Clergy & Faith Organizational Sign-on Letter in

Support of YIGBY - Yes In G-d's Back Yard - to

Combat Massachusetts' Housing Crisis

Help JALSA Connect with Attendees at

Pride Events Across Massachusetts On

Gun Violence Prevention and Data Privacy

**New Pride Resources Added**

Celebrate Major Legislative Successes at

JALSA's 2026 Annual Meeting in 12 Days!

Tuesday, June 23, 6pm to 9pm, Boston

Visit JALSAAnnualMeeting.org for Details!

**Individual Tickets and Sponsorships Available**

Dear JALSA Friends,

JALSA's secret sauce is a combination of organizing, advocacy, education, legal strategies, and coalition-building work. To see the evidence, just look at what has happened over the last few days.

Last week, in profoundly impactful numbers, you contacted your State Representatives in support of the landmark data privacy bill. Thanks in part to your efforts, not only did the legislation pass the House, but we also defeated every amendment aimed at weakening the bill!

Then, this week, with legislation to combat book banning in Massachusetts up for debate in the House, you once again stepped up! You made your voices heard, and the House overwhelmingly passed the legislation to combat book bans in Massachusetts by an incredible bipartisan margin of 153 to 3. Further, both of the amendments JALSA supported to strengthen the bill passed and were incorporated into the legislation.

With the Senate having already passed their versions of both the data privacy and the book ban bills, the next step for is for the Legislature to establish conference committees to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions. We will keep you posted as developments occur - and we are very excited about the progress that this represents for two key JALSA priorities.

Meanwhile, JALSA's Annual Meeting is just 12 days away. I strongly suggest locking in your tickets now as we approach capacity. Details are below. Also, if you're unable to join us at the Annual Meeting, but you would like to support JALSA financially at this time so we can continue to do this good work, you can do so at this link. We thank you tremendously for your donation!

Because your energy and support mean everything,

Cindy Rowe

Clergy & Faith Organizational Sign-on Letter in

Support of YIGBY - Yes In G-d's Back Yard - to

Combat Massachusetts' Housing Crisis

“YIGBY” (Yes In God’s Backyard) would create a vital path for faith-based institutions to be a crucial part of addressing our Commonwealth's ongoing housing crisis. YIGBY would allow by-right development of multi-family housing on land owned by religious organizations. This is urgently needed because Massachusetts has one of the most severe housing crises in the nation. It has been estimated that our state needs 222,000 more housing units over the next decade.

With faith-based organizations owning nearly 2,000 parcels that can support housing development, this measure could allow for the construction of 100,000 homes, nearly half of the new housing units needed over the next decade! There is now an effort underway to incorporate YIGBY as part of the omnibus 2026 Economic Development bill.

To support this effort, JALSA is organizing a letter on behalf of faith organizations and clergy addressed to the House and Senate Chairs of the Joint Committee on Economic Development. We want to make clear that the faith community is ready and eager to help resolve this ongoing crisis in our Commonwealth.

The letter can be read at this link. We encourage you to share the letter with clergy (of all religions) and religiously affiliated organizations and urge them to sign the letter. To sign the letter, or for any questions, contact JALSA Organizer Hank Greenberg.

Help JALSA Connect with Attendees at

Pride Events Across Massachusetts On

Gun Violence Prevention and Data Privacy

**New Pride Resources Added**

Pride Month is underway! Are you interested in volunteering at your local Pride Event? JALSA volunteers will be distributing voter Pledge Cards to stop the repeal of our state gun violence prevention law, as well as petitions to promote data privacy legislation.

This is an impactful opportunity to make a difference and connect with people who are also committed to advocating for social justice! To get all the details and materials, or if you have any questions, fill out the JALSA Volunteers at Pride form at this link.

An extensive list of Pride events all around Massachusetts can be found at this link.

Also, our friends at Keshet have assembled a compilation of Pride resources at this link, including Pride Shabbat materials, printable Jewish Pride signs, and much more.

Celebrate Major Legislative Successes at

JALSA's 2026 Annual Meeting in 12 Days!

Tuesday, June 23, 6pm to 9pm, Boston

Visit JALSAAnnualMeeting.org for Details!

**Individual Tickets and Sponsorships Available**

Join us at JALSA's 2026 Annual Meeting in Boston on Tuesday, June 23 from 6pm to 9pm! For all the details, you can always simply click on JALSAAnnualMeeting.org.

Please mark it down in your calendars and reserve the evening to be with your JALSA friends and colleagues. As always, it will be a wonderful opportunity to reunite, celebrate progress made, discuss ongoing priorities, and find strength in community.

And, regarding celebrating progress made, we have much to be proud of: three major JALSA legislative priorities have achieved substantial progress: the PROTECT Act, the landmark data privacy legislation, AND the free expression bill to combat book bans have ALL passed BOTH the House and the Senate. As all three bills now await action for their respective conference committees, we should celebrate our impactful successes advancing these priorities toward public policy reality!

Individual tickets are available at this link.

Sponsorship opportunities are available at this link.

This year's honorees include:

**Distinguished Leadership Award:

Rick Henken, President, The Schochet Companies, and the Devenscrest Village team, for for impactful work toward and deeply meaningful investment in preserving affordable housing and keeping families in their homes at affordable rents.

**Community Leadership Awards:

Eneida Román, President & CEO, We Are ALX, for championing leadership representation, economic mobility, and public policy solutions that highlight the immense contributions of Latino Americans to our country.

Greg Reibman, President & CEO, Charles River Regional Chamber, for bringing together businesses and nonprofits with a particular focus on advocating for the construction of new housing and humane immigration policy that also benefits our economy.

**Lifetime Achievement Honorees:

Chris Norris, Executive Director, Metro Housing | Boston

Amy Schechtman, CEO, 2Life Communities

Clark Ziegler, Executive Director, Massachusetts Housing Partnership

Recognizing retiring members of the JALSA Legislative Advisory Committee Senators Pat Jehlen and Jason Lewis

Questions? Contact JALSA's Director of Development Operations Kara Brickman.