Massachusetts News – Mothers Out Front

Lessons in Organizing an Open House | MOF Cambridge

Elena Fagotto, MOF Cambridge — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:37:53 +0000

Our Cambridge chapter took a meaningful step in Fall 2025 by hosting an in-person potluck for our active volunteers. Some seasoned volunteers mentioned that before COVID, our chapter had community events at the library. Others urged us to meet in person more often because some members join Mothers Out Front for the community. Zoom is convenient, but every once in a while, it’s good to reconnect in person. So we decided to hold an in-person event at the Cambridge Public Library on March 15!

Purpose of the Event

Reconnect with our volunteers.
Recruit new volunteers. We decided to invite everyone on our Cambridge mailing list (1,000 people!)
Take action together. We heard people love action calls because they feel they are doing something concrete for the climate.
Offer an opportunity for meaningful engagement and give participants a sense of self-efficacy in the climate movement.

How We Did It

Formed a small committee and picked a regular meeting time

The committee included members of our growth and engagement team, our communications leader, and the co-coordinators. We started meeting in February and blocked time in our calendars for weekly check-ins.

Brainstormed on the format

We knew for sure that we wanted to give people a chance to connect with each other and have conversations, rather than looking at a PowerPoint, which felt boring and not very engaging. We preferred something more interactive and informal.

Here’s what we considered:

Having an ice breaker activity
Hosting small presentations by our sub-teams to recruit volunteers (Cambridge has a Public Officials team, a Growth and Engagement team, a Communications team, and an Environmental Justice team)
Conducting mini 1:1s where we paired new people with active volunteers
“Speed dating,” where new volunteers would connect briefly with our teams and rotate to the next one.

Choose an action

We wanted new and active volunteers to feel that their time with us was impactful. The House just passed an improved version of the energy bill in January, so we thought the action could involve thanking our representatives. We know that expressing gratitude is important to strengthen the relationship with our representatives (we always reach out to them with an “ask”, this time we would just say “thank you”). We also knew that art would allow us to be creative together and bring a joyful experience to active and new volunteers. So we asked our members Judy and Anne to come up with an artistic idea to go with the cards. They proposed beautiful paper flowers on pipe cleaner stems.

Planned logistics and outreach

We offered snacks and encouraged parents to bring their children to make the event as inclusive as possible.

For outreach we:

Sent two eblasts to our entire chapter
Followed up with personalized emails to our active volunteers (70 people)
Posted flyers at the libraries and in other locations around Cambridge
Invited students and faculty from local university research programs on climate
Reached out to local organizations that we normally partner with (like the YWCA)
Engaged a high school student who needed community service hours (this is a good way to expand outreach to students)

Prepared materials

Event page on Every Action, so we could track RSVPs
Flyer to be used for eblasts and promotion on Instagram and Facebook.
Descriptions of available volunteer jobs
An agenda

How it Went

We started by asking everyone to introduce themselves, share what they were hoping to get out of the meeting, and share their favorite part of Spring (an easy icebreaker). Leaders from our Public Officials and Growth and Engagement teams explained the action and its importance, and offered a demonstration on making the paper flowers.

The group joined smaller tables to work on the flowers and cards. We made one gratitude card per representative and attached a few of our paper flowers to each one. We also prepared sheets with message ideas to make it easy for participants.

We had planned to have mini 1:1s, but we skipped that part because making the cards and the flowers took longer than we thought, and people were having good conversations. There was a positive atmosphere, people were talking and enjoying snacks, so we favored letting them connect rather than having 1:1s.

Note: Being flexible and adapting to the flow of the event was a good idea!

We even received a surprise visit from two of our state reps, Rep. Decker and Rep. Owens, and Cambridge Mayor Siddiqui. Their visit was a nice reminder to all of us that our work is respected. It also highlighted the strong relationships we have with our reps and the importance of cultivating them.

The Follow-Up

After the event, participants received a follow-up email where we thanked them and invited them to sign up for the next welcome call. We also offered 1:1s, which had a great outcome. Four people registered for 1:1s, and three of them joined our leadership team!

The next step was to hand-deliver the cards and flowers to our representatives.

Delivering the Cards and Flowers

On April 8, a small delegation from MOF Cambridge visited the State House to deliver cards to all six of our reps (Connolly, Decker, Moran, Owens, Rogers, Ryan). Current members Diana and I were joined by new members Mari and Rosalba.

We had good conversations with most of our reps and their aides. This was a great opportunity for our new members to train on advocacy and to bring the action full circle following the library event. After our deliveries, we shared photos on Instagram and tagged our representatives. We also followed up with Moran, Ryan, and Rogers (reps we are still getting to know) by sending thank you notes, meeting requests, and photos from our visit. Rep. Ryan responded, offering to meet with us at the end of April. A wonderful result from our day of action.

Main Takeaways

Connecting in person is always good!
Taking action is important because it highlights what we do and makes volunteers feel their time is impactful.
Adding art and creativity gave us a space for joy and good conversations.
Being flexible and prioritizing people connecting instead of trying to do all the things on our agenda was a great idea because people had more time to get to know each other.
Delivering the cards at the State House was a nice way to close the circle and offered another opportunity to activate our volunteers.
Our reps appreciated being thanked; it was good to be able to express our gratitude without asking for something.
The gratitude card was an important opening for reps that we are not too close with and we got to connect with a rep that we didn’t have a relationship with. This open house is a gift that keeps on giving!

“Do not be afraid.” Reflections from AG Campbell at the Massachusetts State Assembly

Mothers Out Front — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:20:32 +0000

“Do not be afraid.”

With these words, Massachusetts Attorney General (AG) Andrea Campbell anchored her remarks to the Mothers Out Front Massachusetts State Assembly, grounding the room in a moment of calm and connection. Speaking to an audience of parents, caregivers, and community members, she acknowledged the emotional weight many people carry today—anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. She encouraged the group to lean on each other for strength, and to look to the faces of children when seeking to overcome despair.

The first woman of color to be elected to a statewide office in Massachusetts, AG Campbell opened with a powerful reflection on why she felt honored and privileged to speak with our community. Her personal story is one of almost unbelievable difficulty. Her mother died before Campbell was a year old, her father was incarcerated until she was eight and died before she was twenty. She and her brothers were reared through a combination of an alcoholic grandmother and a series of foster homes. And yet, she noted, because of her faith and people who invested in her, she–the first person in her family to go to college––not only completed College but also law school.

Campbell decided to use her position to work toward a better world for all, with particular attention to those born without privilege or the ability to hold public figures accountable, working on behalf of those who “feel left out and left behind, who feel invisible, who feel as though [those public figures] are not listening.”

Consequently, her work as Massachusetts AG ties in well with the work of Mothers Out Front, supporting opportunities to create a livable climate. Her office has filed nearly fifty lawsuits against the current administration, covering not only environmental justice but also infrastructure, public schools, public health and jobs.

Fighting for Climate in the Courtroom

The projects her office has battled for include:

Funding for offshore wind projects, without which energy costs were expected to rise by fifty percent by 2050.
Accountability for the Department of Public Utilities (DPU): Saving over two billion dollars last year in utility costs that would have been passed on to rate payers, the AG’s office has hired experts to help reduce costs from DPU and other regulatory agencies. Campbell has noted that the DPU adopted many recommendations from the AG’s office that reined in gas companies’ spending under GSEP (Gas System Enhancement Plan), drawing applause from the audience that was all too familiar with the fight around GSEP.
Fighting Against Scams “by hyper-focusing on everything related to competitive electric supply” through which contracts to reduce costs have actually cost consumers over six hundred million dollars.
Financial Support for Environmental Justice: In addition to demanding accountability, the AG’s office has established grants programs to help low- and moderate- income families transition to a cleaner and greener economy. Because it’s important not only to establish these grants but also to make sure that the people who will need them know that they are available, efforts have continued to publicize these grants.

Equally important has been the establishment of an environmental justice trust fund which has helped the Commonwealth distribute funds for community-designed projects across Massachusetts. Mothers Out Front has been important to Campbell’s work and in turn, we are inspired by her advocacy.

Campbell’s message was a powerful reminder that progress comes from persistence, partnership, and the belief that every community deserves a livable future. Her leadership reinforces the impact we can have when we join together to demand accountability and advance climate justice.

Take Action

Mothers Out Front welcomes everyone to join us in our fight for a livable climate. We provide lots of opportunities to learn, engage, and take action on the issues that you’re most passionate about. Get to know us at a community event or gear up for action on a specific topic at one of our 30-minute Zoom Climate Action Calls. We can’t wait to meet you!

View upcoming events in MA

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Author Theresa Ammirati is a member of the Massachusetts Communications Resource Team of Mothers Out Front. She is a writer and former Professor of English and Dean of Studies at Connecticut College.

Nearly 100 Gathered in Massachusetts to Fight for Our Children’s Future

Mothers Out Front — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:22:31 +0000

On a Sunday in early March, nearly 100 mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers gathered at Framingham State University. From Winthrop to Cambridge to Brookline and a dozen towns in between, members came together to fight for our children’s future.

Some have been doing this work for years; some showed up for the first time.

All fighting together because our children are growing up in a world where the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the climate they will inherit are under threat. And we refuse to sit with that fear alone.

A Message of Hope

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell opened our 2026 State Assembly with a crucial message: stay hopeful, keep pushing, don’t back down. She stood in a room full of mothers and caregivers and told us our work matters. AG Campbell, the state’s chief lawyer and law enforcement officer, acknowledged that we are partners in the fight for our children’s health and safety. Her presence gave us hope and made us feel seen and supported.

Empowerment Through Learning

Through a series of workshops we learned about neighborhood electrification and clean energy; building relationships with elected officials; how to spot misinformation and how to fight it; success stories from chapters across the country.

Nelly Medina, our MOF Worcester coordinator, shared her personal story of building a chapter from scratch. Multiple attendees named it as a turning point in their day. Nelly’s story is a reminder that when one mother finds her voice, she gives others permission to find theirs. That is how movements grow; one living room, one town hall, one brave conversation at a time.

Authoritarianism and Climate Change

The most popular session, attended by more than half of us, was on authoritarianism and climate change. This highlights the moment we are in and the power that is cultivated when we don’t turn away from attacks on our communities. When the federal government rescinds the EPA’s Endangerment Finding, when environmental protections are gutted, when science itself is attacked, mothers pay attention because our children pay the price.

Powerful Take-Aways

When asked what we were taking home, the same words came up again and again: Energy. Connection. Inspiration. Hope. We discussed the power of being in a room together, face to face, after months of Zoom calls and email threads. We also talked about the reassurance of knowing we are not doing this alone.

One of us wrote: “We are strong because we are together.”

Recognizing the Moment

We are organizing in a hard moment. Federal climate policy is being dismantled and misinformation about environmental issues is spreading. But Mothers Out Front is not giving up and we are not backing down. Our progress continues. MOF Massachusetts chapters are advancing neighborhood electrification projects; we’re pressuring state legislators; building coalitions with organizations that share our values; training the next generation of local climate leaders. Many urged that plastics should be a core issue and their effect on the environment and health.

The Fight for Our Children's Future

The thread that connects all of this work is the climate crisis. It connects the mother in Worcester organizing her first community meeting to the Attorney General who showed up to stand with us. We are living through the climate crisis and so are our children. We can’t afford to wait for someone else to fix it. It will be solved in our living rooms and town halls and state legislatures, by people who love their children too much to look away.

Take Action

Let’s keep the momentum going. Join us in Maryland for a Make Polluters Pay Campaign training on Saturday, April 11. Hosted by Mothers Out Front and Chesapeake Action, community members, advocates, students, and experts will gather from across the state to build the movement to hold major fossil fuel companies accountable for the costs of climate change.

Register Now to Attend

Over 250 Schools and Playgrounds Near Gas Leaks in Boston and Chelsea: Mothers Out Front, Conservation Law Foundation and Others Sue National Grid for Gas Leaks, Violating Federal and State Laws

Mothers Out Front — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 20:59:36 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 13, 2024
Contact: Kia Smith, kia.smith@mothersoutfront.org

Over 250 Schools and Playgrounds Near Gas Leaks in Boston and Chelsea: Mothers Out Front, Conservation Law Foundation and Others Sue National Grid for Gas Leaks, Violating Federal and State Laws

“Dangerous and potentially explosive gas is actively leaking near 258 schools and playgrounds in Boston and Chelsea. We cannot continue to put our children and communities at risk. National Grid can’t continue putting Band-Aids on its aging pipelines. They must take action to protect our kids and invest in electric energy, an energy source that is cleaner and safer for our kids and communities.”

“It is unconscionable to see this many gas leaks near places where our children spend so much time. By allowing gas to continue leaking this close to where our children learn and play, National Grid is creating unnecessary risks to our community’s health, safety and well-being. We all need and deserve cleaner energy in our communities.”

BOSTON, MA (August 13, 2024) – In order to protect our children and ensure all schools and playgrounds are safe from methane gas leaks, Mothers Out Front, Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), Boston Parks Advocates, GreenRoots, and eight individuals have announced plans to sue National Grid for both federal and state law violations on gas leaks and tree protections.

“Dangerous and potentially explosive gas is actively leaking near 258 schools and playgrounds in Boston and Chelsea,” shared Tania Castro-Daunais. Castro-Daunais is a Mothers Out Front Member Leader who lives in East Boston, where active leaks are occurring near Excel Academy Charter School and eight parks and playgrounds. “We cannot continue to put our children and communities at risk. National Grid can’t continue putting Band-Aids on its aging pipelines. They must take action to protect our kids and invest in electric energy, an energy source that is cleaner and safer for our kids and communities.”

As of June 30, 2024, 46 of the 195 schools in Boston and Chelsea were within 350 feet of gas leaks. Additionally, 212 of 537 parks and playgrounds in Boston were within 350 feet of a gas leak, and one park in Chelsea was also within this distance of a gas leak. “Utility companies advise people to move at least 350 feet away from any suspected gas leak, so it is unconscionable to see this many gas leaks near places where our children spend so much time,” said Sonja Tengblad, an East Boston mom whose 6-year-old son often plays at six of the eight East Boston parks near gas leaks. Tengblad is also the Founder and Co-Coordinator of Mothers Out Front’s East Boston Team. “By allowing gas to continue leaking this close to where our children learn and play, National Grid is creating unnecessary risks to our community’s health, safety and well-being. We all need and deserve cleaner energy in our communities.”

“Mothers Out Front was founded in Massachusetts on the conviction that there is no more powerful force for change than mothers mobilizing to protect their children,” said Beth Shipp, Executive Director of Mothers Out Front. “Our moms have been fighting gas leaks in the Boston-area since 2015. It is time for National Grid to join us and commit to no longer exposing children to toxic and explosive fumes.”

If National Grid does not come into compliance, Mothers Out Front, CLF, and the other listed plaintiffs will file a federal lawsuit. This is a first of its kind federal case. The full notice letter can be found here.

Mothers Out Front members and staff are available for further comment.

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Mothers Out Front is a member-led climate justice organization. We are mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers and other caregivers coming together to make climate justice a priority issue that our decision-makers can no longer ignore. We are building a powerful grassroots movement to ensure a swift, complete and just transition away from fossil fuels and toward a clean and renewable energy future where our children and families can thrive, not just survive.