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Spring Awards Breakfast is Sold Out
We are truly humbled that the 2026 Spring Awards Breakfast is already sold out. Registered but can no longer attend? Please let us know so your spot can go to someone on the waitlist.
A special thanks to the generosity of the event sponsors, notably this year’s Platinum Plus Sponsors—Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, and Gilead Sciences.
You can still be a part of the excitement:
To learn more about the awardees and how to support the work of MPHA, please visit the Spring Awards Breakfast event page.
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MPHA Seeks Next Generation of Public Health Leaders
MPHA will host two interns in the coming 2026-2027 academic year. Students play an important role in coalition-building, capacity-building, policy analysis, advocacy, and communications on key health equity priorities. Past interns have conducted research, written and presented testimony, created social media campaigns, and more. If you or someone you know is interested in gaining more skills and experience as a public health advocate, please check out these two listings for more details:
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MPHA Board President Champions Public Health as RCC Commencement Speaker
Roeshana Moore-Evans gave a rousing speech at the 2026 Roxbury Community College (RCC) Commencement and was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of her commitment to leadership, service, equity, and community impact. Representing a full circle moment for her, Roeshana harkened back to the beginning of her academic journey as a student at RCC. She spoke to the broader connections between education and public health saying, “RCC reinforced for me that meaningful change must be informed by the wisdom and experiences that already exist within our communities — a value that continues to shape my work and leadership today.” Join us in congratulating Roeshana for this well-deserved recognition.
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With Appreciation
Over these past few months our collective advocacy and community building has been going on all cylinders. As a result, a record number of co-sponsors signed onto the funding request for local public health (LPH) in the House budget. The Senate budget soon followed with a significant investment in LPH. The Massachusetts Food Trust Program has gained more legislative support. The PROTECT Act, as you’ll read below, is on its way to becoming law. And the examples continue.
We want to take a moment to acknowledge that none of this is possible without your active engagement, without your calls and emails, without you taking the time to build relationships with your legislators. From all of us at MPHA, we see you, we appreciate you, and we are so proud to be in alliance with you!
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State Budget Advocacy Continues
As we finalize this newsletter, the Senate is debating and voting on its version of the FY27 state budget. The next stop will be the Conference Committee, where – together with your help – our advocacy will remain focused on securing $15M for local public health, $300K for the Massachusetts Food Trust Program, and funding for additional DTA caseworkers to handle the requests from households eligible for SNAP benefits. Watch for an action alert with more details in the coming weeks.
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All Hands on Deck for Rent Control
In the fall of 2025, the Keep Massachusetts Homes ballot campaign collected more than 125,000 signatures from across the state, but the work isn’t yet done. To put rent control on the November 2026 ballot, we need to collect an additional 25,000 signatures from Massachusetts voters who didn’t sign in Fall 2025. The deadline is less than one month away: June 13.
Our communities need rent stabilization now to prevent displacement, protect tenants from exploitation, and keep working families in their homes. It’s the immediate relief we need while the long-term work of addressing our mounting housing crisis continues. And every signature gets us closer to that goal! To get involved in the ballot campaign, get trained as a signature collector, grab a signature collection sheet, and show up for your neighbors—because united, we win.
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4th Annual WMTAN Transportation Forum
Join MPHA and our partners at the Western Massachusetts Transportation Advocacy Network (WMTAN) for the 4th Annual Transportation Forum on Friday, June 12, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM at Mount Holyoke College. Featuring guest speakers, panels, and networking opportunities, this event brings together advocates, transportation professionals, legislators, and others interested in improving transportation funding and options in the four counties of Western Massachusetts. Register for the WMTAN Transportation Forum.
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Our Health Over Billionaires’ Wealth
May Day in the United States dates to the 19th century, when trade and labor unions organized to confront poor working conditions and punishing hours that caused widespread illness and the deaths of thousands every year. Right now, those same basics of public health—like clean air, safe drinking water, and access to food—are under attack while wealth is concentrated at the top 1% and divides our communities.
Rising authoritarianism is a public health crisis, and people across the country came together to say so. Alongside Health in Partnership, Health Resources in Action (HRiA), we mobilized our networks to coordinate a health contingent to show up en masse for May Day activities as part of a National Day of Action. Oami Amarasingham, MPHA Deputy Director, “We’re fighting for a future rooted in dignity, collective care, and community power. On May Day, we act together for the health of everyone, regardless of where they work, live, or play.”
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World Asthma Day 2026
MPHA participated in several actions throughout the month to recognize World Asthma Day. On May 19, we joined our partners, the Environmental Justice Table and Clean Water Action Massachusetts, at the Springfield Clean Air Resource Fair to connect community members with local organizations and information regarding services, air quality initiatives, and environmental resources.
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