a group of people in a church

Greater Boston Interfaith Organization

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.


register for the gbio housing justice action

Monday, June 26 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., arrive by 6:30 p.m.;
food vendors available at 6:00 p.m.
Temple Israel, 477 Longwood Ave., Boston

 

Join the biggest in-person GBIO action since before the pandemic! At this critical event, we will stand alongside our closest allies and demand true, comprehensive action from Massachusetts leadership on the housing crisis. This action will demonstrate the full power of GBIO’s diverse membership and show our officials that housing justice must be prioritized!

First Church has promised to send 40 members to take part in this action. Even if you’ve never participated in a GBIO event before, now is the time! Let’s turn our justice commitments into action by showing up for communities of color.

Register here! Early registration is encouraged.


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.

 

Read more about GBIO’s active campaigns here.