Political and Civic engagement ... participation...
​Get Involved to have your  voice in the shaping of policies and laws in your community! Click on the ANNOUNCEMENT TAB  in each Congressional District for a sampling of activities that you can do! 

Political and Civic Involvement Opportunities in Massachusetts
​
​​The CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS Tab, where towns are grouped by Congressional Districts, offers many opportunities for civic and non-partisan political involvement:

* Congressional District Look-Up by Town

*  Town Directory -  a Data Base for civic and political contacts.  
Check out your Town Directory website and/or Facebook to see what Board and Committee positions are looking for volunteers, such as Board of Health, Conservation Commission, Cultural Council, Historical Commission, Planning Board, ​Zoning Board of Appeals, and so much more!

​* State Government Representation by Town -
Check out the state representative and state senator that represents where you live, and their contact information!
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*Announcements -volunteer/events/involvement opportunities posted by local civic and political  committees/organizations .
​Citizen's voices -forums, movements, rallies -comes alive as you are given “real time” information when you click on the websites and Facebook pages of various towns who are active in the political process!  See how you can become involved and have a voice in your government !

​EXTRA!
 (*)  EVENTS:  Boston's State House has multiple events every week that are open to everyone of all ages!   Visit   www.mass.gov/state-house-events   ​  ;

(*)  Visit    malegislature.gov     to get the  latest news on   "Bills & laws", "Hearing and Events", "Legislators" and their contact information, "Committees and Commissions", and more... 

​(*) Massachusetts Attorney General Office   -
Ballot Initiatives filed for the 2022 Biennial Statewide Election (proposed laws) and 2024 Biennial Statewide Election (proposed constitutional amendments) - contains citizen initiative petitions.

Visit   www.mass.gov/info-details/ballot-initiatives-filed-for-the-2022-biennial-statewide-election-proposed-laws-and-2024-biennial-statewide-election-proposed-constitutional-amendments

​​

 EXTRA!!
PACIO is pausing as of Spring 2023 for a while. Just email pacio@paciomass.org if you want to get in touch!
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Boston State House Hearings & Events and Mass. Town Political Committee's Facebook  and websites post many  events that are virtual, in the Boston area, and in Washington D.C.  that are now happening : 

 March/February 2023 Activities:

(*) Answer Coalition and Code Pink's "  "Peace in Ukraine – Say NO to Endless U.S. Wars” on Saturday March 18 and Sunday March 19 at the Whte House in D.C. and across the nation;

(*) Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative of Harvard Law School's  "Students Speak: Rebuilding Community in our School" Legislative Briefing and Student Session on Tuesday March 7 at 11:30 am in Room A2 at the Boston State House; 

(*) Fridays for Future Boston's "Rally for 100% carbon-free energy statewide by 2030 and To Stop Eversource Substation Construction" on Friday March 3 at 12 pm  at Boston State House and Boston City Hall; 

(*) Massachusetts Peace Actions' " Rally for Peace in Ukraine" on Friday February 24 at 12 pm at  Downtown Crossing in  Boston;

(*) Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition's "Rally  for Climate Change Action" and met with State Legislators  on Tuesday February 7 at the Boston State House.​







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January 2023 through April 2023
​
Massachusetts Town Political Committees are busy with :     

                  Social Activities
​
*"Annual Post Holiday Party";
​*"Winter Social";
​​​​*"Fourth Friday Gathering";
*"Virtual Coffee Hour"; 
​* "ZOOM: First Friday Breakfast Gathering";
​ *"ZOOM: Book Club Discussions"; ​
*"ZOOM: Film/Documentary Discussions"; 
​*"Movie Watch Party". 
      Community Service Events

*"Pancake Breakfast" to raise money for civic fund which supports the Food Pantry;
*"Community Blood Drive";
*"Valentine Sock & Glove Drive";
*"Love Your Neighbor Valentine Day Food Drive";
*"Drive Thru Food Drive" ​;
*"3rd Annual State House Diaper Drive";
*"Collecting games for Schools on Wheels Mass.";
*"Community Meal Prepare & Serve" ; 
*"Volunteer at the Family Table Collaborative"; 
​*"Catch a Ton of Tuna 2023!"; 
*"Toileties Drive" ​;
​*"Winter Coat Drive" and "Jacket Drive";
​*"Bugles Across America".
    Fundraising Activities 

*" Annual Wild Game Dinner for Civics Club"; 
*"Democrats Brunch 2023!";
*"Democratic Breakfast";
"RTC Bowl A Thon with T.V. Reality Stars";
*"23rd Annual JFK Presidents Day Gathering";
*"Lincoln Dinner Funraiser" ;
*"FUNraiser: Celebrate Ronald Reagan on Presidents Day";

​​

Mass. Town Political Committee's Facebooks and websites post many civic and political activities  & current events that are now happening such as:

 Civics Activities
​Both Virtual and Real Time:

*"Pancake Breakfast" to raise money for civic fund which supports the Food Pantry;
*"What Do Millennials & Gen-Zs Want From Politics Panel Discussion"; 
*"Town Public Forums"; 
*"Nominating Papers Signing MeetUp";
*" ZOOM Workshop: Understanding and Overcoming the Rural Urban Divide"; 
*"Peaceful Rally Against Police Violence and Tribute to Tyre Nichols";
*Town Hall's "Candidate Meet, Greet, and Sign Event"; 
*"Annual Martin Luther King 2023 Virtual Breakfast";
*"Our Freedom, Our Votes January 6 Candle Light Vigil"; 
*"Our Freedom, Our Votes January 6 Rally"; 
*"FIREARMS: Violence & Reform -A Panel Discussion";
*"Climate-Friendly Banking Series";
​​*"Civic Issues Forums/Civics Matters Series"; 
* "Non-Partisan Town Government Civic Forum";  
 ​​ 
Civics and Political Activity
​Both Virtual and Real Time: 

* Town and Statewide Civic/Political Internships and Scholarships; 
*"Take Action Forum";
​*"Meet Our New State Representatives Event" ;
* Booths at Town/City Feasts;
​*"Day of Action";
​* "Candidate Forum and Straw Poll"; 
* " ZOOM: Crash Course -  Organizing Your Campus"; 

also
*"Political Leadership School";
* "Campaign Management/ Training";
​ * State Representative Office Hours, Conversations, & Listening Sessions";
 *Candidate Debates,  Forums & Fundraiser;
 * Political Platform events;
* Documentary Screenings on Civic/Political Issues; 
 * Email/ Call/text legislators to support bills;
 *" State House Public Hearing to take Testimony"  from citizens on pending Bills for legislation;​
*U.S./State Legislator's "Town Hall";
*U.S./State Legislator's "Virtual Legislative Breakfast"; 
 Civic and Policy Issues

* Public Service Loan Forgiveness;
*Pass the Community Preservation Act;
* Repeal the *"Work and Family Mobility Act -  Drivers Licenses for  Illegal Immigrants;"
*Religious exemption to any vaccine that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health;
*"Reproduction Rights";
​*"Fair Share Amendment";
*"Trees as a Public Good";
*" Mask Up for Safe Libraries";
​*" Reopen the State House in Boston";
​ *"Same Day Voter Registration";
​* "Permanent Vote by Mail";
 *Building Innovative Housing Solutions;
 * Do not Ban Books in the U.S.; * Freedom to Vote Act ;*John Lewis Act;
*Prison and Jail Construction Moratorium;  
* Vacinne Equity;
* Pro /Cons Voter ID;
* Stop the TCI GAs Tax;
* Critical Race Theory;
​also,
​*Racial Inequities in Maternal Health ; * News Deserts; * Stop Government Mandates;  * Abortion Rights, *Defend Medical Choice in Massachusetts; * No Forced Vaccines; 
* Mask Optional for School Children for Fall 2021 ; Climate Change Initiatives;
​*Stop Teaching Critical Race Theory;
​​*"The Votes Act - Election Laws and Integrity";  *"Work and Family Mobility Act -  Drivers Licenses for  Illegal Immigrants;"; * Transparency in Mass. House Rules Process*; Pet Daycare Facilities Regulation; " No New Prisons";  ​* Civics Education; *Affordable Housing";    * Say "NO" to Compressor Station; * Voting Integrity;   * 10 Point Plan for Police Reform;  
also,
Coronavirus;  Education Equality; Safe Communities; Emergency Paid Sick Time;    Plastic Bag Ban, Vaping Ban, Social Security, Open Internet Order, Clean Energy,  Transgender Civil Rights;  Ranked Choice Voting;    Improving Medicare and Health Care, Immigration, Expanding Mass. Transit Rails. 
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* Get Involved!   Volunteer on a Town Board  and/or work at a Town Election in your Community!
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​(*)  Note: The local units of government in Massachusetts that make the initiative process available are: