe has lived in the Fields Corner neighborhood

of Dorchester for many years. Just last year, she got actively

involved with Close to Home.

Barbra has experienced domestic violence in her own life. She

has also spoken publicly about how being a part of Close to

Home has given her the strength to acknowledge and forgive her

father’s abusive behavior.

Here she is, in her own words…

Barbra says…

I am part of

Close to Home

“because it

is a forum

where I can talk about my needs and my issues as a survivor

of domestic violence in a supportive, nonjudgmental arena.

Being a part of this initiative keeps me grounded and

stable. It lessens the feelings of abandonment and isolation,

associated with this pervasive social issue and helps me to

keep on keeping on a wholesome and healthy life’s journey.

Close to Home is my communal extended family.”

Phi Tran is a member of Close to Home’s Youth Team.

He is 17 and a senior at Boston Latin School.

Close to Home Youth Team is an International Sensation.This summer, the Close to Home Youth Team and staff

were invited to Germany to present at a two-day confer-

ence for social workers on violence prevention. They also

met with other high school students, visited local service

agencies, saw the Berlin Wall and the Holocaust Memorial,

and so much more…Thank you for allowing us to take

advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity!

EPOCA NEWSYour newsletter from Ex-Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement | Spring 2010

5 Pleasant St. Worcester MA 01609 | 508-410-7676 | www.exprisoners.org

You stuck with us for 64 months and...

Cassandra’s Story: Volunteer finds new passion and inspiration at EPOCA

I JOINED EPOCA because I wanted to be as positive and determined about something as Delia Vega (Delia is EPOCA’s community organizer and my mentor). But I caught on quick to EPOCA’s style of making real political change possible. I jumped right in to door-to-door voter registration for the 2008 election. When Obama won, I felt like I helped make it happen and it felt great. I hold on to that feeling and I run with it. I am loving my new role as the Communicator on EPOCA’s Board of Directors. My job is to encourage our hundreds of members to get involved, come to membership meetings, attend our rallies, and step up to leadership roles. In the last few months, I have led trainings for EPOCA members and the community on “Oppression and Power,” and “Leadership Development and One-to-One Conversations.” But beyond the nuts and bolts of helping our movement grow, I love all my friends at EPOCA. They really care about me. No wonder we’re so powerful together. Thanks to your support, I have found a new calling: organizing the community to make positive changes for all of us.

THIS PAST November, the State Senate passed CORI reform by a vote of 26 to 12. The overwhelming support wasn’t a coincidence. We had you as our secret weapon. You supported 64 months – more than five years! – of grassroots campaigning, lobby days, phone banks, rallies, and marches. You made this victory possible... And, we couldn’t be more grateful. As you may know, criminal records – also known as “CORIs”– punish thousands of people every year. People who have paid their debt to society. People who have gotten their lives back on track. CORIs make it nearly impossible to find a job or an apartment. This bill will make sure that honest people aren’t discriminated against for mistakes they made years ago. At a recent meeting, EPOCA volunteers were talking about what CORI reform will mean in their lives. Liz, a new member, said, “For me, CORI reform means being able to get a job.”

Liz finished serving probation years ago. But, she still attends lectures at the Career Center because she can’t get a job since she has a CORI. Under EPOCA’s legislation, Liz’s record would be sealed immediately. That means she won’t have to wait another day before she can earn a paycheck and support her family. Because of you, Liz and thousands of people like her now have hope for a life they can be proud of – a life with a job and an apartment to call their own. The only obstacle in their way is getting House Speaker Robert DeLeo to introduce the bill for a final vote!

Five-year campaign to reform CORI system on the brink of victory; State Senate overwhelmingly approves bill

Because of your support and her involvement with EPOCA, Cassandra Bensahih has found her passion – motivating others to get active and work for change.

How you make a difference...

EPOCA members take a quick break from working the halls of the State House to pose for a picture with the Senate lead sponsor of CORI reform legislation, Senator Harriette Chandler (D – Worcester). In November, the State Senate passed the measure by more than a 2-to-1 margin.

What does CORI reform mean to members of EPOCA?

“To me, it means respect.” – Juan“A second chance.” – Lanh“It would mean dignity.” – Jenny

House Speaker Robert DeLeo is stalling on bringing our bill up for a vote in the House of Representatives. That’s why we’re organizing a “Breaking the Chains of CORI” parade on June 5th. For more info on this event, contact EPOCA Organizer Delia Vega at (508) 287-8430. Hope to see you there!

Got grease?

FORMERLY unemployed because of his criminal record, Steve Denson now delivers recycled vegetable grease to

“green” businesses all over New England. Together with other EPOCA members, at the end of 2009, Steve launched

“Empower Energy Cooperative, Inc.” You may remember reading about this endeavor in our last newsletter... Five hard workers who employers wouldn’t give a second look because of their criminal records now have jobs they love, growing a business that they cooperatively own and operate. They currently have contracts with 18 restaurants in Worcester that recycle their leftover oil into environmentally-friendly fuel. Among the 18 are Piccolo’s, Irish Times, Annie’s Clark Brunch, Coral Seafood, Robert’s Fish and Chips, Weintraub’s Jewish Deli, Tatnuck Square Pizza, Becker College, the Miss Worcester Diner, and Wild Willies. For now, Steve and his co-workers are selling the grease they collect to a third-party processor. That’s because they aren’t collecting enough grease to make the production costs worthwhile. But, Empower hopes to start collecting waste oil from many more restaurants soon. Then, they will have enough to begin converting the oil into fuel in their own processing machine, which Steve helped to build. They just need a

“critical mass” of restaurant contracts to get going!

Biodiesel business already has 18 contracts with local restaurantsMore needed before in-house processing of waste oil into fuel can begin

Do you know a restaurant interested in recycling their waste oil? Please contact Steve Denson at (508) 304-0139 or email dnsnmaddie@yahoo.com to find out more

HAVE YOU ever started talking about one thing and it led to conversations about all kinds of other things that you might have never imagined? That’s kind of how EPOCA’s Women’s Group was born... The group originally came together in October 2008 because women at EPOCA realized they had concerns that weren’t being raised at the general membership meetings. Things like having trouble finding childcare, being in bad relationships, and generally needing support during hard times. But, the strength and empowerment they gained from each other simply by coming together led them to confront other issues in their lives as women. Domestic violence starting coming up as a topic quite often. Through a partnership with a local agency, EPOCA members learned the early warning signs of unhealthy relationships, where to seek help, and how to talk to friends and family about abusive situations. The group also realized that conversations about domestic violence should not just be happening with women. We’re proud to tell you that we brought this issue to EPOCA’s full membership for education and discussion. Together, we are all learning that so-called “personal problems” have deep-rooted social causes. And, that my struggle for justice is connected to his, which is connected to hers, which is connected to yours...

Mission Statement

We are ex-prisoners, along with allies, family and friends, coming together to create resources and opportunities for those who have paid their debt to society.

Board of Directors

• Cassandra Bensahih, Communicator• Hannah Caruso, Treasurer• Steve Denson, Coordinator• Ecclesiastes Hall, Advisor• Andrew Hausermann, Secretary• Benito Vega, Vice President• Joseph Yandle, President

EPOCA breaks the silence about domestic violence

Sarah Assefa, a member of EPOCA and the Empower Energy Cooperative, transports a jug of waste oil for recycling into fuel. Empower Energy was started by a collective of five who were unable to find work because of their criminal records.

You are taking us places that we never imagined...

You wanted immediate action. MassVOTE responded…

5-4 Decision Lets Flood of Corporate Campaign Money

Drown Citizens like YouWith your support, MassVOTE takes steps to

defend democracy

IN JANUARY, the Supreme Court overturned a 63-year ban limiting cor-porate spending in federal elections. The decision – Citizens United vs. The Federal Election Commission – gives Exxon, Halliburton, and Goldman Sachs

the power to spend unlimited money to protect their friends and defeat their political opponents.

We asked for your thoughts, and more than 180 of you immediately responded.

Inspired by your passion and your vision, MassVOTE took two essential steps in the defense of a free and fair democracy…

• On March 5, MassVOTE sent nearly 29,000 emails asking you to support Congressman Mike Capuano’s work on The Shareholder Protection Act. The bill would require a shareholder vote before any corporation can dump its money into federal elections.

• MassVOTE is planning a conference call featuring Congressman Capuano and Brenda Wright, Managing Attorney for the National Voting Rights Institute, to answer your questions about how you can bring democracy back into the hands of the people.

Read more on page 3.

MassNews

Why fi ll out the Census?

“It’s about money and power,” said Norman Eng, key MassVOTE partner in Census Outreach efforts.More than 40 community organizations sponsored MassVOTE’s Census Outreach event on March 20 in Dorchester.

Read more on page 2.

41 WEST STREET, STE 700BOSTON, MA 02111

617-542-8683WWW.MASSVOTE.ORG

SPRING 2010

WHY FILL out the Census?“It’s about money and power,” said Norman Eng,

key MassVOTE partner in Census Outreach efforts. “It’s 10 minutes and 10 questions. If you don’t do it now you have to wait another 10 years to fi x it.” Norman was one of 10 speak-ers at MassVOTE’s Census Outreach event on March 20 in Dorchester’s Prince Hall.

More than 40 community organi-zations sponsored the mass effort to get every person counted in this year’s Census. Census Bureau Specialists fl uent in Spanish, Haitian-Creole, Portuguese, Vietnamese and other

languages helped neighbors fi ll out the form. The NAACP, Oiste, the Chi-nese Progressive Association, and the Boston Workers Alliance were among the groups sponsoring the event.

Your support allows MassVOTE to bring nonprofi ts, businesses, and churches across the state the mate-

rials and training they need to get people to fi ll out the Census. On April 10, MassVOTE led a March to the Mailbox. Volunteers handed out fl y-ers at standouts in high-traffi c areas and marched from fi ve directions to Boston’s Grove Hall, encouraging people to send back their Census.

Tell MassVOTE What You WantIf you have not yet received your MassVOTE 2010 survey, please contact Andrea Jamison at (617)542-8683 ext. 203 or andrea@massvote.org.

You are bringing awareness about the census where it’s needed most…

MassVOTE Organizes 40 Community Groups to Help Residents Fill Out Census

➟ Focus on “Hard to Count” Communities

DID YOU KNOW?

For every person who doesn’t return the Census,

your community loses $2,000 each year in

government funding. And, since the Census won’t be done again for another 10

years, that’ll add up to a loss of $20,000 per person over

the next decade.

“ We could lose a seat in Congress unless we make sure every person is counted. We’re going all out.”

Cheryl CrawfordMassVOTE’s Organizing Director

Norman Eng meets with fellow census specialist, Ricardo Telemaque, and Michael Curry, master of ceremonies, for MassVOTE’s March 20

Census Event in Prince Hall.

2

In the 2008 Presidential Election, 3.1 million citizens voted. In the January 2010 U.S. Senate Special Election, only 2.2 million voters came out. The biggest drop in turnout occurred in low income communities and communities of color. See how your community did! Check out our interactive turnout maps at www.massvote.org/maps

Median Household Income from 2000 US Census

1/19/2010 MA Special Election, Brown v. Coakley

To quote a few of you who wrote in to express your outrage at the Supreme Court decision:

Bill August of Cambridge“ The decision weakens the integrity of our democracy by allowing disproportionate levels of corporate campaign expenditures that could unjustly drown out the very people who make up the nation and who the Constitution is intended to protect.”

Jay Berger of Agawam“ Have all of us contact our state legislators…This should be an agenda item.”

Ann D’Angelo of Springfi eld“ Only the people can stop this lunacy which seems to have affected even the highest court in the land. Where are our leaders???”

Sponsored by you… MassVOTE’s youth team lobby for change

Bill Would Make It Easier for Teens to Vote

➟ 68 Visits with State Legislators Moves Bill Out of Committee into House of Representatives

DID YOU KNOW that fi ve states let teens register to vote at 17? Your very own MassVOTE is one step closer to adding one more state — Massachusetts.

Representative Ellen Story (D-Amherst) has sponsored a Pre-Registration bill that would let 16 and 17 year olds register to vote early so they will be ready to cast their ballot as soon as they turn 18.

“When we’re out teaching Civics to youth, we want the tools to register teens right on the spot,” said Ada Fuentes, MassVOTE’s Young Civic Leaders coordinator.

You gave our youth, staff, and volunteers what they needed to make 68 visits to the State House to discuss this bill one on one with state legislators. Not to mention all the calls and letters… And you got the bill voted out of committee with a positive “ought to pass” recommendation.

Now the pressure is on to secure the 81 House and 21 Senate votes needed to pass the bill before the summer recess.

MassVOTE’s Young Civic Leaders helped create the bill with the help of State Representative Story because they don’t think government listens enough to the voices of teens. Many teens cannot register to vote at the RMV because they get their licenses right when they turn 16. And programs to register high school stu-dents aren’t as effective as they could be because most high school students are too young to register under current law.

In 2004, 81% of registered 18-24 year olds voted but only 58% were registered. Imagine what a difference this bill could make in 2010 and 2012!

5-4 Decision Lets Flood of Corporate Campaign Money Drown Citizens Like You (continued)

YOUCAN JOIN OUR

FAIR ELECTIONS TEAM.

Call Cheryl Crawford (617)542-8683 ext. 211

Or send your ideas to:

fairelectionsagenda@massvote.org

3

You Help A High School Senior Dream Big for the

Future…

Young Civic Leader, Lisa Wang

How You Make a Difference

“MA S S V O T E R E A L L Y teaches youhow to execute some-

thing, how to come up with a projectand follow through with it to the end. It comes with a certain amount of achievement. You really learn a lot about what you can do, and the things you didn’t think you could do, you can…when you’re pushed.”

Lisa Wang is a leader. A straight A student and captain of her high school speech team, Lisa is one of eight outstanding teens participat-ing in MassVOTE’s Young Civic Lead-ers program. Your support provides paid internships for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from low-income urban neighbor-hoods in Greater Boston.

Through Young Civic Leaders, you are giving teens the tools they need to become leaders in their com-munities and to excel in the class-room. Then, they go out in their

communities, register voters, work for election reform, and teach their peers the civic skills to be powerful, voting citizens.

According to Lisa, planning for MassVOTE’s “Civies” Event has made communication and team work crucial. The April 22 event honored outstanding youth organizations across Massachusetts. Youth create the entire event, from writing its budget and inviting guests, to mak-ing the program and working with news media. It’s an event by youth for youth and you make it possible.

“At school, you do your section and you’re done…

here, you learn to effectively communicate with others and to work

as a team.”

Board of DirectorsCarmen Arce-BowenOrganizer, Public Policy Institute

Celina Barrios Ponce (Chair)Northeastern States Organizer,National Immigration Council

Sonia Chang-Díaz State Senator, Second Suffolk District

Rachael CobbProfessor of Government, Suffolk University

Adam FriedmanWeb Developer, Boston Herald

Maria GonzalezTelevision Reporter, Univision

Kim M. Janey Director of the Boston School Reform Project,Massachusetts Advocates for Children

Hiep Nguyen (Treasurer)Principal, HQ Nguyen CPA LLC

Alethea Pieters (Clerk)Assistant Director, Massachusetts Recovery Offi ce

Deborah Shah (Vice-Chair)Independent Consultant

Duamarius StukesDirector of Housing and Assisted Living,Executive Offi ce of Elder Affairs

Jeffrey ThomasDirector, Partnership for Democracy and Education

Phi TruongStudent, Boston University;Young Civic Leaders Alumna

** Affi liations listed for identifi cation purposes onlyand more…

Boston

Brockton

Cambridge

Everett

Fall River

Gloucester

Holyoke

Lynn

Malden

Medford

Plymouth

Quincy

Revere

Somerville

Springfi eld

Waltham

Watertown

Worcester

WHERE IS MASSVOTE WORKING?

4

generositypassion

giving

When you invite the Fairfield County

Community Foundation to be your philanthropic

partner, you gain access to expertise and innovation

that bring about real change.

Your charitable desires are

transformed into smart philanthropy. Your giving

becomes more meaningful, and more effective at

producing the most good from each dollar.

And you make a difference in your own backyard.

What story is behind your giving?

Which causes ignite your passion— or break your heart?

How does your generosity take you by surprise?

6 www.fccfoundation.org

“Our old apartment was not safe, but now our new home is so beautiful. ”

Charlotte and John Suhler of Darien went from being charitable donors to hands-on philanthropists after reading a 1999 research

study by the Foundation’s Fund for Women and Girls.

“The study showed that the most outstanding need for women in Fairfield County was housing,” Charlotte said. “It really hadn’t been discussed that much as a need before.”

Today, Charlotte plays a central role with the Foundation, 19 other private funders, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Fairfield County nonprofit affordable housing developers to bring safe and affordable housing to families.

As a progression of their involvement with the Fund for Women and Girls, Charlotte and John were founding members of the Fairfield County Collaborative Fund for Affordable Housing, initiated by the Foundation in 2005. Grants from the fund provide operating support to nonprofit affordable housing developers, such as New Neighborhoods Inc., so they can focus on buying land and building new, affordable units. The Collaborative Fund is managed by LISC. To date, Fairfield County nonprofit developers have 1,000 affordable housing units in the pipeline and manage 1,083 existing units.

“It’s a way a relatively small amount of money can make a difference,” Charlotte said. “If someone has $5,000 to give, and they are concerned about the issue, they can donate to the Collaborative Fund and have an impact.”

Until last spring, Ana Rodriguez and her seven-year-old daughter Genesis had to tiptoe through a housemate’s bedroom to get to

the one they shared. Street noise, cockroaches and bedbugs made their sleeping fitful.

Ana, a single mother who immigrated from Honduras 10 years ago, couldn’t afford anything better than the rundown rental unit in Stamford.

“Just a one-bedroom apartment is very expensive–$1,200 or more,” she said.

But a chance at a new life came when New Neighborhoods Inc., a nonprofit affordable housing developer in Stamford, bought the building where they lived, with plans to tear it down and build new, affordable housing.

New Neighborhoods relocated tenants to other affordable housing it owns in Stamford. Ana, who’s worked as a hotel housekeeper for eight years, was moved to a newly renovated apartment. Her rent is now 30% of her salary, which is the government definition for affordable housing.

Sitting in her spotless living room, Ana still can’t believe the change in her life. She no longer worries about her daughter’s safety at home. Genesis plays at a playground on the property and attends a good school nearby.

“Last week, my daughter was running around the apartment,” Ana said. “She ran over to the window, leaned out and yelled, ‘I’m happy! I’m happy!’”

“We wanted to provide more affordable housing for women and children, and were impressed we could accomplish

so much by leveraging our giving.”

Do you know the most common reasons people have CORIs?

People with a history of substance abuse or addiction often have CORIs from drug-related arrests before they got intorecovery.

Even if you are wrongfully accused of a crime and the case is dismissed, you will still have a CORI record.

Kids who are just 18 or 19 and get into a fight or get caught at the wrong party are haunted by those mistakes for decades.

As of June, someone with a criminal record is no longer automatically disqualified from working for the city of Worcester Criminal records – also known as “CORIs” –punish thousands of people every year. People who have paid their debt to society. People who have gotten their lives back on track. People like Tricia, Tom and María. Tricia is still haunted by an 8-year-old charge for having marijuana on her. She is 26. She has a little girl who’s two. She just went back to school. But, she can’t even get a call back for a job. Tom has been clean and sober for 10 years. He can’t get a job because of a drug-related CORI. When María’s husband attacked her, she hit him and ran. She couldn’t afford a good enough lawyer to get cleared on self-defense. Now, she has a CORI and can’t find a job to support her family. She relies on public assistance. People are far less likely to commit new crimes if they can find a home and a job. Research proves it. But, CORIs make it hard to find an apartment. Impossible to find a job. Now, because of you – it’s a little easier. Thanks to your support – Tricia, Tom and María have a

Benito Vega found EPOCA one year ago. He watched skeptically before jumping in. Today, he’s in a league of his own. This past May, Benito became the first EPOCA member to have 50 “one-to-one” conversations with potential new members. When Benito has a “one-to-one” with a potential EPOCA member, he asks how the CORI system affects their life. This way, people begin to understand injustice through their own experience. Benito also lets them know about the work EPOCA is doing. He invites them to get involved. Your support allowed EPOCA to train Benito how to engage volunteers one-to-one. Through his 50 “one-to-ones,” Benito recruited dozens of new members. Some of them are moving into leadership roles. They are educating legislators. They are running trainings. They are even recruiting more new volunteers! Becauseof you, even more EPOCA members will reach Benito’s level of leadership.

You’ve heard the expression – “If Mohammed will not go to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed,” right? Well, that’s exactly what EPOCA’s members did... If employers won’t hire people with CORIs, we’ll start our own business and hire them! Knowing you’d be with us every step of the way, EPOCA has created our own biodiesel business. It’s called – “Empower Energy Cooperative, Inc.” This is not only an environmentally friendly and sustainable venture. It’s also creating green jobs for people with CORIs. Jobs that won’t have to wait for CORI-friendly legislation. Fair and dignified jobs. Fuel production for the general market is not yet un-derway. But, because of you, we look forward to creating many good jobs in the near future. And, “Empower” is structured as a worker cooperative. That means all work-ers will own a piece of the business. Everyone will benefit equally from the profits of their work. Talk about a win-win-win!

chance. You gave EPOCA the strength to overcome the status quo in Worcester – our #1 obstacle to victory. Worcester’s City Manager tried to sabotage EPOCA’s bill many times. This is an unelected position. Can you say, “Abuse of power”? But... EPOCA’s grassroots pressure was too much for him much to handle. Our campaign was unstop-pable. And, one unforgettable event pushed us over the top... We unveiled a petition signed by 4,000 – a peti-tion that extended the whole length of City Hall! With the power of the people behind them, the City Council voted unanimously to support EPOCA’s proposal. Now, CORI checks are not done until after someone has been offered a job. And, the job offer can only be rescinded if the person has an arrest record for something directly related to the specific job they are being hired to do. Thanks to your support, blanket rejections of anyone with a CORI are history for city employers in Worcester.

2

Successful EPOCA Campaign Expands Job Opportunities for Thousands Grassroots pressure triumphs over political opposition

EPOCA Launches Biodiesel Business “Green” venture creates more jobs for people with CORIs

EPOCA’s Mission Statement: We are ex-prisoners, along with allies, family and friends, coming together to create resources and opportunities for those who have paid their debt to society.

EPOCA Board of Directors: - Hannah Caruso, Treasurer - Steve Denson, Coordinator - Steve Freedman, Advisor - LaJuana Hobbes, Communicator - Erica Richmond, Secretary - Benito Vega, Vice President - Joseph Yandle, President

3

How’s this for new math? 1 + 1 = 50

EPOCA member reaches new heights, completing 50 “one-to-one” conversations with potential members

EPOCA NEWS

Imagine you get arrested for marijuana possession in 1987 and get three years probation. You’ll still have a record -- aka a CORI -- until 2010. Under our legislation, your record would be sealed 7 years after you start probation. That gives you 16 more years to work and support your family.

“2009 is the year for CORI reform!” That’s some-thing we are used to hearing around the office. Not this time. Last April, those words were shouted by State Senator Harriette Chandler at an EPOCA rally to 300 people. The CORI system punishes people who have already paid their debt to society. Imagine you get ar-rested for marijuana possession in 1987. You serve three years of proba-tion. You’ll still have a criminal record until 2010. Under EPOCA’s legislation, your record could be sealed 7 years after you start serving your probation. That gives you 16 more years to work and support your family. EPOCA members wanted a well-respected, pow-erful lead sponsor for our legislation to reform the CORI system. Who better than Senator Chandler, a Worcester Democrat and assistant vice-chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Once she was on board, we educated, lobbied and recruited a team of 72 co-sponsors to back her up! Now, because of you, a real second chance for thousands of people and their families is closer than ever. After several years of campaigning and your dedicated support – EPOCA’s bill has a real chance of victory in the next few months. Unfortunately, the Governor only favors a watered-down CORI reform bill. And, Speaker of the House does not see CORI reform as a priority. EPOCA members have scheduled meetings with the Governor’s Office, the Speaker of the House, and the Senate President in October. We are working with them to make sure our bill is brought up for a vote.

Broad policy change like this never happens over night. But, we get closer every year. And, with your support, EPOCA will keep fighting until we push this bill through!

Steve Freedman’s criminal record cost him countless human service jobs for two years. Today, he works at Worcester’s One Stop Career Center as an Employment Specialist.

The New Leaf Program is EPOCA’s job training service for people with criminal records, created in partnership with the Career Center. In the past two years, New Leaf has helped more than 100 former prisoners find jobs. And, that was with just 30 employers willing to consider an applicant with a criminal record. Now, by connecting New Leaf with the 328 new city contractors accepting applicants with CORIs, there are thousands more jobopportunities every year. Steve helps people with criminal records get those jobs. He leads workshops on writing a resume, looking for jobs, and interview skills. Then, he works one-on-one with participants. He helps them look for jobs and get job training. We can’t wait to tell you more about how he’s able to make your vision of a more just world a reality!

Your newsletter from Ex-Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement | Fall 20095 Pleasant St. Worcester MA 01609 | 508-410-7676 | www.exprisoners.org

4

72 State Legislators Support Proposal to Reform Broken CORI System — Threats to passage still loom

Volunteers from the EPOCA women’s group celebrate the passage of our ordinance that prohibits the city of Worcester from automatically disqualifying job applicants simply because they have a criminal record. More than 350 city employers now accept applicants with CORIs, up from only 30 before the ordinance passed.

Successful EPOCA Campaign Creates Jobs for Thousands

(story on page 2)

In our next newsletter, you’ll read about how EPOCA’s Women’s Group is raising awareness about domestic violence. Stay tuned...

Have you ever been ripped from sleep in the middle of the night by the phone? Phone calls at that hour never bring good news. On March 26th, Steve O’Neill, EPOCA’s Director, got one of those calls. An electrical fire had engulfed the office. The next day EPOCA was homeless. Our old office destroyed by smoke damage. Our contact lists covered in toxic chemicals. We started to rebuild. Our next meeting was held in a parking lot. Only your generosity got us through this desper-ate time.

One of our closest allies, Neighbor to Neighbor, opened their doors to us. This propelled our city or-dinance campaign forward as we were able to work together more closely than ever before! And, EPOCA’s membership exploded at this new centrally located spot! After seeing all the benefits of being located downtown, EPOCA decided to make it our perma-nent new home. Stretching ourselves to cover the extra expense, we just signed a lease for an office space overlooking City Hall. A perfect spot to watch their every move...

You can find out more about EPOCA’s Empower Energy Cooperative by calling Sarah Assefa at (508) 579-6916.

Fire Destroys EPOCA’s Office — Organization strengthened through rebuilding

Have you met Steve?

Denied work for two years due to CORI, EPOCA memberthrives helping others with records find jobs

s they neared the local hospital, KeriLaFavor held out hope that her son wasfine. But fear consumed her as she

stepped through the doors. “Theywere scrambling, and no one looked me in theeye,” she remembers. “We live in a quiet, smalltown. If they’re rushing, it’s bad.”

Anthony LaFavor had been in a severe car accident.The emergency team was prepping him for airtransport to St. Paul. “They were hand-pumpingair into his lungs,” LaFavor recalls. “I got right byhis face and said, ‘Tony, they’re taking you in ahelicopter to a place that can help you.’ A tearran down his face. I know he heard me.”

Life Changes in a Flash

Anthony — who’d graduated from high schooljust two weeks before the accident — had takena job delivering pizzas for the summer. “Whenthe phone rang that night, I thought it would beAnthony asking for directions again,” LaFavorsays. Instead, a police officer asked where to towAnthony’s smashed car.

The Waskeysexperience

Gillette’s missionPage 2

Nick walks onnew legs

Page 2

Noah is part ofthe cure

Page 3

Spring 2009 � Volume 2 � Number 2

More StoriesMore Storiesof Inspirationof Inspiration

Inside!Inside!

LaFavor continued on Page 4

“I got right by hisface and said, ‘Tony,they’re taking youin a helicopter to aplace that can helpyou.’ A tear randown his face.I know he heard me.”

– Keri LaFavor

In a matter of two weeks, Kerry and Keri LaFavor wentfrom celebrating their son’s graduation to worrying by hishospital bed. “This could be your child, your grandchild,or the neighbor down the street,” says Keri LaFavor.

By the time they arrived in St. Paul, Gillette’s neuro-surgery team was placing a monitor inside Anthony’sskull. The device tracks pressure on the brain. “Theyasked me if I wanted to keep some locks of his hair,”LaFavor tearfully recalls. “I couldn’t believe whatwas happening.”

He Fought for Survival

The LaFavors next saw their son in Gillette’s PediatricIntensive Care Unit (PICU). “There was just onespot — a small square on the right side of his chest— that wasn’t covered in equipment,” LaFavorremembers. “It was hard not to think the worst.”

In the PICU, nurses and doctors fought minute byminute to control the pressure on his brain. “It wasalmost two weeks before it felt safe to hope that hemight live,” LaFavor says. “Then the hard workstarted.”

Now He’s Fighting for His Future

After 18 days in the PICU, Anthony began rehabili-tation with daily physical, occupational and speechtherapy. At the time, he wasn’t talking and couldn’tuse his arms and legs effectively. But he was strong— a reality that often proved challenging. “Hecould be very aggressive because of his brain injury,”

A

The LaFavors Thank You forHelping to Save Their Son’s Life

“We Never Thought This Could Happen”

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Noah had been caught running down the halls atschool. “Of course I told Noah that I expect him tobehave, but inside I was smiling,” she says. “Inever thought I’d have to tell him to slow down!”

They Said He’d Never Walk

Seven years ago, a doctor told the family that Noahwould never walk, talk or sit up. He had been diag-nosed with cerebral palsy — a complex conditionthat arises from damage to the brain. “We weredevastated,” Johnson remembers. “It felt as if therewas no hope.”

Then the family came to Gillette. Johnson saysthe difference was stark. “They never told us whatNoah wouldn’t do,” she says. “They were too busyfocusing on what he could do.”

Now He’s Running

At 3, Noah defied the odds and took his first stepsduring a therapy appointment at Gillette. “You’venever seen so much crying and cheering,” Johnsonsays. “I felt that anything was possible.”

When Noah started school a few years later, his onecomplaint was that he couldn’t keep up with the

3

Create a personal fundraising page!This new option lets patients, families and donors raise support online with personalized Web pages.You can raise funds in honor or memory of a loved one or in celebration of a special milestone in your life.

Get started in three simple steps:

Your personal page also includes a guest book so that your family and friends can encourage youwith supportive notes. Get started today! You’ll be making a difference in the life of a child.

Are you lookingfor a simple andeffective wayto get involvedat Gillette?

� Create a page by visitingwww.gillettechildrens.org/personalpages and clickingon “create a page.”

� Personalize your page byuploading pictures and writinga short message about whyyou’re fundraising for Gillette.

� Share your page by uploadingyour entire address book ande-mailing a personal invitationto your family and friends.

Noah Is Part of the Cure! Are You?

Start Your Own Fundraising Campaign!

You Can BePart of the Cure!

Noah is one of two boys featured innew television commercials about

Gillette. The message is clear:pity is curable, and you can makeit happen. Watch the ads andread more inspiring stories at

www.curepity.org. There, youcan sign up to receive a free

window cling with the Cure Pitylogo. And don’t forget to sign

up for Gillette’s e-news updates.Show the world that you’re proud

to be part of the cure!

Pity. It’s 100% Curable.

other kids. Although he couldwalk, he was almost always thelast one in line. But that changedwhen he received a walker atGillette. “The extra supportmeant that he couldn’t justwalk, he could run,” saysJohnson. “I don’t think histeacher knew what todo with him!”

And With YourHelp, He’s Biking!

Last summer, Noahreceived a new bike thanks tocontributions made to Gillette’sadaptive sports fund. The youngestof five siblings, he now can keep upwith his brothers and sisters on a bikebuilt specifically for his needs.

“Noah can never be cured of hiscerebral palsy,” Johnson says. “ButGillette is helping him live a full life.The joy in his face is incredible.”

Noah Johnson was shocked by the teacher’s warning. “With wide eyes,he said, ‘Really? I can get in trouble like the other kids?’” Jackie Johnsonremembers with a laugh.

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Your support pushed us over the top…

Abortion Funds distribute record amount of funding• More than $3 million given out

• More than 21,000 women assisted

Last year – thanks to you – the Network and our member Funds gave out a record-breaking $3.01 million to 21,158 women who couldn’t afford to pay for their abortion. This is a $400,000 increase over the previous year – a 15% jump.

While we gave out more money than ever, the number of women helped stayed about the same as the year before. You know these are tough economic times. Wages are stagnant. Yet the cost of abortion care is rising. This means that we needed to give larger grants to women in order to bridge the gap.

By increasing the amount of our grants, the Network and our Funds ensure that each woman can make the choice that’s best for her. And this increased support from us would not be possible without your increased support to us.

So, we thank you… and 21,158 other women do too.

Sponsored by you… truly. It’s free for our Funds to come thanks to you.

Activists from across the country attend the Network’s Annual Organizing Summit• Member Funds gather to share advice,

strategies, and best practices

• Trainings held on volunteer recruitment, abortion counseling, and issue advocacy

109 abortion Fund activists... 23 organizational allies... 18 workshops... and one rowdy banquet... it’s the Network’s Annual Organizing Summit!

Our 2008 Summit was held this past June in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. This inspirational, energizing weekend allowed Fund activists to network and bond with their sister Funds from across the country.

But, it wasn’t all fun and games. There were also four days of intensive trainings, strategy sessions, panels and plena-ries. We held sessions on everything from volunteer recruit-ment and organizational development to reproductive justice and policy advocacy. And, we were lucky enough to have the Alliance for Justice, the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Pro-Choice Public Education Project, and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health there to share their expertise.

All to make sure that our member Funds are even bigger, bolder, and stronger next year...

Your Newsletter from the National Network of Abortion Funds • www.nnaf.org • Fall 2008

42 Seaverns Avenue • Boston, MA 02130-2865 • Tel. 617-524-6040 • Fax. 617-524-6042

Board members, Fund activists and organizational allies spend some rare down-time together during the Network’s Annual Organizing Summit. More than 130 people attended the 4-day event.

Two Funds join forces to help woman in shelterMarisoL, a 31-year-oLd woMan in texas, was living in a shelter with her four-year-old daughter. She had no job and no money when she found out she was pregnant. Marisol needed $400 for her first trimester abortion. One of our local Funds in Texas was able to pay for half. A grant from the Network’s National Reproductive Justice Fund covered the other half.

Our keynote speaker, Laura Villa Torres, brought an international perspec-tive to our 2008 Summit. Laura is a founding member of Decidir, a coali-tion of youth dedicated to raising awareness about abortion among young people in Mexico.

Funding given out to women increased $400,000 over last year.2006 2007

$2,600,000

$3,010,000

New threat emerges…

Passage of Indian Health Service bill delayed by anti-choice politics• latest chapter in long history of u.S. controlling

reproductive lives of Native women

aNti-chOice POlicymakeRS have injected language prohibit-ing the use of indian health Service (ihS) funding for abortion into the indian health care improvement act. this past february, the uS Senate passed an amendment banning the use of ihS funding for abortion except in the cases of rape, incest of a minor, or life endangerment. the house of Representatives is now poised to do the same.

this is only the latest in a long line of assaults on the reproductive lives of Native american women. in the 1970s, Native women were subjected to forced sterilization by the indian health Service. and, in the 1980s, Depo Provera was given to “mentally impaired” Native women without their consent.

these amendments also duplicate existing policy which already unfairly restricts coverage of abortion by ihS. ihS is subject to the hyde amendment, first passed in 1976, which prohibits federal Medicaid dollars from being used to pay for abortion, except in cases of rape, incest and danger to the life of the woman.

This may seem unbelievable but it’s true…

Women like Natasha are grateful for your supportNataSha, a young woman from louisiana with two children, called us last Wednesday afternoon. She was raped while her husband was in iraq and had just been released from the hospital after attempting suicide. Natasha was online looking for ways to self-abort when she found our number. She had made an appointment at a clinic but cancelled it because she couldn’t come up with the $400 she needed. the Network referred her to a rape crisis center and also connected her with our member funds to ensure that she would have the money she needed to pay for a safe, legal abortion at her local clinic. She said that she couldn’t believe that we were willing to help her. and by “we,” we mean you.

Your support of the Network’s hyde – 30 years is enough! Campaign put a national spotlight on economic barriers to abortion…

15,000 signatures delivered to Congress to restore Medicaid funding for abortion• Overwhelming support shows nationwide strength of campaign

ON the 35th aNNiveRSaRy Of Roe v. WADe, members of the Hyde – 30 Years Is enough! campaign took the capitol by storm. more than 15,000 petition signatures were delivered to congress in support of restoring medicaid funding for abortion. this widespread response shows the nationwide support for removing economic barriers to abortion.

the hyde amendment was originally passed in 1976. it prohibits the use of federal medicaid funding for abortion. exceptions are made in cases of rape, incest and danger to the life of the woman. most states have also banned medicaid funding for abortion.

Gladys and Arline Gould attended the 2nd Annual Rosie Jimenez Gathering, an event organized by the Hope Fund in Rhode Island, one of our member Funds, and Connections Co-op, a women’s interpreters cooperative. This event pro-moted the Immigrant Women’s Abortion Access Project and was held to com-memorate the death of the first woman known to die of an illegal abortion after the Hyde Amendment was passed.

Gathering for Immigrant Women’s Abortion Access Project

www.nnaf.org

Want a quick and easy way to sustain the Network? Go online to donate quarterly or even monthly! Sign up once and you never have to think about it again…

2 | Network News | spriNg 2008 Connecting Rights to Resources

“The United States remains the last great developed nation without a system of child care,” she charges, “but there’s no government response in sight.”

Welcome to Rhode Island!Founded a decade ago with money from the Prospect Hill Foundation and The Rhode Island Foundation...

Anna Quindlen ignites crowd at Teen Health Center celebration

4 planned parenthood of rhode island • summer 2007 Decisions. For your health. For your world.

newsweek columnist anna quindlen, mother of three, electrifi ed an audience at the Rhode Island Convention Center on April 10 with her appeal that offi cials pay more than lip service to the needs of our children.

Ms. Quindlen “was harshly critical of the Bush administration and others in Washington” for their platitudes and cash-starved health and education initia-tives, the Providence Journal reported.

“We love the platitudes: ‘Children are our future. They are the promise of to-morrow. Our children are our chance at immortality,’” she said. “But this is a na-tion that loves the notion of children but doesn’t really like the reality of kids.

“Public policy follows the easier road, in which Head Start is underfunded but prisons are a booming business, in which welfare cuts are all the rage and subsidized daycare is a cul-de-sac. Then we wonder why our kids don’t do bet-ter and our families fall apart.”

Her appearance in Providence marked the 10th anniversary of PPRI’s Teen Health Center. PPRI opened the Center in 1997 with a generous contri-bution from the Prospect Hill Foundation and The Rhode Island Foundation. The Teen Health Center provides confi dential contraception and sex ed coun-seling to females and males 13–22. Fees are on a sliding scale for those without insurance.

The goals of the Teen Health Center include fewer unwanted pregnancies and lowering the incidence of sexually transmitted infections among Rhode Island’s youth.

where should you live right now, as far as full-service women’s health care is concerned?

Any New England state but Rhode Island, apparently.

Noxious legislation here unduly intrudes on a woman’s easy access to reproductive health care and family planning, says the 2007 Report Card on Women’s Reproductive Rights, issued by watchdog NARAL Pro-Choice America.

How are the neighbors doing? Connecticut, Maine and Vermont all earn

straight As. New Hampshire trails close behind with a grade of B+. Massachusetts is little better than mediocre, with a C+. But Rhode Island is New England’s legislative dunce, barely scrap-ing by with a D.

A Big Fat D “Liberal” little state voted “Most Hostile” in New England to women’s reproductive rights. Will this year see improvements? We’re off to a bad start.

Local bills we’re watchingRight now, two bills before the R.I.

legislature merit close watching. “Certifi cate of birth resulting in

stillbirth” — Opponents of legal abor-tion have used similar legislation to expand the concept of “fetal person-hood,” and thus chip away at a woman’s rights. In this case, though, PPRI staff and Rep. Edith H. Ajello submitted an amendment to the bill that strictly de-fi ned stillbirth as “the naturally occur-ring intrauterine death of a fetus.” The new language neutralizes the bill’s value as a rhetorical tool against abortion.

The “24-hour waiting bill” has raised its ugly head again. This annually raised, and so far annually defeated, bill requires a woman to mull her decision to have an abortion for an additional 24 hours after she’s spoken with a medical counselor, “just in case.” The paternal-istic and demeaning implication: the woman hasn’t yet given her decision enough serious thought. PPRI strongly opposes this bill.

Donors: Your gifts fund 100% of our effort to protect women’s reproductive health care here in Rhode Island. It is our privilege to act as your eyes, ears, and voice with legislators and other policy-makers. Thank you for your steady support. Everything we achieve in this arena depends on you.

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Anna Quindlen

With your donations…

MassVOTE is building the largest Get-Out-The-Vote machine in state history for this fall’s elections ➟ Nearly 100 organizations prepare to hit the streets

MassVOte Is tuRnIng uP the heat for election Day. Your contributions are at work, build-

ing the biggest get-out-the-vote machine this state’s ever seen!

almost 100 groups from Boston to spring-field have been assembled. this includes groups like the Disability Policy Consortium, Massachusetts transgender Political Coalition, Pioneer Valley Planning Committee in springfield, and the naaCP’s worcester branch.

and, your support is allowing us to provide these organizations with state-of-the-art technology to track voters better than ever before. Fully trained and equipped, volunteers are hitting the streets statewide — organizing door to door and registering voters.

to kick off our get-Out-the-Vote campaign, MassVOte’s Young Civic leaders trained and led more than 150 youth in voter registration drives, focusing on Boston in July and springfield in august.

High-income, suburban white voters are much more likely to vote than low-income people of color in the cities. In the January special election to replace ted kennedy, voter turnout was over 70% in areas like Dover and Hingham. that same day, only 40% of Boston and 25% of lawrence voted. the story was the same around the state.

with your help, the story will be quite different this november.Read more on page 2.

MassNewsNews for the Donors, Volunteers, and Supporters of MassVOTE

Who Make This All Possible.

Your gifts go to make sure every vote is counted…

MassVOTE conducts first-ever independent audit of Massachusetts voting machines

➟ Historic first sparks staunch opposition from Secretary of State

➟ Lawsuit considered as possible next step

wItH YOuR BaCkIng, MassVOte recently conducted the first-ever

independent audit of an election machine in Massachusetts.

In June, using the Public Records law, your team at Mass-VOte asked to see all 1,007 anony-mous ballots cast in a randomly selected precinct in shrewsbury during the 2010 special election for u.s. senate.

1,002 ballots were correctly counted. On the remaining five,

41 WEST STREET, STE 700 BOSTON, MA 02111

617-542-8683WWW.MASSvOTE.ORG

faLL 2010

the voters had mismarked their bal-lots. But their intent, in all five cases, seemed clear.

while this may affirm your confi-dence in the count, it also highlights the importance of well-trained poll workers and clear signs at the polls to instruct voters how to mark their ballots. after all, as al gore knows all too well, miscounting 1 in 200 ballots can make a huge difference in a close election.

sadly, your own secretary of state doesn’t agree. the office-holder responsible for the integrity of the electoral process opposes our attempts to ensure that the state’s voting machinery is working prop-erly. secretary Bill galvin told city

and town election officials to deny our requests for additional audits.

as your newsletter goes to press, we’re looking at our options. we may bring a lawsuit. we may push for new legislation. One thing is for sure — we won’t give up.

as Charles stewart, Political science Professor at MIt, says, “Post-election audits of voting machines are now a best-practice among states who are interested in making sure that the machines remain in good shape and that election procedures were followed.”

More than half the states in the u.s. require random audits of voting machines after elections.

last wInteR, MassVOte sent you a survey and asked you, what issue that we work

on is most important to you? an overwhelming number of you said “campaign finance reform.” You want corporate money out of politics. so do we.

Here’s what your financial support has allowed us to do, so far:

• In May, MassVOTE conducted a poll with suffolk university to find out what the public thinks about Citizens’ united — the Janu-ary 2010 supreme Court decision that lets businesses spend unlim-ited amounts of money in federal elections. Four out of every five Massachusetts residents agree with you — and oppose the ruling.

• Congressman Michael Capuano and voting rights expert Brenda wright from the Democracy Pro-gram at Demos, a national think tank, joined us for a conference call. they answered your questions about campaign finance reform and the Citizens’ united ruling.

• In July, you may have been among our crews of volunteers on Centre street in Jamaica Plain and Broadway in southie. Clipboards in hand, you asked people what they thought about the role of big money in politics. More than 800 people agreed that something needs to be done and signed our petition.

without you, none of this would have been possible. with you, any-thing is possible.

Victory on National Popular Vote and Bilingual Ballots!

Thanks to you, MassvOTE was able to support Common Cause and the Chinese Progressive Association to pass two important pieces of legislation this year.

➟ The National Popular Vote, if passed by enough states, will give the presidency to the candidate who wins the most popular votes nationwide. Massachusetts is the 6th state to pass this legislation.

➟ The Bilingual Ballots Law will protect voting rights by extending the use of English-Chinese and English-vietnamese ballots in Boston’s Chinatown and other neighborhoods through 2012.

Using your money to get their money out of politics…

Campaign Finance Reform: What you’ve made possible ➟ Opinion polls, statewide conference calls, petition

drives – oh my!

2

An uncounted ballot discovered during MassvOTE’s audit of Special Election results from January 2010 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. This first-ever independent audit of your voting machines in state history was shut down by Secretary of State William Galvin after reviewing just one precinct.

first-ever independent audit of Massachusetts voting machines (CONTINUED fROM PAGE 1)

Your financial support pushes us up Beacon Hill time and again…

MassVOTE stormed the State House in support of voter pre-registration bill

3

➟ Youth led the charge to allow voter registration in advance of your 18th birthday

“I’M tHe next geneRatIOn and I want to be taken seri-ously,” says shaughnessy Cole,

a 17 year-old senior and one of MassVOte’s Young Civic leaders.

“But, right now, politicians have no incentive to care about what we think. we’re fighting to pass pre-registration so they’ll listen to us.”

Pre-registration would allow 16½ and 17 year-olds to register to vote before their 18th birthday.

every day this year, your donations sent MassVOte volunteers, interns, and staff to the state House to tell legislators why getting youth registered to vote early is so important.

letting teens p r e - r e g i s t e r means fewer 18 year-olds will need to register at the last min-ute. and, fewer will miss the deadline and end up unable to vote on election Day.

Current programs to register high school students just don’t work.

no one knows that better than our Young Civic leaders, nine high school students who work part-time at Mass-VOte thanks to your committed support. the Young Civic leaders teach their peers about democracy and voting. and they’ve learned that very few teens can actually register in

Massachusetts, due to out-of-date registration laws.Right up to the closing bell of this year’s legislative

session, on July 31, your gifts enabled us to keep up the fight for pre-registration. while the session ended without a final vote, MassVOte isn’t giving up. and neither are

your friends in the legislature…

“when this session began, no one was talk-ing about pre-

registration. now, it’s on everybody’s radar screen. we’ve got momentum and we’re going to get this done next year,” said ellen story, the bill’s lead sponsor and a state Repre-sentative from amherst.

“seeing these youth up at the state House, — they’re inspiring,” said Representative Mike Moran, the Chair of the House Committee on elections laws. “while we didn’t pass pre-registration this time, I’m looking forward to working with you to get it done.”

“Seeing these youth up at the State House, day after day – they’re inspiring.”

State Rep. Mike Moran

Rayanna West, a 15 year-old Young Civic Leader with MassvOTE, visits Senator Robert Hedlund to ask him to support pre-registration. Pre-registration would let 16½ and 17 year-olds register

to vote early — and make your lawmakers take younger constituents more seriously.

TOP LEfT: With your support, “Pre-Registration Chocolate Bars” were delivered to legislators throughout the State House. Hershey nutrition details were replaced with facts on how pre-

registration would impact youth engagement in voting.

MASSVOTE NEEDS YOU!Are you ready to knock doors, hold signs, or register voters? There are so many ways for

you to get involved with MassvOTE this election season and beyond. for more info, contact Manolia Charlotin at 617-542-8683 x201 or mcharlotin@massvote.org

Luckily, because of your donations, Robeson isn’t depending on Senator Brown to fund his job…

You give “Young Civic Leaders” more than a job, you give them hope

➟ MassVOTE teen speaks at press conference on reducing youth violence

➟ Senator Brown urged to support more jobs as one way to curb violence

“Just last week I got attacked walking home. In the summer, kids in my neighborhood just

don’t have anything better to do. Jobs will help.”

talking to Robeson Rogers opens your eyes to what a lot of urban youth live with as their everyday reality.

Robeson is one of nine Young Civic leaders who work at MassVOte thanks to your donations.

earlier this summer, Robeson spoke at a press conference at Boston City Hall. at the event, sponsored by coalition partner teen empow-erment, he responded to a shooting that left a 14 year-old dead on a bas-ketball court in Jamaica Plain.

Robeson understands what con-tributes to this kind of violence.

“Boston’s schools are underfunded. we get nothing but the bare bone essentials. there are more army recruiters than college representa-tives at school.” add the lack of jobs and safe places to go… it’s a combina-tion that leads some teens to violence, and puts others at risk.

Robeson credits his job at Mass-VOte for making a difference. “If I wasn’t working here, I wouldn’t be productive. this place has made a big impact in my life.”

unlike many of his peers, as a Young Civic leader at MassVOte, Robeson gets help preparing for his sats. He practices writing college essays and filling out college applica-tions. and, he develops skills in public speaking, leadership and organizing.

at the press conference, Robeson called on senator scott Brown to reverse his position and support money for summer jobs for your state’s youth. we’re still waiting for Brown.

luckily for Robeson, he isn’t dependent on the senator to fund his job. that’s supported by gener-ous donors like you.

with your contributions, you give all of our Young Civic leaders jobs that develop life skills, help get them into college, and inspire them to advocate for other teens to do the same.

Board of DirectorsCarmen Arce-BowenOrganizer, Public Policy Institute

Celina Barrios Ponce (Chair)Northeastern States Organizer,National Immigration Council

Sonia Chang-Díaz State Senator, Second Suffolk District

Rachael CobbProfessor of Government, Suffolk University

Adam FriedmanWeb Developer, Boston Herald

Maria GonzalezTelevision Reporter, Univision

Kim M. Janey Director of the Boston School Reform Project,Massachusetts Advocates for Children

Hiep Nguyen (Treasurer)Principal, HQ Nguyen CPA LLC

Alethea Pieters (Clerk)Assistant Director, Massachusetts Recovery Office

Deborah Shah (Vice-Chair)Independent Consultant

Duamarius StukesDirector of Housing and Assisted Living, Executive Office of Elder Affairs

Jeffrey ThomasDirector, Partnership for Democracy and Education

Phi TruongStudent, Boston University;Young Civic Leaders Alumna

** Affiliations listed for identification purposes only

4

“I spoke out because not a lot of youth have the same opportuni-ties that MassVOTE gives me. If I wasn’t working here, I wouldn’t be as productive.”

Robeson Rogers

MassVOTE Young Civic Leader

InspIrIng storIes of lIves transformed exclusIvely for frIends of the salvatIon army

Fall 2008

One Life At A time.

From Homeless to Happy AgainHow Your Support Helped Kurt Get His Life Back

SA-MASS-082854

In Aesop’s fable The Ant and the Grasshopper, the grasshopper spends the entire autumn playing while the ant prepares for the winter. In the end, the grasshopper finds itself out in the cold, while the ant lives comfortably on the food collected in the fall. It’s a stark reminder to prepare now for the future.

For all of us facing the harsh reality of soaring food and energy prices and the ever-increasing demands of the approaching New England winter, there is a lot of truth in the fable.

The proof is in the reports from Salvation Army Corps Officers throughout Massachusetts. They are seeing dramatic increases in the number of individuals and

families who are seeking help — increases of as much as 20, 30, and 40 percent.

Unlike the grasshopper in Aesop’s fable, our Massachusetts neighbors have not wasted their days playing. In fact, many of them are holding down two or three jobs. Yet many will struggle to survive this winter, as will our older neighbors on fixed incomes.

They’re facing some brutal price surges in basic necessities: Milk up 26 percent; a dozen eggs up more than 63 percent; bread up 30 percent per pound; fruits and vegetables 20 percent; a case of infant formula up almost 20 percent; and a gallon of heating oil over 30 percent higher than last year.*

But there has been no 30 percent increase in their paychecks! At minimum wage, take-home pay for a family of four is barely $1,250 per month. And our neighbors who have been just barely scraping by are falling back into the wrenching indignity of poverty.

They look to The Salvation

Army — and The Salvation Army looks to you.

More than in previous years, The Salvation Army is receiving thousands of requests for food and heating assistance. People are coming to us and saying, “I’m a single mother with three kids and caring for my disabled mother. Please help.”

It really is a matter of giving someone a helping hand, not a handout. As one grateful person said, “It’s reassuring to know there are programs in place to help you along the way when you’re fighting to make a better life for yourself and your family.”

In every zip code of the Commonwealth, The Salvation Army is here to help. But we simply cannot help all who need us without your assistance.

We ask you to think of The Ant and the Grasshopper and make a contribution today that will help a family or an elderly person who will be struggling to survive the winter days to come.

One Life At A time.

The Moral of The Story: High Prices Are Punishing the PoorThose in Need May Have Nowhere Else to Turn But The Salvation Army

The downward spiral of his life began the day cancer killed his mom. Kurt Bennet didn’t start abusing alcohol or drugs then — he was only seven — but that tragic loss has defined each wrong turn he has taken since.

For more than 33 years, Kurt abused alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. He was able to hide it for a while as he worked his way up the corporate ladder at IBM. Then in 2005, his pride kept him from accepting a lower-paying job, and he was let go. Within months, he

found himself on the street. “For half a year I bounced around shelters, not looking for help, just looking for some food and a cot,” he said.

Then he walked into The Salvation Army and met Karen Meehan, the director of the Umoja program. “Umoja” is Swahili for “unity.” Karen listened, she helped, but most importantly she cared.

“I lost my mom at seven,” Kurt said, “my dad at 19, my brother died from a heroin overdose, my sister lives in Georgia so I’ve pretty much always been on my own. Never in my life had a stranger ever cared so much for me.

The kindness of one person that day changed my life. Karen became a spiritual mom to me.”

Kurt made the decision to commit to The Salvation Army’s Umoja program. As Major Stephen Carroll, who oversees the program, explained, “When a person is homeless, they do whatever it takes to live — steal, shoplift —

The SalvaTion army, maSSachuSeTTS DiviSional heaDquarTerS 147 Berkeley Street • Boston, MA 02116 • (617) 542-5420 • www.SalvationArmy-MA.org

Kurt Bennet (center) with Karen Meehan and Major Carroll.

Thanks to your generous support, Kurt found the help he needed

to turn his life around.

story continues on page 2 ...

“It’s reassuring to know there are programs in place to help you along the way

when you’re fighting to make a better life ...”

*Boston Globe, “Surging costs of groceries hit home,” 3/9/08