JALSA 2023 Year in Review
JALSA 2023 Year in Review
Provided testimony on myriad bills, including increasing the minimum wage, protecting cell phone data privacy, and expanding early childhood education
Developed and delivered workshops across the state on racial justice and affordable housing, reproductive rights, immigration, racism and antisemitism, and climate change
JALSA's Jews of Color Leadership and Engagement Initiative was named to Slingshot's "10 to Watch" List
Held the most successful JALSA Annual Meeting in the organization's history
Saw implementation of the Work and Family Mobility Act, which JALSA helped draft, pass, and guide regulatory work
Took on a national leadership role organizing Jewish-values-driven phone banks with volunteers around the country successfully defending abortion rights in Wisconsin and Ohio
Led faith-based initiatives to secure permanent funding of School Meals for All in the state budget, preventing childhood and family hunger
Co-founded and facilitated Working Group to Protect Migrant Families to respond to hate incidents targeting new arrivals to our state
Organized 80+ co-signers for statement condemning hate group harassment of migrant families
Organized 350+ co-signers on letters to the Biden-Harris Administration and Massachusetts Congressional delegation on support for migrant families
Combined our public policy expertise with the experience of direct service agencies, and helped to secure $250 million for emergency shelter and an additional $10 million to assist with resettlement of migrant families
Secured SNAP benefits for immigrant households
Helped pass free phone calls for incarcerated individuals
Published well-received op-ed in CommonWealth Magazine on allyship, co-authored with New England Blacks in Philanthropy, and two letters to the editor of The Boston Globe, on institutional racism and book banning
Organized Banned Book Response Team, presented first Chanukah Banned Book Gift Guide, and planned inaugural meeting of JALSA’s Banned Book Club
Expanded organizing outreach to Jews of Color and to Jewish 20- & 30-something young professionals