Small, medium, and large acts of local Boston-area activism

How to Get Involved Locally in Newton, Cambridge, Brookline, Danvers, and Allston

You don’t need to be a politician or have tons of free time to make a difference locally. Each of these towns offers a range of ways to plug in. Here’s a tiered breakdown based on time and energy to help you figure out how involved you want to be.

Tier 1: Low Commitment (Minimal Time, High Awareness)

• Attend Public Meetings (In Person or Virtual): You can just listen, but showing up regularly makes a difference.

• Newton: Newton City Council
• Cambridge: Cambridge City Council
• Brookline: Brookline Select Board + Town Meeting
• Danvers: Danvers Select Board
• Allston: Boston City Council (Allston falls under Boston)

• Sign Up for City Alerts and Newsletters: These keep you looped in on zoning, schools, events, and more. Check your town’s homepage or city website.

• Know Who Represents You & Vote in Local Elections: Local turnout is low, which means every vote is amplified.

• Join or Follow a Neighborhood Council or Association:

• Newton: Newtonville Area Council
• Cambridge: Neighborhood Associations Directory (varies)
• Brookline: Town Meeting Members
• Danvers: Precinct/Town Meeting Info
• Allston: Allston Civic Association

Tier 2: Medium Commitment (Hands-On, Ongoing)

• Volunteer with Local Organizations:

• Newton: Green Newton, Newton Neighbors
• Cambridge: Food for Free, Cambridge Community Center
• Brookline: Brookline Mutual Aid, Brookline for Everyone
• Danvers: Danvers People to People Food Pantry, DanversCARES
• Allston: Allston-Brighton CDC, CommonWheels Bike Collective

• Join a City Board or Commission: These advisory boards shape policy. Applications are usually simple.

• Newton: Boards & Commissions
• Cambridge: Cambridge Boards
• Brookline: Volunteer Boards
• Danvers: Danvers Boards and Committees
• Allston: Boston Boards & Commissions

• Get Active in Local Advocacy Groups:

• Newton: Progressive Newton
• Cambridge: Cambridge Residents Alliance
• Brookline: Brookline PAX
• Danvers: North Shore NAACP
• Allston: Allston-Brighton Health Collaborative, Brighton Allston Improvement Association

Tier 3: High Commitment (Policy-Level)

• Run for Local Office or Town Meeting: Town Meeting (Brookline, Danvers) or City Council shapes budgets, zoning, and laws.

• Brookline: How to run in Brookline
• Newton: Newton Elections Info
• Cambridge: Cambridge Election Commission
• Danvers: Danvers Town Meeting & Elections
• Allston: Boston Election Department

• Lead or Organize in the Community: Launch your own effort—a cleanup, a tenants’ rights group, a safe-streets campaign. You don’t need permission, just consistency and follow-through.

• Become a Persistent Advocate: Choose an issue (housing, climate, transit, etc.) and become the person who always shows up. Draft public comment, organize others, and speak at hearings.

Choosing Your Level of Involvement

• 1 hour/month: Follow meetings, read agendas, vote.
• 2–5 hours/month: Join a board, volunteer consistently, or contribute to an advocacy group.
• 10+ hours/month: Run for office, chair a project, or become a policy advocate.