For over 100 years, the American Civil Liberties Union has worked every day in the courts, in the legislature, and in communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and laws of the United States. The ACLU Massachusetts fights for civil liberties and civil rights – from reproductive freedom, to voting rights, to racial justice, and beyond – at the state and local level.

Student Opportunities: Volunteering, book clubs, student clubs. 

Contact: Molly Roth, Volunteer Coordinator  mroth@aclum.org

Cultural Survival advocates for Indigenous Peoples' rights and supports Indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures and political resilience since 1972. Cultural Survival envisions a future that respects and honors Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights and dynamic cultures, deeply and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions, and artistic expression, rooted in self-determination and self-governance.

Student Opportunities: volunteering, internships

Contact: Candy Williams, HR Manager, candy.williams@culturalsurvival.org

The Department of Mental Health (DMH) is the state mental health authority who promotes mental health care through early intervention, education, treatment, and policies. DMH has an internship program that enables students to learn about the mental health care system in the state, types of treatment, clinical diagnoses and needs, as well as to work on a large interdisciplinary team.

Empower Peace/MY AMERICA is a nationwide, youth-driven art and civic engagement project commemorating America’s 250th Anniversary. Students from across all U.S. States and Territories are invited to create a red, white, or blue 6" fabric tile, reflecting on America - our founding principles, or aspirations for the future of our country. Together, these tens of thousands of tiles will form a giant American flag mosaic—and by giant, we mean roughly half the size of a football field!

My America is offered at no-cost and gives young people a creative way to share their voices and contribute to a nationwide symbol of unity and democracy for America's 250th! 

The Healthy Youth Coalition in Massachusetts is a statewide coalition of advocates, educators, and health professionals pushing for comprehensive, medically accurate, and LGBTQ-inclusive sex education in schools. They advocate for the "Healthy Youth Act" to ensure all students receive age-appropriate, inclusive education that covers both abstinence and contraception.

The Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Inc. was founded in 1961 to work for the promotion, improvement and expansion of guidance and counseling in Massachusetts. Membership in MASCA is open to counselors active in public and private elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth. Graduate students enrolled in counselor education programs, post-secondary level counselors, counselor educators, and retired counselors are also eligible for membership.

Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance (MEJA)  is made up of Massachusetts students, parents, educators, school and college staff, and education advocates with a shared vision: that all students, regardless of income, race, gender, identity, religion, birthplace, or abilities, have access to high-quality, equitable, and democratically controlled public education that addresses the educational needs of the whole student and where every student thrives to reach their full potential.

Student Opportunities: Advocacy, events 

Contact: Jen Mau, Community Organizer jennifer@massedjustice.org

Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violenceenvisions a world where every one of us, in every zip code, lives free from the threat of gun violence. The Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence brings together impacted communities, advocates, public health experts and policy-makers to prevent gun violence in all its forms. Because we recognize that gun violence is a public health emergency exacerbated by economic disparity and systemic racism, we address those root causes through education, policy analysis, trauma informed advocacy, and by amplifying the voices of impacted individuals and communities.

Student Opportunities: advocacy, events, education 

Contact: Jovanna Rodriguez, Community Organizer, jovanna@mapreventgunviolence.org

At Neighbor to Neighbor, we make democracy work for us.

That means all of us, whether you’re Black, white, or brown, immigrant or lifelong local, and no matter how much money you have. Together, we build power for our collective wellbeing. 

A handful of wealthy elites make the decisions that shape our lives here in Massachusetts. We believe we can shift the balance of power by bringing people together in key cities for bold change, local and statewide. 

From the streets to the State House, we fight for a new way of doing things and put democracy into practice along the

OUT MetroWest builds communities where LGBTQ+ youth thrive. We provide safe, fun, and supportive programs for LGBTQ+ youth pre-k through age 29. All of our programs are offered completely free of charge. Structured programs include a range of creative, active, and educational activities centering the needs of trans and queer youth.

Student Opportunities: Volunteering

Contact: Cristina Dudziak cristina.dudziak@outmetrowest.org

Peace Islands Institute Boston promotes peace, friendship, and dialogue.

We aim to accomplish this through: facilitating unity in order to build peace, educating the people to uproot ignorance, supplying welfare to fight against poverty and hunger, and pushing for progress to promote development.

Planned Parenthood League of MA (PPLM) provides a wide array of accessible and nonjudgmental sexual and reproductive health services as well as educational offerings. PPLM's education programs include classes for parents/caregivers on being the primary sexuality educator of their child, as well as workshops for the public on various sexual health topics and how to access PPLM's services. Also, PPLM's educational programming for young people includes the Get Real Teen Council, a peer led sexuality education stipended program for high school students. The vision of the GRTC is to provide accurate, unbiased, and useful sexuality education; to end ignorance, promote acceptance, and improve communication between teens and the important people in their lives. GRTC empowers teens to educate their peers, families, and communities about human sexuality and healthy decision making!

Student Opportunities: Volunteering, internships 

Contact: Jen LeBlanc, Get Real Educator,  jennifer.leblanc@pplm.org

Progressive Massachusetts brings progressives together to build electoral power on a local and state level & mobilize around issues like economic opportunity, quality education, housing, affordable healthcare, healthy neighborhoods, and government transparency.

Amid the multiple crises we face—from the pandemic, to the deterioration of our democracy, to the climate disasters that are forcing people to flee their homes—Sierra Club Massachusetts’ Chapter has shown up every single day, working to build a stronger, more coordinated and deeply resilient climate justice and environmental protection movement. 

Student Opportunities: Volunteer, training, advocacy

Contact: Vick Mohanka, Director vick.mohanka@sierraclub.org

The Labor Center is dedicated to uplifting working people in Massachusetts and around the world. Since 1964, the Labor Center has tackled pressing issues of work and labor through education, research, and outreach.