Community Engagement

Our Field Team works in communities across Massachusetts, backed up by an incredible Action Team made up of more than 8,000 volunteers.

From training young advocates to organizing rallies to hosting Know Your Rights workshops, we’re out there building people power — and taking the ACLU’s fight for expanded rights and freedoms to the street.

Our work in community includes a thriving Racial Justice Program. The team runs active voter engagement and civic education programs, including a BIPOC to the Ballot Box campaign in cities with significant BIPOC communities.

The Racial Justice Team also champions policies that promote access to and diversity in higher education while actively opposing censorship efforts, including  book bans. They also collaborate with organizations across the state to lift up other important issues, from Black maternal mortality to BIPOC LGBTQ+ rights to free speech.

If you’re interested in working with our Field Team or Racial Justice Team, please email us at engage@aclum.org, sign up to join our Action Team, or submit this form to request a speaker.

Explore our community engagement work:

Know Your Rights

Lead hundreds of Know Your Rights workshops each year in multiple languages.

Support immigrant families in making Family Preparedness Plans.

Produce and distribute Know Your Rights wallet cards.

Image of people at a table participating in a workshop

Civic Education

Hold online Advocates Academy trainings to help people build skills in fighting for the issues they care about.

Organize educational webinars on timely issues, from bills pending in the State House to Supreme Court rulings.

Partner with local organizations such as Brockton Civic School to strengthen participation in municipal affairs.

Two individuals are stood inside the Massachusetts Statehouse. The person on the left is turned to the side wearing a grey coat. On the right, a person is stood in a navy blue suit and light blue button up shirt with their head facing to the left listening.

Policy Advocacy

Consult with municipal leaders and advocacy groups on local policies involving issues such as immigrants’ rights, privacy and surveillance, free speech, racial justice, and economic justice.

Bring residents from across Massachusetts to the State House to talk with their lawmakers about priority issues.

Rights and voting advocacy table at a festival

Get Out the Vote

Sponsor nonpartisan candidate forums.

Develop nonpartisan voter guides (the ACLU does not endorse candidates).

Knock on doors to encourage eligible voters to cast ballots.

Partner with the Election Modernization Coalition to make voting more accessible.

ACLU members at a table at a festival to inspire youth to get involved

Youth Education

Support ACLU Clubs at high schools and colleges.

Run a Next-Gen Book Club discussing novels, non-fiction, and films that engage with civil liberties issues.

Table at festivals, fairs, and community gatherings throughout the state.

Give school presentations on civil rights and civil liberties.

ACLU of Massachusetts marching in a rally honoring Juneteenth

Rallies and Programs

Organize community events like our annual MLK Weekend Unity Gathering

Co-organize large rallies and protests, such as the No Kings events in Boston

Speak at numerous community events, sharing perspectives on topics ranging from voting rights to racial justice.

Our Action Team members are volunteers and do not speak on behalf of the ACLU of Massachusetts.