2007 Victories & Accomplishments

• N2N-MA went head-to-head with the Worcester political establishment and stunned the pundits by electing underdog Jim O’Day as the next State Representative for the 14th Worcester District.

• Health care reform expanded to include free coverage for adults up to 150% of the poverty level and to provide a simple and generous waiver process to exempt lower-income people who can’t find affordable coverage from the individual mandate.

2006 Victories & Accomplishments

• N2N-MA begins housing Mass Alliance, a statewide progressive coalition previously known as the Commonwealth Coalition.

• With N2N-MA’s campaign management, Willie Mae Allen won her race for State Representative in Dorchester/Mattapan with 52% of the vote.

• With only a 408-vote margin, Steve D’Amico of Seekonk was elected State Representative with the help of Mass Alliance, the statewide progressive alliance housed at N2N-MA, and its member groups, led by our sister organization, the Coalition Social Justice.

• Economic justice bloc increased to 62 consistent votes in the State House of Representatives. Just 19 left to go for an 81-vote progressive majority!

• $1.25 increase in the minimum wage passed, bringing the state minimum wage to $8.00/hour – the highest in the nation – impacting 300,000 low-wage workers.

• Dental and eyeglass benefits restored for 600,000 low-income people on MassHealth, a benefit cut by the Legislature in 2001, and the top goal of our membership since then.

• Health care legislation passed that covers children up to 300% of poverty, covers adults below the poverty level, provides subsidized coverage for anyone up to 300% of poverty, and imposes an employer assessment on companies that do not cover their workers.

• $1.25 million increase in funding for state housing vouchers.

• Restored nearly $400 million in budget cuts to core state services.

Back to Top

2005 Victories & Accomplishments

• Our voter contact work helps elect Linda Dorcena-Forry, a Haitian-American woman, to the State House of Representatives, replacing Tom Finneran.

• Our electoral organizing helps elect Rep. Pat Jehlen, one of the most vocal economic justice advocates in the Legislature, to the State Senate.

• Progressive revenue package closing $85 million in corporate tax loopholes passed.

• Funding for dental coverage for pregnant women and mothers of children under age 3 restored.

• MassHealth coverage for elderly, disabled immigrants restored.

• $200 million housing bond bill to build and renovate public housing developments passed.

• Funding for rental assistance for families at risk for homelessness increased.

• Funding for state housing vouchers increased, helping to offset deep cuts to the federal Section 8 program.

• Proposals to rollback the state income rate defeated, protecting needed funding for critical public services.

• Welfare benefits for disabled parents, women in their 3rd trimester, and parents of young children preserved.

• 3 new Organizers-in-Training join our staff.

Back to Top

2004 Victories & Accomplishments

• N2N-MA’s electoral organizing helps 8 new progressive Democrats win seats in the State Legislature.

• Our 6-year organizing campaign in Salem culminates in John Keenan’s victory over an ultra-conservative 30-year incumbent.

• The election of Ed Augustus to the State Senate gives Worcester the largest, most progressive representation of any large city in Massachusetts.

• N2N-MA’s campaign plan and voter outreach work enables Carl Sciortino to defeat the Vice-Chair of the Taxation Committee, a consistent opponent of progressive tax policy.

• Local N2N-MA volunteers in Massachusetts make over 90,000 phone calls to undecided voters in Pennsylvania, urging them to vote for John Kerry.

• Progressive tax legislation that will raise $500 million from big corporations and wealthy individuals who are not paying their fair share in taxes is passed.

• Children’s Medical Security Plan is increased, ensuring coverage for all 15,000 children on the waiting list.

• Emergency assistance and health care coverage for elderly and disabled legal immigrants is restored.

• Funding for education and training for welfare recipients is increased by 70%.

• After a 7-year campaign, education and training will count towards the welfare work requirement.

• N2N-MA starts organizing in Springfield.

Back to Top

• Lucy Corchado, a low-income Latina and longtime N2N-MA leader, wins a seat on the Salem City Council and becomes our first volunteer elected to public office.

• Our voter turnout work in Holyoke’s Latino community elects progressive Latina candidate Lillian Santiago to the City Council.

• New welfare regulations allow recipients with young children to count education and training towards their work requirement, a breakthrough victory to preserve the welfare safety net.

• Preservation of two-way bilingual programs, where English speaking and non-English speaking children each learn to be fluent in the other’s language, provide schools with an alternative to English-Only classrooms.

• Health care coverage restored to 36,000 unemployed adults.

• Passive Investment Corporations – a corporate tax loophole used to export profits to low-tax states – are outlawed in Massachusetts.

• Oswaldo Chapa, an immigrant from Ecuador, and Erin O’Leary, a formerly homeless mother of two – both trained through our Leadership Development Program – become staff organizers.

• First forum – on the impact of budget cuts and possible revenue solutions – is organized in Holyoke.

• Public hearing in Worcester on budget cuts and revenue options co-sponsored with Mayor Tim Murray.

• N2N-MA chapter is founded in Holyoke.

• Voter turnout increases 400% in targeted low-income communities of Holyoke.

Back to Top

•The most progressive tax reform in Massachusetts since World War II is passed, eliminating the capital gains loophole as part of a fair tax package worth over $1 billion in new revenue.

• Our support for Representative Tom McGee helps him win a special election for State Senate, defeating his opponent 76% to 24%.

• $25 million Housing Trust Fund to expand affordable housing is preserved.

• $508.5 million Housing Bond Bill is passed.

• $3 million in funding for all-day kindergarten is restored to the state budget.

• 8 of Boston’s 15 State Representatives have an 80-100% N2N-MA voting record – up from 3 only three years before.

• N2N-MA chapter is founded in Lynn.

• Heather Pickard, an N2N-MA activist and low-income single mother from Salem, runs for State Representative against a 28-year incumbent with the worst Democratic voting record on progressive issues.

• Eva Gonzalez, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, becomes our first intern in Lynn.

• Voter turnout increases 185% in targeted low-income communities of Salem.

• Voter turnout increases 900% in targeted low-income communities of Lynn.

• Voter turnout increases 210% in targeted low-income communities of Leominster.

• Voter turnout increases 589% in targeted low-income communities of Fitchburg.

• Voter turnout increases 131% in targeted low-income communities of Worcester.

Back to Top

• Progressive majority is elected to all levels of government in Worcester.

• 4 of 5 Worcester State Representatives have over an 85% voting record on Working Family Agenda issues.

• 47 out of 160 State Representatives have over a 75% voting record on Working Family Agenda issues – up from 36 just 3 years before.

• Our support for two Latino candidates for Salem City Council helps them win their primaries, resulting in the election of the 1st Latino to the City Council.

• Stop the Cuts Campaign – led by N2N-MA – is formed to limit state budget cuts by raising revenue in a fair and progressive way.

• $4.5 million in funding for full-day kindergarten is restored to the state budget.

• Proposal to cut welfare benefits by 10% is defeated.

• Proposal to reduce funding and increase co-pays for the Senior Pharmacy Program is defeated.

• Statewide Board of Directors is formed, with elected representatives from each local chapter who have direct life experience with working family issues.

• Oswaldo Chapa and Erin O’Leary join the Internship Program.

• N2N-MA chapter is founded in Fitchburg.

• N2N-MA chapter is founded in Leominster.

• Community campaign to move voter polling station back into Worcester’s largest public housing development is successful.

• Voter turnout increases 600% in targeted low-income communities of Fitchburg.

• Voter turnout increases 166% in targeted low-income communities of Worcester.

• Voter turnout increases 150% in targeted low-income communities of Salem.

Back to Top

• Conservative Worcester Democrat Bill McManus is challenged by progressive Jim Leary, who defeats him 71% to 29% – the biggest margin of victory against a member of House Leadership in state history.

• Housing activist Bob Spellane is elected to an open seat for State Representative in Worcester.

• $300 million increase in funding for early childhood education and child care is approved.

• $100 million Housing Trust Fund is created.

• 10% cost of living increase for welfare recipients – the first in 10 years – is enacted.

• Prescription Advantage – a major drug coverage program for seniors and the disabled – is created.

• Two Latina women from public housing in Worcester – Ana de la Cruz from the Dominican Republic and Luz Ramirez from Puerto Rico – become staff organizers after completing our Leadership Development Program.

• Voter turnout increases 100% in targeted low-income communities of Worcester.

• Voter turnout increases 108% in targeted low-income communities of Salem.

Back to Top

• $1.50 increase in the state minimum wage – the single biggest increase ever – is passed, bringing the state minimum wage to $6.75/hour.

•$100 million in new funding for affordable child care is approved.

• Earned income tax credit is increased by 5%.

• Child care tax deduction is increased by 100%.

• Renter’s deduction is raised by $500.

• $25 million in funding for the Senior Pharmacy Program is approved.

• Ana de la Cruz and Luz Ramirez join the Internship Program.

• Voter turnout increases 235% in targeted low-income communities of Worcester.

• Voter turnout increases 152% in targeted low-income communities of Salem.

Back to Top

• Speak-out is organized in Worcester and attended by 250 people, resulting in two State Senators and three State Representatives publicly endorsing the Affordable Child Care for Everyone Bill.

• $36 million increase in funding for child care is passed.

• Working Family Agenda Coalition – a coalition of labor, religious, social service, ethnic, community and senior organizations that complement our grassroots organizing – is formed.

• N2N-MA chapter is founded in Salem.

• Voter turnout increases 136% in targeted low-income communities of Worcester.

• Voter turnout increases 40% in targeted low-income communities of Salem.

Back to Top

• First legislative targeting study – determining the progressive potential of each district and prioritizing the areas where our grassroots organizing will have the most impact – is completed.

• N2N-MA chapter is founded in Worcester.

Back to Top

• Republican Congressmen Peter Blute & Peter Torkildsen are unelected and replaced with liberal Democrats Jim McGovern & John Tierney, giving Massachusetts one of the most progressive Congressional delegations in the country.

Back to Top