Take Action

We are thrilled that you are interested in taking action with JALSA. Read on for relevant and impactful opportunities.

Issue Action Teams

To help lead JALSA's organizing around specific issue areas, we have formed Action Teams. JALSA is starting with five teams: Immigrant Justice, Reproductive Freedom, Economic Justice and Housing, Freedom of Speech and Expression, and Climate Change. These teams will meet regularly to strategize and support JALSA's legislative agenda.

Sign up using the form at this link, and a JALSA Organizer will quickly get in touch with further details. If you prefer to reach out directly, or if you have any questions, you can contact:
** Organizer Noah Lanckton for the Immigrant Justice Action Team
** Organizer Rachel Scarpino for the Reproductive Freedom Action Team
** Organizer Teddy Manning for the Freedom of Speech and Expression Action Team
** Organizer Hank Greenberg for the Climate Change Action Team and the Economic Justice and Housing Action Team

Rapid Response Teams

News and events are occurring rapidly these days. In order for JALSA to react as quickly as possible, we are forming both a Testimony Rapid Response Team and a Protest Rapid Response Team.

  • As a part of JALSA's Testimony Rapid Response Team, you will attend legislative hearings at the State House in support of JALSA priority legislation. You would need to be ready within a limited timeframe (likely a few days) to get on site for hearings or attend them virtually as they are announced. JALSA will, of course, help you prepare testimony in advance to ensure that you and other speakers are ready on short notice. Anyone interested in joining the Testimony Rapid Response Team, or if you have any questions, please contact Organizer Rachel Scarpino.

  • As a part of JALSA's Protest Rapid Response Team, you will attend protests, rallies, and similar events, helping JALSA establish a presence. You will hand out literature about relevant state-based bills and talk to participants about taking action with us, demonstrating support for issue areas important to our communities. You will also connect with other activists to further expand our volunteer network. Anyone interested in joining the Protest Rapid Response Team, or if you have any questions, please contact Organizer Hank Greenberg.

Contact Your State Legislators

JALSA urges you to contact your state legislators on these key legislative priorities.

  • An Act to Promote Yes in G-d's Backyard, also known as The YIGBY Act, will be a crucial part of resolving the Commonwealth's housing crisis. With the third highest median home price and the highest median rent price, Massachusetts has one of the most severe housing crises in the nation. It has been estimated that Massachusetts needs 222,000 more housing units over the next decade. The YIGBY Act would allow places of worship to build housing on their properties. Further, the bill would allow for this housing to be built "by right," meaning that there would be no need to have a special permit granted. With faith-based organizations owning nearly 2,000 parcels that can support housing development, this measure could allow for the construction of 100,000 homes! Contact your legislators to urge them to co-sponsor the YIGBY Act at this link.

  • Act Establishing a Climate Change Superfund, also known as the Make Polluters Pay bill, will help fund projects such as coastal protections, transit infrastructure upgrades, and building weatherization. This is urgently needed. Since 1995, Massachusetts has experienced nearly three dozen extreme weather disasters with damages totaling $10 billion. These costs will continue to rise with increasingly extreme weather events. By making polluters pay for the creation and financing of a Climate Change Superfund, the costs appropriately shift to the corporations most responsible for causing the climate crisis. The Climate Change Superfund will require the biggest fossil fuel polluters with ties to Massachusetts to contribute billions of dollars over the next quarter-century. Contact your legislators to urge them to co-sponsor the Make Polluters Pay legislation at this link.

  • The Location Shield Act would ban the sale and trade of cellphone location data. This will protect people coming into Massachusetts because they can no longer access abortions in their own states. It will also protect people who can be tracked going to synagogues and other religious institutions, and people attending locations that are central to the LGBTQ+ community. You can get further details on this legislation and contact your state legislators to urge them to support and co-sponsor The Location Shield Act at this link.

  • The Dignity Not Deportations Act would prohibit immigration detention in Massachusetts state and local facilities and end the voluntary donation of state and local law enforcement resources for federal immigration enforcement. You can get further details on this legislation and contact your state legislators to urge them to support and co-sponsor The Dignity Not Deportations Act at this link.