Spare Change News

Category: Social Justice

  • Panel discusses how racial equity can help solve homelessness

    Panel discusses how racial equity can help solve homelessness

    The speakers who discussed racial equity as a solution to homelessness, from left to right: Dr. Monica Bharel, Julia Tripp, and Jeff Olivet. On Thursday, June 14, the Center for Social Innovation held a discussion at The Nonprofit Center in downtown Boston about systemic racism and its impact on the homeless population—and how improving racial…

  • Council Host Hearing on Police Surveillance & Technology

    Community members and advocates filled the city council chamber at City Hall on June 19  to voice concerns and ask questions at a hearing regarding the usage of police surveillance in the city of Boston. District 5 councilor Timothy McCarthy chaired the hearing, which was co-sponsored by Councilor At-Large Michelle Wu and Council President Andrea…

  • Boston Pride talks public accommodations law and legal protections for trans people

    Members of the LBGTQ community, in particular transgender people, and allies are working to protect the public accommodations law adopted by the Massachusetts legislature in 2016. The law specifically protects  a person based on their gender identity, but could be repealed if voters choose ‘no’ on the ballot question  in November. Freedom for All Massachusetts…

  • Advocates Fear More Discrimination After Masterpiece Cake Ruling

    Advocates Fear More Discrimination After Masterpiece Cake Ruling

    Civil rights advocates fear the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case will encourage more attempted discrimination against LGBT people. By a 7-2 margin, the court ruled that the cake shop owner had not received an impartial hearing at the Colorado Civil Rights Commission over his refusal on religious grounds to make a wedding…

  • Supreme Court Ruling Sparks Discrimination Fears

    Civil rights advocates fear the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case will encourage more attempted discrimination against LGBT people. By a 7-2 margin, the court ruled that the cake shop owner had not received an impartial hearing at the Colorado Civil Rights Commission over his refusal on religious grounds to make a wedding…

  • Panel calls for system to hold bad police officers accountable

    Panel calls for system to hold bad police officers accountable

    Activists and members of the legislature are looking to setup a licensure process to hold cops accountable in Massachusetts if they are found guilty of misconduct. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice and the ACLU of Massachusetts hosted a panel on the topic on Monday, May 21, and cited reasons a Peace…

  • Bill Aims to Protect Hungry Kids From Being Shamed Over School Lunch Debt

    A cold sandwich is what students may get instead of the hot lunch they wanted at some Massachusetts public schools. They often are humiliated, sometimes to tears, when denied their lunch, and some are even confronted about their parents’ debt by cafeteria workers. State Sen. Cynthia Creem, D-Newton, and Rep. Andres Vargas, D-Haverhill, have filed…

  • HUD’s Rent Increases and Work Requirements Called ‘Unconscionable and Immoral’

    Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Ben Carson, proposed changes to rent structures  that are sparking backlash from housing advocates and prominent legislators on Capitol Hill. The change in rent structures calls for a five percent increase in monthly rent contributions based on a family’s monthly income or the amount earned by an individual working 15…

  • Me Too founder Tarana Burke: ‘This is a battle we can win’

    Me Too founder Tarana Burke: ‘This is a battle we can win’

    When Tarana Burke was six-years-old, she was raped by the son of her mother’s best friend. Ten years ago, the activist founded Me Too in order to support young black girls and, in 2017, the hashtag #metoo became a buzzword all over the world. A recurring question that Tarana Burke is asked by men is:…

  • ‘Welfare Reform’ Poised to Exclude People in Need From Assistance

    On April 10, President Trump privately signed an executive order entitled, “Reducing Poverty in America by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility.” The order charges federal agencies with the task of increasing the requirements of welfare programs, making cuts to existing programs, and allowing states more flexibility in implementing programs.   To guide these efforts, the…