In 1996, our work helped give Massachusetts the most progressive Congressional delegation in the country. Yet, our state government remained unresponsive to the needs of working people.

How could the same statewide voters have elected such different bodies of representatives?

The answer is simple: They didn’t.

Fewer people vote in state elections, especially in low-income communities. Just as increasing participation among low-income activists and voters in national politics improved our Congressional representation, increasing their participation in state politics holds the key to a progressive state government.

To target and prioritize the regions where Neighbor to Neighbor’s grassroots organizing would have the most impact, we analyzed the demographics and political representation of each district in the state.

We considered the following factors for each district:

• Percent of people of color of voting age,
• Percent of low-income people of voting age – households with an annual income of less than $25,000,
• Percent of working class people of voting age – households with an annual income of less than $50,000, and
• Percent of voting age population who don’t vote.

This information determines the Progressive Potential Index (PPI) for each legislative district in Massachusetts.

For example, a working class district with a large Latino and African American population but low voter turnout has unrealized progressive potential and would have a high PPI – meaning that the district would be progressive, if organized.

We then compare the PPI to that district’s legislator’s rating on the Working Family Agenda issues – how they vote on issues like health care, housing, education, child care, welfare, etc.

The districts where legislators are not voting in the interests of the majority of their constituents become potential “target districts” for our community-based political organizing.

By increasing the political participation of working people in these target districts, we turn them from “swing” districts into bases of progressive political power. Our goal is to win back enough potentially progressive districts to create a progressive majority in the State Legislature.

In fact, we have won back 34 seats in just 8 years!

Neighbor to Neighbor organizes at two levels:

1. We form a local Working Family Agenda coalition of labor unions and community groups, and
2. We unleash the power of low-income voters and activists by going door-to-door throughout the district in public housing developments and tenement neighborhoods.

These new Neighbor to Neighbor chapters, led by low-income volunteers, empower their communities through grassroots organizing and coalition work with allies.

Together, we hold legislators accountable to the needs of their district. Failing that, we recruit candidates and elect someone to better represent them.

Our statewide legislative and electoral victories show the power of this targeted organizing strategy!