Peace Forward
This spring, the Coalition will be marking a significant moment in our evolution as an organization. Janet Goldenberg, Coalition Founder and Board President, will step down from her role after nine years of leadership. The Coalition would not be where it is today - in fact it would not even exist - without Janet's leadership, dedication, and determination. At that time Mark Scott, Director of the Division of Violence Prevention at the Boston Public Health Commission, will assume the role of President. We will miss Janet tremendously, and we are looking forward to the opportunity to work with Mark in this new capacity.
To celebrate this important moment in Coalition history, we invite you to join us for Peace Forward, a celebration of Coalition leadership, on April 27th at 7 p.m. at Temple Beth Elohim, located at 10 Bethel Road in Wellesley, MA. Appetizers and desserts will be served outside under a tent, weather permitting. The speaking component of the program will be inside (masks required) with a virtual option for participation. Public health guidelines will be followed.
Tickets are available here for a suggested donation of $50; however, all are welcome and no one will be turned away. If you cannot pay for a ticket, you must still register at the link above, simply select a free ticket.
The Coalition Forward Fund
Peace Forward will mark the kickoff of the new Coalition Forward Fund. Created in honor of Janet’s years of leadership, this ongoing appeal will provide funding to support the continuing work of the Coalition.
Why Now?
The Coalition has reached an inflection point. Over the past nine years we have seen an amazing growth in the Coalition, both in terms of capacity and in effectiveness. From what was originally an entirely volunteer organization, having a full-time staff has increased our ability to successfully deliver on our core missions of education, advocacy, organization and engagement. Along with our many Coalition partners, we’ve made enormous strides in enacting policies and securing state funding to reduce gun violence while at the same time supporting efforts to address the root causes of gun violence in communities across the Commonwealth.
What Will It Do?
We’ve shown how a Coalition of many like-minded organizations, each with their own specific missions, makes all of us more effective. The Coalition Forward Fund will make it possible to build on that success and scale up in two important ways. First, to develop a strategic plan that will help us chart our course going forward; and second, to build our capacity to operate with additional full- and part-time staff, develop speaking programs, training and community events, and advocate for community-informed policies that will lead to a more peaceful society.
Your contribution now will pave the way for future success for our Coalition.