
Each day, 10,000 people in the US pass the 60-year mark. Join us as we work to create a sustainable future for all, with the following goals:
- Uplift voting and democracy through protesting, voter drives, postcarding, and many opportunities to support elections inside and outside of MA
- Advocate for a fairer electric grid across New England
- Counteract disinformation about offshore wind projects on the Cape and Islands
- Pressure the Big Four Banks to stop greenwashing and investing in fossil fuels
- Join local partners in support of Environmental Justice that ensures the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income
- Collaborate with Governor Healy and Climate Chief, Melissa Hoffer as they work to incorporate climate change into all decision-making across the state
Join one of our Massachusetts Action Teams
For more information about any of our Teams, email massachusetts@thirdact.org
Finance & Pensions
Working to limit fossil fuels investments and support the move to clean energy through state legislation, advocacy, and strategies for greening personal finances. We are focused on pensions, endowments, financial institutions/products, and education about the role of finance in a just energy transition.
- Interest in advocacy and engagement with state legislators and the MA legislative process (legislative/lobbying experience not necessary!)
- Interest in learning and sharing knowledge about green finances
- Interest in researching financial institutions and their role in the energy transition
- Membership in unions, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, neighborhood groups, which may lead to potential partnerships for climate finance action
UpLifting Democracy
Working to protect democracy and ensure everyone’s vote can be cast and counted. Focused on:
- Registering and engaging voters in MA and key states, emphasizing youth and new citizens
- Organizing and attending protests across the Commonwealth
- Postcarding for swing states, both local, state and national elections
- Contacting our representatives in Washington to keep the pressure on to preserve democracy
Welcome & Volunteer Management
Ensure members feel welcomed, valued, and engaged via ongoing“welcome calls”. We assist in orienting and updating members, new and old, on the activities of the Third Act MA Working Group:
- Zoom meeting facilitation and logistics
- Person-to-person skills in assessing and following up on new member interests
- Data management skills to collect and organize information relating to new members’ interests
- Connecting members to partners and other members in their local communities
Communications
This team supports all our Actio Teams by producing regular newsletters and informative opportunities for engagement and learning. Currently looking for members interested in:
- Willingness to learn WordPress to assist in keeping our website updated
- Using MailChimp to assist with newsletter creation
- Curating both climate and democracy media lists of MA reporters
- Providing content including press releases, Op-Eds, position papers, blogs
Clean Energy
Focuses on advocating for government actions and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and opposing actions that would prevent MA and the nation from achieving our established climate goals. Working in close collaboration with other climate organizations, we educate ourselves and others about major climate initiatives through events, webinars, and newsletters, followed by action on both the state and federal level to advocate for improved policies and laws. Some knowledge of key issue areas: environmental policy, legislative activities – on the local, state and federal level, renewables, and climate science or the willingness to learn:
- Research and data analysis: Provide insights into effective strategies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and track progress, and communicate those insights
- Communications: Writers to spread awareness through media interviews, Letters to the Editor, Op-Eds and social media; create draft letters and/or responses to officials as examples for other TA MA members to use when writing to local, state and federal officials and elected officials
- Tech: Versed in or willing to learn Google Suite, Zoom, and assist the team in tech-related projects
- Community outreach and engagement: connecting with communities, organizing local in-person or on-line events, creating and supporting grassroots efforts, and collaborating with partners
Environmental Justice
Support for environmental justice (EJ) groups that are working to reduce environmental harms and build climate resilience in low-income communities and communities of color across the state. These communities continue to bear the brunt of pollution and climate change impacts because of a long history of environmental racism. We focus on helping to amplify the voice and advance the campaigns of community-based EJ groups and statewide coalitions. Third Actor MA serves as an ally by:
- Advocating for legislation on environmental justice issues by writing letters and emails to legislators and newspapers, attending legislative hearings, and spreading the word through social media
- Participating in street protests, marches, and other forms of solidarity and direct action
- Attending briefings, workshops, conferences, and other gatherings organized by EJ groups to improve our knowledge and understanding of the issues and to build personal relationships with those we are working to support
Letters-to-the Editor
An effective, online tool for spreading the word through the Letters to the Editor about how we must act NOW to protect our environment and uplift democracy. Best of all, it can be done from your own home:
- Join a 30-minute training to learn how to use the on-line platform to start writing letters.
- Become familiar with the platform, and start sharing the morning email with members once a week. It’s not hard, and it gives you the privilege of selecting the stories the team writes about. If you are comfortable with basic computer skills and willing to allocate 15-20 minutes once a week, we’d love to have you on the team!
Partnerships
We focus on developing meaningful connections with other democracy, environmental, and climate justice organizations across MA to amplify their messages and support their work. We work in coalition with our partners to deepen impact and ensure the success of our mutual goals:
- Seeking members to research potential partner organizations and help to craft joint statements of how to work in coalition
- Become a point person for one partnership by choosing a partner of interest to you in the areas of democracy and/or climate justice, and help us amplify their message
- Work closely with a partner organization to identify specific engagement opportunities, big and small, for Third Act members, including petitions to sign, protests to attend, community service projects to undertake and opportunities for learning
To contact any of our Action Team leaders, email massachusetts@thirdact.org