On Tuesday June 30th, an energized crowd of over 350 people packed the State House to call for immediate and comprehensive CORI reforms.  Supporters were joined by over 30 state legislators and heard from a slate of high profile speakers backing change in 2009. 

“Behind Every CORI There is a Story”

[see video] http://www.youtube.com/BWAchannel
On Wednesday, June 3rd, close to 200 people gathered on the steps of the Massachusetts State House to demand immediate reforms to a dysfunctional and discriminatory CORI system.  The event was organized by the Boston Workers’ Alliance, and co-sponsored by the Commonwealth CORI Coalition, a statewide network of over 80+ organizations committed to passing comprehensive CORI reforms in 2009.

 This is a collaboritive effort between several organizations with Boston Workers’ Alliance members Hakim Cunningham and Patrick Keaney taking a lead role in revitalizing the urban gardening experience. Along side Evan Greer and help from members of Rising Tide , together they cleaned and removed debris from the 20 Leyland St Community Garden Site and was helpful in bringing four garden plots back to life with the permission from Boston Natural Areas Network. With the help of Pensy Carleton the garden steward the members of Boston Workers’ Alliance and Rising Tide made a significant impact on the site. This Urban Gardening Project has many players,BNAN,GFCAC,Rising Tide,The Food Project, B.W.A and a number of other organizations willing to help bring back the urban garden around Boston if you know of any interested residents have them contact 617-606-3580 and speak with Hakim Cunningham 

On April 29, BWA hosted a CORI Reform Campaign Briefing to update organizations on the status of our reform efforts.  Eighty people representing over 60 organizations participated in the campaign briefing.

On Saturday Boston Workers’ Alliance held the second of it’s CORI workshops and it was part informational and part training to help people. The clinic is helping people understand the language and codes on their CORI and how to properly interpret it while identifying ways to seal. The CORi issue is affecting alot of residents in Boston and we are trying to find ways on making people more literate on reading them. This will help with dispelling some of the myths that revolve around it. You have the rights as a citizens to ask the judge at his discretion to seal all non-convictions, not guilties and dismissed cases under the court of law.We are helping residents navigate the process in having a CORI retrieved ,viewed and petition the courts for a sealing. These clinics will be and ongoing thing at Boston Workers’ Alliance in the months to come being held on two Saturday’s a month from 12-2pm the next clinic will be April 25 .

The City of Boston has information about potential Job Opportunities
that its not sharing with you…

Come to this exciting training on Friday to learn about the City law
and help to enforce it so we can get jobs.  The training is open to
the public - and if you have a CORI, we need you!

Boston Workers Alliance and Boston Center for Youth and Families held the first in a series of workshops that help the public navigate the realities of job searches and resume and cover letter writing .These workshops will be held once a week for the next 8 weeks all are welcome call 617-438-2077 to speak to Kendall Bruce to register.

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* CORI Reform Bill 2009 * (click to download)

Download the full text of the 2009 CORI reform bill, submitted by BWA as part of the Commonwealth CORI Coalition.  Lead sponsors are Representative Liz Malia (Jamaica Plain) and Senator Harriette Chandler (Worcester).

On March 7, Boston Workers’ Alliance introduced itself to Grove Hall through an Open House attended by dozens of local residents.  With a growing number of people losing their jobs, Boston Workers’ Alliance is working on ways to address our immediate crisis while building long term strategies for social change. The members and staff of BWA talked to residents about their concerns, and discussed ways to help improve the livelihood of our community.

On December 22nd, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) held a public hearing on their newly proposed CORI regulations.  Close to 100 people filled the hearing room to show their support, calling the new regulations a strong first step to create work opportunities for qualified ex-offenders.  The revamped guidelines are a result of a sustained campaign led by the Boston Workers’ Alliance and the Mass Alliance to Reform CORI (MARC), which resulted in an Executive Order signed by Governor Patrick in January ‘08.