GBIO Action brings together over 1,700 in support of housing justice!
Sunday, March 3, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC)
100 Malcolm X Blvd., Roxbury
Read all about it:
Religious leaders, community activists call for increased funding to maintain affordable housing stock Boston Globe – March 3, 2024
As you heard at the action, the fight isn’t over! Here’s what you can do NOW to help us get over the finish line:
- Join us for a Lobby Day at the State House!
- Thursday, April 11, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. [NEW DATE AND TIME!]
- Meet us at the State House steps to remind our legislators of their commitments from our In-District Meetings (IDM) campaign, and show them we won’t back down!
- Call Senate President Spilka and House Speaker Mariano!
- They hold the most power to ensure the items we’re advocating for get passed.
- Call YOUR local senator and representative
- Tell them to reach out to President Spilka and Speaker Mariano and encourage them to support our platform!
GBIO Update: Bond Bill & In-District Meetings
Good news in GBIO’s Housing Justice Campaign! On October 18, 2023, Governor Healey introduced a bond bill with $1.6 billion dollars of reinvestment in our deteriorating public housing, as well as legislation enabling municipal transfer fees to fund more affordable housing. It’s a good bill! Back in June, nearly 50 First Church folks turned out at a big action at Temple Israel—had we and other institutions not shown up in such a powerful way, this bill wouldn’t be as strong. So, congratulations!
This bill’s passage is by no means a sure thing, however, so now our focus shifts to our state legislators. Members of dozens of different GBIO institutions (including ours) are organizing In-District Meetings between state reps and senators and their districts’ voters.
First Church folks showed up at IDM’s all across greater Boston in December and January – THANK YOU!
GBIO gathers 1,400 people for housing justice!
It was an inspiring evening at Temple Israel on Monday, June 26, 2023, as we heard moving stories from GBIO members and encouraged leaders to bring their power and influence to the fight for housing justice in Massachusetts.
Read the Boston Globe’s June 27, 2023 editorial on one of GBIO’s key housing justice issues:
Communities beg for a new tool in the housing toolbox.
GBIO’s Housing Justice campaign
First Church and the 60 other member organizations of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization are calling on elected officials to remember public housing in the state budget!
Learn more by following the links below:
GBIO Housing Justice Campaign Asks and Overview
Resource found at gbio.org
Massachusetts’ public housing is deteriorating. The cost to fix it could be billions.
The Boston Globe – May 17, 2023
First Church and GBIO Head to the State House for Housing Justice
First Church Latest News – March 20, 2023
Every GBIO campaign begins with listening. With GBIO, we listen to our own stories and those our neighbors. Together, we identify the issues that affect our lives, our families, our communities, then choose issues we all can support. Together, we research specific, immediate and winnable solutions and we analyze the power levers we need to pull in order to make effective and lasting change happen. Together, we act strategically, holding government and corporate power players accountable for the common good.
Participating in GBIO can mean many things. With others at First Church, you could…
- Show-up for a large-scale GBIO Action where as many 2000 of our interfaith members gather together in prayer and song and bring a common voice that speaks power to power! GBIO Actions often include local and statewide politicians like the Governor, Attorney General or House Speaker The “power of organized people” can often bend their ear and sometimes their budgets and policies in ways that respond to and advance GBIO’s campaigns. First Church regularly turns out 50 or more of our members for these actions!
- Join a GBIO research or campaign team related to specific issues like police accountability, criminal justice reform or healthcare access and affordability.
- Call politicians and send letters and emails to support GBIO’s campaigns.
- Join First Church’s GBIO core team meetings to discuss how to connect GBIO’s work with our congregation, and with our stories.