Allison Kennedy is the organizing director at Neighbor to Neighbor, a group that works to build strength in low-income and working class communities by tackling economic justice issues. Kennedy received her Bachelor of the Arts from Providence College in 1998 and a certificate of completion from the Training Institute for Careers in Organizing (TICO) in New York that same year. During her time at TICO, she learned that “…that the most effective model for bringing about change was by empowering marginalized communities to get involved in the political process through voting and influencing legislation.” The Neighbor to Neighbor community-organizing model includes voter registration and education, candidate endorsements, public policy advocacy, coalition building, and the development of sustainable grassroots leadership. Their working family agenda program focuses on good jobs, education and training, affordable child care, health care, and housing, a welfare safety net, and progressive taxation. What continues to inspire Kennedy? “I am inspired each time a member shares testimony about how they are personally affected by pending legislation with their legislator. I am inspired by the dedication and commitment of our diverse membership despite struggling to make ends meet. I am inspired by our statewide victories, including raising the minimum wage and restoring MassHealth dental and vision benefits.” Kennedy plans to continue working for economic justice with Neighbor to Neighbor and to work with the other chapters to ensure that all of the momentum from this year’s electoral and legislative victories continues.
