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Thank you to everyone who participated in the September activism survey! The goal of this initiative is to promote small ways to contribute to larger efforts that lean heavily on awareness to have an outsized impact on policy which protects us from national threats to our freedoms and liberties.

Based on the responses, today’s highlight will focus on the following areas:

  • Massachusetts transparency
  • Environmentalism
  • Affordable housing
  • Palantir/data rights
  • Codifying LGBTQ rights
  • ICE/immigration

An easy way to support many of these efforts is to write to your legislators. Find your legislator here!

Transparency

One of the ways Massachusetts progressives are working to loosen the chokehold the legislature leadership has on bills is “stipend reform”, which needs signatures to appear on the 2026 midterms ballot:

Massachusetts voters deserve a legislature that works for them, not one where their elected representatives must bend to leadership’s will or risk loss of pay.

Our 2026 ballot initiative ties reasonable compensation to performance, promoting a more transparent, accountable, and effective legislature. With your support, we can deliver a major win for democracy, while building momentum for even more progress.

Read more about what it is and how you can help here.

Environmentalism

Housing

Some housing bills to parse and throw your support behind pending your approval:

  • H.1572: “An Act to promote Yes in My Back Yard”, aims to expand access to housing near public transit and promote starter home lot allocation
  • H.1482: “An Act to Establish an Accessory Dwelling Unit Trust Fund”, aims to support low- and medium-income homeowners earning up to 110% of the area median income who want to build an ADU by creating a trust fund
  • H.1542: “An Act to Study Single-Stair Residential Buildings”, aims to study how to make mid-sized residential buildings easier and more affordable to build

Data

The Massachusetts Privacy Act, S.2608 gives consumers greater control over their data, both what is collected and what is stored.

The algorithms which push people toward influencers and can be sold to bad actors to sway your opinions are fed by data we give up each time we use social media, purchase products, and browse the web.

LGBTQ

One of the biggest ways we can support the LGBTQ community against the current administration is by limiting the data they’re allowed to collect.

Support S.2543, the “Massachusetts Medical Firewall” by writing to your legislator!

Immigration

One bill to support and keep an eye on is S.1681, the Safe Communities Act.

Some organizations for your radar:

LUCE Immigration Justice Network of Massachusetts is calling on our movement partners, allies, and supporters to join our demands to Governor Healey to end Massachusetts’ participation in the prison-to-deportation pipeline

Centro Presente is a member-driven, state-wide Latin American immigrant organization dedicated to the self-determination and self-sufficiency of the Latino immigrant community of Massachusetts.

We provide accompaniment, which can include support in court or at ICE check-ins, legal referrals, fundraising for bond or legal fees, letters of support from the community, rides for families to visit loved ones in detention, and logistical assistance with paperwork or bond payments, and more.

We have worked to secure millions of dollars in state funding for programs that support the social, civic and economic integration of immigrants and refugees.

Pull it all together

Drop your templates in the comments below for others to use, speed each other up, lower the bar for entry to participating, and multiply your efforts!