For low-income people to influence elected officials and have an impact on public policy, we believe it’s essential to unite them with unions, seniors and community groups. The Working Family Agenda Coalition is a statewide network of progressive elected officials, labor unions, social service agencies, and community organizations.

Join the Working Family Agenda (PDF)

View the Full List of Coalition Members

View our Priority Issues (PDF)

To determine the Working Family Agenda, organizers and volunteers went door-to-door in low-income communities, met with residents and asked: "What does a working family need to get by?" We heard the same responses over and over – good jobs, job training, education, affordable child care, housing and health care, and a welfare safety net.

These issues are the cornerstones of the Working Family Agenda and form the core values of our statewide coalition.

To set our specific legislative priorities each year, our volunteers go door-to-door in their communities to survey their neighbors about what struggles are most affecting them – cuts to Mass Health, rising rents, welfare time limits, etc.

At the same time, we meet with organizations and elected officials who are part of the Working Family Agenda Coalition to find out their priorities and learn about potential opportunities and challenges in the upcoming legislative session. After discussing this information, each local N2N-MA chapter sends delegates to a statewide meeting in January to determine our specific organizational priorities for the year.

All organizations, activists and elected officials who are part of the Working Family Agenda Coalition – including N2N-MA – then vote on which legislative initiatives should be priorities of the entire coalition.

This process combines the urgent needs of our low-income activist base with the political insights of experienced community leaders, allied organizations and legislators. The result is a final list of issue priorities for the year that broadly affect low-income communities, have a significant impact on the lives of working people, and are winnable.