GBIO: Building Power for Justice by Reaching Across
The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization is moving toward our next campaign for justice. With 50+ member institutions, including Temple Israel, we work for the common good across race, faith, neighborhood, and all the other barriers to a united community. For the last 25 years, we have built local power to affect real change in housing including affordable and public housing, physical and behavioral healthcare equity and access, a fair chance for those leaving incarceration, and more. Our strength is founded in a mutual understanding of what we each care deeply about and we build that understanding one relationship at a time.
Recently, TI members have participated in training in community organizing and listened and shared with fellow congregants following Friday night services, and the TI GBIO core team has worshipped with our friends at Saint Katharine Drexel Church at their home in Dorchester and here at TI. Our activities, including more training offered on June 16, 17, and 18 via zoom in the evening and a potluck dinner on July 24, will continue over the summer as we prepare to go into action later this year. As someone in the Temple Israel orbit, you are a member of GBIO. Join us as we work locally for justice with thousands across Greater Boston.
To learn more, contact Tali Puterman or Anne Licciardello.
GBIO: 25 years of impact!
HOUSING
2002 MA Affordable Housing Trust Fund created
2016 Community Preservation Act (CPA) passed in Boston, a new source of housing funds
2017 $3.8M of CPA funds allocated to support 1st time home buyers
2020 COVID Eviction Moratorium; $20M for Emergency Rental & Mortgage Assistance
2021 $50M for Mildred C. Haley public housing in Boston
2024 $2.2B in bonds over 5 years approved for public housing capital improvements in MA
HEALTHCARE
2006 MA Ch. 58: An Act Providing Access to Affordable, Quality, Accountable Health Care; landmark reform in MA and model for the US Affordable Care Act
2012 MA Ch. 224: Landmark Health Care Cost Containment
2018 Consumer Cost Protection Agreement saved $1B for MA consumers
2019 MA 749 Pharmaceutical Access, Cost and Transparency Act saved $100M
by allowing MA to negotiate drug pricing and cap insulin co-pays in MassHealth
2021 MA Ch. 260: An Act Promoting a Resilient Health Care System that Puts Patients First prevents surprise out-of-network billing and guarantees telehealth access (important for behavioral health care)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
2016 Drivers License Reinstatement for returning citizens
2018 Ch. 69: An Act Relative to Criminal Justice Reform provided solitary confinement and bail reforms, repealed mandatory minimums, and reduced post-release fees and fines
2020 Ch. 253: An Act Relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement
2022 Boston Office of Returning Citizens
EDUCATION
2002 $2M for Boston Public Schools textbooks
2011–2018 $72M to Roxbury Dearborn School, transforming it from a “failing school” to new 6–12 STEM school
2021 Boston Public Schools commit to staffing at least 1 social worker per school
GUN SAFETY
2014 Ch. 284: An Act Relative to the Reduction of Gun Violence
2015 ‘Do Not Stand Idly By’ Campaign informed President Obama’s ‘Smart Gun’ initiative
ECONOMIC JUSTICE
2005–2015 Debts to Assets, multi-language financial literacy program – 996 graduates over 10 years
GBIO builds power for the common good.
GBIO’s mission is to make Greater Boston a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
Our mission is to build power by developing local leaders so we can act together on issues that matter to our communities.
Upcoming ways to get involved include:
- Potluck with other GBIO members on July 24
- Trainings on organizing power offered three times in June: 16, 17 and 18, 7-9 pm via zoom; August dates TBD
- Listening campaign in the Fall of 2025
