Advocacy

    Louis D. Brown Day

    The 2nd Annual Louis D. Brown Day of Civic Engagement is intended to honor Louis’ legacy of peacemaking and belief that we all have a part to play in fostering a more peaceful world through our personal and collective civic engagement. Civic engagement can take many different forms – from activism to philanthropy, education to service – and we invite you to join us in engaging in the following “calls to action”:

    View the Full Resolution

    Calls To Action

    Civic Learning

    Activism

    • Commit to only spending money today at Black and Brown-owned local businesses. You can find a list of these businesses HERE and restaurants HERE.
    • Create an art piece capturing a Principle of Peace (Love, Unity, Faith, Hope, Courage, Justice & Forgiveness) and share it with someone to start a conversation
    • Sign the Pledge for Peace and encourage your community to do the same

    Community Service

    • Write a letter of positivity or appreciation to someone, an organization, etc.
    • Volunteer at your local food bank, blood bank or other local place of service.
    • Pick up trash for one hour at your neighborhood park or public space.
     

    Community Research

    • Research community assets; become aware of what’s in your community.
    • Participate in a Photovoice project: Choose a Principle of Peace (Love, Hope, Faith, Unity, Courage, Justice and Forgiveness) and capture 10 images of things/people/places in your community that reflect that principle throughout the day. Journal about your experience and share with someone to start a conversation.

    Philanthropy

    Youth Engagement

    • Have a conversation with your child about what the Principles of Peace (Love, Hope, Faith, Unity, Courage, Justice and Forgiveness) mean to them.
    • Go on a walk with your child and invite them to point out things they see, hear, or feel that represent the Principles of Peace.
    • On blank pieces of paper, invite your child to draw or color what each Principle of Peace means to them.
    • Order Always in My Heart: A Workbook for Grieving Children

    Political Engagement

    • Register to vote, or check your voter registration status HERE.
    • Identify your State Representative and State Senator HERE, and support the two bills below. 
    Statewide Homicide Response Protocol

    Increase Massachusetts State Budget Line Item 4513-1098 to $1,000,000

    These funds would:

    • Sustain the “Rest in Peace Fund” and the “Live in Peace Fund”, which aid survivors of homicide victims with direct services in the aftermath of a homicide and fill the gaps of Victims of Violent Crime Compensation.
    • Fund the organizing and sustainment of a statewide Survivors of Homicide Victims Network (SHVN), and distribute grants to survivor-led organizations statewide.
    • Sustain the operations and direct services provided by the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute.
     
    An Act Relative to Bereavement Leave

    (H.1961 / S.1205)

    (Lead sponsors: Rep. Chris Worrell, 5th Suffolk; Sen. Liz Miranda, 2nd Suffolk)

     

    When a loved one dies, many family members seek bereavement leave to attend to family affairs, their grief, and sort through the many changes that invisibly unfold behind closed doors. It may be surprising to learn that most employees in America have no legal right to take leave except in five states. Massachusetts is not one of those states. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job and benefits protection for 56 percent of the United States workforce; however, bereavement is not an eligible condition for both job or wage protection. Many may be surprised to learn that newly bereaved families have no legal right to take leave to cope with the death of a loved one. This bill would allow those who suffer the death of a loved one to take time to grieve without the additional worry that it will result in job loss.

    UPDATE: An Act Relative to Bereavement Leave is one step closer to passing! The Senate Ways and Means Committee is currently redrafting and preparing the bill for a Senate-wide vote. If it passes, the same will happen in the House of Representatives, and then go to the Governor to become a law. Reach out to your representatives to help this bill move through the legislative process!

    Using the prompt provided, write a letter, email, or call the office of your State Representative and State Senator:

    Dear Representative/Senator NAME,

    My name is NAME, and I write to you today as your constituent, asking that you support two initiatives that are essential to serving families and communities across the state impacted by murder, trauma, grief and loss:

    Statewide Homicide Response Protocol – Increase Massachusetts State Budget Line Item 4513-1098 to $1,000,000

    An Act Relative to Bereavement Leave (S.2562)

    This bill and budget line item is important to me because…

    [INSERT ANY PERSONAL TESTIMONY]

    It is my sincere hope that you will sign on in support of these actions, and call upon your colleagues to do the same. Together, we can ensure that all families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief and loss are treated with dignity and compassion, regardless of where they reside in the Commonwealth. 

    In Peace and Gratitude,

    YOUR NAME

    ADDRESS/CITY/TOWN

    CONTACT INFO

    To stay up to date on more calls-to-action, follow the LDBPI on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Please contact Pace McConkie Jr. with any questions.