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CORI Reform Celebration and Sealing Day
On Friday May 4, BWA hosted a CORI Reform celebration at the Dudley Branch Library. Over 300 people attended the event, receiving assistance from attorneys to order, review and seal their CORIs. Because of the CORI Reform victory, felonies can now be sealed in 10 years and misdemeanors in 5, and any probation or parole now counts towards those waiting periods. Continued Without Findings (CWOFs) can now be sealed without waiting a time period, and most dismissals will not be sent out to employers.
The celebration included food and speakers, including Rep. Liz Malia, Pauline Quirion (GBLS), BWA members Terri Hinton and Sunni Ali and EPOCA member Luis Bajana.
We thank our co-sponsors (partial list): American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Healing Justice Program, Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Workers Alliance (BWA), Coalition for Effective Public Safety (CEPS), Criminal Justice Policy Coalition, Ex-Prisoners and Prisoners Organizing for Community Development (EPOCA), Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS), Haley House, Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR), National Association of Social Workers, MA Chapter, The Real Cost of Prisons Project, Rosie’s Place, SPAN, Inc, Union of Minority Neighborhoods
Consider donating to BWA to support our work: http://tinyurl.com/donateBWA
CORI Celebration and Sealing Day!
CORI SEALING DAY
We fought For CORI Reform, Now It’s Time To Seal Your CORI!
Celebration and Info Session – the CORI law is scheduled to go into
effect on May 4
FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2012
DUDLEY BRANCH LIBRARY AUDITORIUM
11:00am-3:30pm: Assistance Sealing CORIs from Attorneys and Public Notaries
1:30pm-2:30pm: Lunch and Information session with speeches from members of the community, CORI reform advocates State Representative Elizabeth Malia, Chief Probation Officer of the Roxbury District Court, Anthony Gully and Greater Boston Legal Services attorney Pauline Quirion
To determine your eligibility to seal your CORI bring:
· state ID (example: driver’s license)
· copy of your CORI (or we can sign you up to get a copy at the event
if you do not have a copy)
Because of CORI reform, felonies that used to take 15 years to seal
now take 10 years and misdemeanors that used to take 10 years to seal
now take 5 years.
Contact: Boston Workers Alliance |
amy@bostonworkersalliance.org
bostonworkersalliance.org
Co-sponsored by*: American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Healing Justice Program, Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Workers Alliance (BWA), Coalition for Effective Public Safety (CEPS), Criminal Justice Policy Coalition, Ex-Prisoners and Prisoners Organizing for Community Development (EPOCA), Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS), Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR), National Association of Social Workers, MA Chapter, The Real Cost of Prisons Project, Rosie’s Place, SPAN, Inc. *partial list
Email: amy@
Tax Day Action Success!
On April 17, 2012 members of Boston Workers Alliance joined over 1,000 protestors to tell corporations and the 1% to pay their fair share of taxes. The rally, called Boston Tax Day Action, brought together concerned citizens from Dorchester to the North Shore. BWA members marched from Dewey Square to the Financial District, telling local corporations such as General Electric, State Street, Bank of America and Verizon that they are tired of them getting tax refunds and not paying taxes; taxes that would go toward things in the community like education, jobs, fair housing and community programs.
Despite billion-dollar profits, these corporations have managed to avoid taxation altogether, with some even raking in hundreds of millions in tax refunds. General Electric alone managed to draw in a federal tax refund of $3.7 billion over the last three years, despite posting profits of more than $19.6 billion! This rampant corporate tax dodging is bankrupting our communities, forcing mass layoffs, slashing vital services and closing schools and community centers.
BWA member Damon Kiser spoke to the crowd, saying “It’s hard to hold a job these days. I work in IT (information technology). They (my former job) laid me off. Shipped my job overseas. Why? So they could make more money. So they could make more profits. And pay not taxes!” Hard working people in our community are being put out of a job by these big corporate big wigs who receive huge bonuses and perks.
Enough is enough! It’s time to put people over profits and it’s time for big businesses and the wealthiest amongst us to pay their fair share, just like the rest of us do.
Take Action! New CORI Regulations
DEMAND STRONG CORI REGULATIONS!
In August of 2010, CORI Reform was passed by a statewide coalition of 110+ organizations and the hard work of thousands of Mass residents. The reforms are going effective on May 4, 2012, and the Governor’s Office has released the New CORI Regulations that will dictate how the law gets implemented.
Over 100 people attended a public hearing on Friday 3/30 on the new CORI regulations to support our demands to the Governor.
CALL THE GOVERNOR TODAY
Call Governor Patrick today: 617 725 4005
Sample Script: “Hi, my name is _______, from _______. I’m calling to leave a message about the new CORI regulations. Please tell the Governor to keep our right to challenge the “relevance” of a CORI with a potential employer, and to stop private background check companies from accessing CORI if they give out data older than 10 years. These regulations are critical for CORI reform to be effective and I urge the Governor to do the right thing.”
1) Do Not Remove the Right of Job Applicants to Discuss the Relevance of their CORI. The old CORI Regulations included a chance for a job applicant to discuss the “Relevancy and Accuracy” of their CORI with an employer who had concerns. The new regulations left in the “accuracy” requirement but took out “relevancy.” Tell the Governor to reinstate the opportunity to discuss the Relevancy of a CORI to the job at hand.
2) Stop Private Background Check Companies from Giving Out Old CORI. The new regulations are allowing private background companies to access the official CORI system, and are not preventing them from giving out old records or non-convictions. The regulations should require any company that uses the official CORI system to limit its information to 10 years for a felony, 5 years for a misdemeanor, and no dismissed cases (the same as the official CORI system). If a private background check company wants to continue to give out old and dismissed CORI, they should not enjoy access to the official state CORI system.
Access the regulations here: http://www.mass.gov/eopss/docs/chsb/dcjis-proposed-regulations.pdf
Download a position paper from the Commonwealth CORI Coalition explaining these two demands: CORI Regulations Advocacy 2012
Help spread the word – stand up for CORI reform on Friday March 30th.
Campaign to Stop 3-Strikes
Download Stop 3-Strikes Fact Sheet 2012 *click to download*
Send an easy email to your legislators and the Conference Committee: http://tinyurl.com/3strikesletter
Rally and Lobby Day Report Back
On March 15, over 400 people came to the State House to stop the controversial 3-Strikes bill and demand Smart on Crime Sentencing Reform. A broad range of 70 organizations endorsed this action and demanded new policies that would reduce the prison population and re-direct funds towards jobs creation, housing, rehabilitation and education for ex-offenders.
The energized crowd chanted “Stop 3-Strikes, Jobs Not Jail!” and heard speakers from NAACP, EPOCA, Boston Workers Alliance, and Blackstonian. Faith speakers included Rev. Dickerson of Greater Love Tabernacle and Rev. Dan King of UU 1st Congregational Parish in Kingston, MA. Legislators and City Councilors including Sen. Brownsberger, Sen. Chang-Diaz, Rep. Henriquez, Rep. Rushing, City Councilors Arroyo and Pressley all spoke in support of our advocacy.
Hundreds of participants then entered the State House to lobby their Reps and Senators and to bring the community message to our elected officials. Residents spoke to over of 60 legislators and dropped post-cards and fact sheets at all 200 offices.
Key Advocacy:
YES: [+] Repeal Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses, and [+]
Shrink School Zones to 100ft
NO: [-] Stop 3-Strikes, and [-] No Mandatory Parole for All Prisoners
We thank the 70 organizations that supported this pivotal action and
call on all concerned residents to intensify our advocacy against this
dangerous bill. Join the movement to Stop 3-Strikes and win Smart on
Crime Sentencing for our state.
BWA 2011 Year in Review
2011 marked a year of protests, where everyday Americans stood up against corporate greed and called for justice and fairness for the 99%. In Boston, the BWA helped bring our members together to fight for decent jobs and equal opportunities for our most affected communities. While unemployment grips the national economy, the crisis of joblessness has been ongoing in Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan. The need for an organization fighting to end urban joblessness has never been so clear.
Since 2005, the BWA has grown into a powerful force for social and economic justice. As a small grassroots organization, we THANK YOU, our broad community of supporters who have helped us come this far!
As we approach year’s end, please consider supporting the BWA today through a tax-deductible donation today! Your support helps pay for food at our weekly member meetings, counseling for our job seekers and supplies to keep our office running. Whether its $5 or $500, your contribution has a direct impact on the livelihood of our members and our ability to fight for social change!
BWA’s 2011 Highlights
1. CORI Reform: After working to pass nationally recognized CORI reforms, Massachusetts officially “Banned the Box,” making ours one of two states to eliminate the CORI question from all job application forms. Full CORI reforms take effect in May of 2012.
2. Home Weatherization: With the Green Justice Coalition, BWA helped create green jobs by winning new city investments in home weatherization services. BWA members signed up over 400 households for free Renew Boston energy audits and helped place over 15 people in green trainings and jobs.
3. Boston Staffing Alliance (BSA): BWA’s innovative staffing agency helped place over 75 people in temporary and temp-to-permanent positions in 2011. BSA is a non-profit temp agency that values its workers and provides pathways to permanent employment for our members.
4. Right to the City: BWA joined the national Right to the City Alliance and marched with 40 organizations and 3,000 people onto the financial district. 24 people were arrested after shutting down Bank of America for their greedy tax and foreclosure practices. The action gained international media attention.
5. MassUniting: BWA became a steering committee member of MassUniting, bringing thousands into the streets to demand jobs and corporate accountability. BWA participated in “Take Back the Capitol” week of action in Washington DC, shutting down K-Street lobbyists and Senator Scott Brown’s Office for voting against jobs.
6. Employment and CORI Support: BWA’s Worker Center, open Mon-Thurs 10-2pm helped over 700 people with employment and CORI services. Hundreds got help with their resumes and job searches and hundreds more received help in requesting and sealing their CORI records.
7. Voter Engagement: 20+ BWA members led a non-partisan voter outreach campaign, knocking on 3,500 doors in Grove Hall and increasing voter turnout by over 40%. At-large candidates Ayanna Pressley and Felix Arroyo took the top votes in BWA’s wards and precincts.
8. Green Living: BWA’s Urban Garden project trained new families in gardening skills and produced free organic vegetables for members. Roxbury Green Power, BWA’s first worker-owned cooperative business continued to collect waste veggie-oil to recycle and sell as a green bio-fuel.
9. Growing Staff: BWA hired two members to fill part-time Worker Center Coordinator and Office Manager positions, growing our staff capacity and employing those who have been dedicated to BWA over the years.
10. Media Attention: BWA received media attention in local and national publications, including a front page story in the Boston Globe about our direct services and an article in YES! Magazine on “Ban the Box.”
11. Community Building: BWA held quarterly community gatherings bringing over 250 members together. BWA held its annual Holiday Party and gave over 100 gifts to children of our members. BWA grew as a organization and increased our political power to fight for good jobs for our community.
As a grassroots organization, we thank the hundreds of BWA members and allies who have volunteered their time, money and energy to build our movement. We ask for your increased support as we approach a pivotal year of economic justice organizing. With our many partners across the city and state, we look forward to growing a more powerful movement for social and economic justice in 2012!
Take Back the Capitol
TAKE BACK THE CAPITOL: OCCUPY DC!
December 5-9th
BWA joined MassUniting to bring 250 people from Boston to DC for a week of protest!
All across the country, people have taken to the streets to demand change. From New York to LA, from Wall Street to Dewey Square, we have made our voices heard loud and clear — the 99% are here to stay. But even after thousands of marches and people willing to take arrest for the cause, our leaders aren’t listening.
Tuesday Nov 8 is Election Day!
City Council Elections are Tuesday November 8th!
Check Out the Candidate’s Questionnaire developed by the BWA and NUBE under the Civic Engagement Initiative. Learn more about the 7 at-large candidates and where they stand!
* Download 2011 At-Large Councilor Questionnaire Responses *
Right to the City
On Friday Sept 30, BWA was proud to co-sponsor the Take Back Boston march and rally that gathered over 3,000 people and resulted in 24 arrests at Bank of America downtown.
As an unemployed workers organization, we organize against banks and corporations that are making record profits while leaving the rest of the country poor and less secure. The action was organized by a broad coalition of under Right to the City, which is a national alliance of progressive base-building organizations that fight for social and economic justice.