History
CMM is the Greater Boston Area’s oldest interfaith social action network. Founded in 1966 by faith communities to address poverty, housing, and racial justice in Boston and to link urban and suburban communities in just, transformative partnerships, CMM has tackled the most pressing issues facing our communities for more than 50 years, working to build Dr. King’s vision of beloved community.
1966
Overview: Charles H. Harper, CMM founding Executive Director, 1966-1977; Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries was founded as a Christian-Jewish organization by 14 churches, synagogues and organizations which grew to 20 by the end of the year. Offices in Boston at 34 Concord St. in the South End and at Eliot Church in Newton.
Housing/Hunger: Concord Square Trust (CST), a CMM subsidiary, was organized and subsequently completed the renovation in Boston’s South End of a prototype building containing two small apartments and the CMM office.
Volunteerism: 28 work groups involving 250 people from CMM temples and churches engaged in a variety of volunteer projects, including housing renovations, neighborhood improvement and playground construction in the South End.
Education/Training/Legislative Work: In collaboration with Northeastern University, CMM began continuing education programs for clergy concerning urban community issues. Also, seminars on urban social issues were conducted at the Boston YMCA for people in member churches and temples.
1967
Housing/Hunger: The Revolving Loan Fund was established with a grant of $34,000 from the Committee of the Permanent Charity Fund. Loans were given out for low-moderate income housing development. CST acquired five more buildings on Concord Square and began planning for their renovations.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: Seminars continued at Needham School of Religion.
Volunteerism: 30 youth work groups involving over 300 people participated in a variety of community improvement programs. CMM developed consulting and assistance capabilities servicing 20 different urban community programs.
1968
Housing/Hunger: A grant of $25,000 from the Committee of the Permanent Charity Fund enabled CMM, in collaboration with St. Stephen’s Church, to begin the Emergency Tenant’s Council with a purpose of housing and social service in a predominately Puerto Rican section of Boston’s South End. CST began rehabilitation of 12 apartment units in Concord Square. Committee for North Harvard received a $10,000 loan from CMM Revolving Loan Fund to help cover preliminary costs of a 200 unit low-moderate income housing development in Brighton. A second loan of $17,000 was made to Union Church Home’s, Inc.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: The Scholarship Fund for Urban Ministry Students was established.
Misc. Projects: (VISTA formed in 1965) Federal VISTA program was initiated for housing and social service project in South End. Quote: “For the first time in the nation, indigenous community people were employed as VISTA workers to provide social services.” Soon after, a suburban VISTA program began.
1969
Overview: Grown to 32 member congregations (Jewish and Christian)
Housing/Hunger: CST completed the 14 units begun the previous year and added another 12 apartments to its list of completions.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: “Urban Dynamics”, a simulation game, was introduced to CMM constituency as a new teaching tool to help members understand the economic and political process which create and maintain patterns of poverty and racial isolation.
Misc. Projects: The “Suburban Action committee” was formed to work with suburban communities on issues of community development and social justice (Lexington, Wellesley, Needham, Waltham, and Winchester).
1970
Housing/Hunger: Federal VISTA negotiated with federal government to work with El Movimiento Hispano EnAccion, begun that year in Roxbury-North Dorchester to work as a housing advocate for low-income tenants and to provide social services. CST assisted in beginning a minority owned restaurant in Dorchester.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM Legislative Committee was formed to assist our members in taking action on proposed human services legislation.
Volunteerism: Over 100 volunteers helped carry out CMM work this year.
1971
Housing/Hunger: CMM worked with NAACP on housing issues of special interest to the Black Community. The Committee for North Harvard completed the 200-unit Interfaith Homes in Brighton. ETC completed 74 units of rehabilitation housing in the South End.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: A project with Boston Theological Institute to place field education and work-study students with CMM to staff the Legislative Committee, do research, and get information to its churches and temples about important legislative developments in the human services field.
Volunteerism: Also, CMM helped to organize the Voluntary Action Center of Metropolitan Boston (VAC) to facilitate the work of volunteers in social service organizations throughout metro area.
Misc. Projects: Chinese Golden Age Center put into operation by CMM VISTA volunteers.
1972
Overview: Grown to 45 member congregations.
Housing/Hunger: Washington D.C. began to dismantle the federal housing programs that CMM worked on for 6 years and in Collaboration with Norumbega Associates, Inc., CMM conducted a survey to determine the need for subsidized housing in suburban communities in the route 128 areas. CMM formed the Worcester Street Trust to begin more housing rehabilitation in the South End.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: The Legislative Committee developed and distributed a “how-to-do-it” kit for social concerns committees to assist them in organizing for advocacy of human services legislation.
1973
Housing/Hunger: CMM’s Worcester Street Trust (WST) secured $570,000 in financing from the Massachusetts Housing and Finance Agency to begin 31-unit rehabilitation program in South End. ETC began construction of 204 units of housing for the elderly.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM distributed a listing of minority-owned-and-operated businesses to our membership and urged their patronage.
1974
Housing/Hunger: WST completed 31-unit project in South End. ETC completed its 2014-unit development for the elderly. Emphasis on research and advocacy work for housing, in particular.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM helped organize the Office for Citizen Participation at the State House. (Its purpose was to upgrade the ability of state government to utilize volunteers in delivering human services.) CMM collaborated with other private citizen groups to organize Massachusetts Research Center, whose purpose was to be a research arm for citizen groups engaged in human services advocacy. Also, CMM provided leadership in organizing for community groups in Boston to help implement Phase One School Desegregation.
Relevant US History: The Boston busing crisis (1974–1988) was a series of protests and riots that occurred in Boston, Massachusetts in response to the passing of the 1965 Racial Imbalance Act, which ordered public schools in the state to desegregate.
1975
Overview: 45 member congregations, 444 individual and family members.
Housing/Hunger: CMM assisted Emergency Tenant’s Council in the start-up of 181-units of mixed income housing in the South End.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM trained clergy in Boston neighborhoods to help maintain peace in local schools undergoing court-ordered desegregation. CMM co-sponsored a citizens’ legislative workshop to help people understand the legislative process and how they could make their views known. Following, CMM collaborated in organizing advocacy groups in 12 suburban communities to work with the State Legislature toward the goal of increased financial aid to schools in poor communities.
1976
Housing/Hunger: 30 volunteers began providing meals to “Rosie’s Place” a drop-in center. Revolving Loan Fund assisted ETC in beginning the rehabilitation of 63 mixed-income housing units in Boston’s South End.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM initiated a collaborative program of support for METCO in 20 local communities involved in bringing inner-city minority students into suburban school systems. CMM staff edited and helped raise funds to publish a Resource Guide to Quality Education in the Greater Boston Area. The Public Policy Committee began a program of resourcing local committees of social concern with background papers and other informational materials pertaining to selected social justice and human service concerns.
1977
Overview: New Executive Director, Marvera Murphy, 1977-1985
Housing/Hunger: Over 100 volunteers were organized into teams of 6-8 people to cook and serve one meal a month at the newly organized drop-in shelter for women, Rosie’s place. Also collected clothing and holiday gifts. Concord Square Trust and Worcester Trust housing were sold, and the trusts dissolved.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM and the MA Council of Churches co-sponsored a Tax Forum and worked on welfare reform legislation.
Elder Care: “Cooperative Living of Newton” – CMM worked with Newton UCC committees to begin developing a congregate home for older people who could not, or did not, want to live alone. Residents shared kitchen, living room, dining room, and bath, and had their own bedrooms.
1978
Housing/Hunger: Volunteers began collecting surplus food from stores and bakeries and delivering it to four food and emergency shelter sites in Boston, also developed a warehouse / emergency food bank for storing food donated by manufacturers for distribution to agencies. (Later became Boston Food Bank)
Elder Care: A nursing home ombudsman program was established, in which CMM trained volunteers as legal rights visitors to visit 25 homes at least 3 hours a week to do problem solving on behalf of the residents, and to provide a bridge between residents, staff, and community.
Misc. Projects: CMM co-sponsored a day-long conference at the Harriet Tubman House in response to local organizing efforts by the Ku Klux Klan.
1979
Housing/Hunger: CMM formed the Boston Food Pantry, an emergency food program open three days a week staffed by volunteers, to collect, receive and distribute food for emergency meal programs.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: Opened up “Legislative Process Workshop”, previously for seminarians and staff, to the entire membership.
Elder Care: Hired two part-time social workers to operate a nursing home info and referral service called “Choices for Living,” to help individuals with nursing home placement decisions. Cooperative Living of Newton was incorporated as a separate organization with its own board of directors. $70,500 was raised for a congregate home.
1980
Housing/Hunger: The Boston Food Bank was incorporated as a separate entity, obtaining a community service grant to purchase a warehouse and food lockers so that surplus food program could expand to receive large institutional shipments from manufacturers. Also, Hungry Sabbath collections began, resulting in thousands of cans of food from individuals, churches, and temples. 63 agencies were served by food program.
Volunteerism: A resource booklet was published, listing 20 agencies in the Boston area that could use youth groups to work on service projects. A pilot project, which received national attention in the media, used CMM staff to run a yearlong project using youth from two churches in an ecumenical work-reflection experience.
Prison Work: CMM developed a prison newsletter at Walpole Prison, providing an outlet for communication between those inside and those outside correctional institutions. An ecumenical task force was formed to investigate allegations of prison abuses.
Weatherization: CMM provides part-time staff to Energy Housewarmings, a community-based effort to disseminate information about weatherization. Information on legislation concerning availability of weatherization funds for low-income people was a primary effort.
1981
Housing/Hunger: Loans made to Lower Roxbury Coalition for a Community Land Trust. Grants are made to Dudley St.–Hampden St. Tenant’s Association to purchase materials for rehabilitation of two burned apartments. Labor was supplied by CMM volunteers. Hunger Action Task Force assists with meal preparation at 5 emergency meal sites.
Elder Care: Consumer Guide to Nursing Homes in the West Suburban Area is published. Respite Care Program, which aided families caring for frail elder at home, developed cooperatively with West Suburban Elder Services.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: Staff assistance provided to “Waging Peace Conference” held at Harvard University.
1982
Overview: 38 member congregations, 5 contributing non-member congregations, 354 individual and family members.
Housing/Hunger: Surplus food now working 7 days a week; Rehabilitated low-income apartments for Hispanic Tenants’ Association. Weatherized the first floor of a block-long building to decrease monthly costs for low-income apartments.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM developed a survival English program for South East Asian refugees.
Elder Care: Elder care efforts continued. Two books were published to provide comprehensive information on local nursing home placement decisions.
1983
Education/Legislative Advocacy: Four women were trained on use of office equipment, particularly the use of a micro-computer. Three found employment.
Elder Care: CMM published another area’s version of a Consumer Guide to Nursing Homes for Merrimack Valley. Ombudsman programs and Choices for Living spun off from operating under CMM umbrella. Programs go to Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Baypath Senior Services and West Suburban Elder Services.
1984
Housing/Hunger: CMM makes contributions to Rosie’s Place after it was destroyed by fire, also to La Alianza Hispana, Inc. for its Dudley Street rehabilitation project, and to the Dorchester Family Shelter for a new roof. CMM sent out newsletters to educate their member congregations about homelessness issues.
Elder Care: Fifth edition of housing options guidebook was published, “The Enlightened Consumer’s Guide to Elder Housing Independence.”
1985
Overview: Interim Executive Director: Steve Gary (Fall 1985 – Fall 1986)
Housing/Hunger: Protein drive collects over 1,943 pounds of protein foods which were distributed to shelters and food pantries. CMM organized an effort to collect 2,000 signatures for “Right to Housing” Campaign, which had the goal of amending the state constitution to make housing a right of all people in the state.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM developed a legislative hotline of people willing to write letters or make phone calls at critical times during the budget process or when other hunger related legislation is pending.
Misc. Projects: CMM held a fundraising concert in which the Sephardic folk music of, “Voice of the Turtle”, performed. CMM co-sponsored a conference with Interfaith Peace Network of Greater Boston, entitled: “Peacemaking in Congregations: Hope and Strategies for the Future.”
1986
Overview: Year of Transition, Steve submits his resignation.
Housing/Hunger: In June, CMM published its Guide to Suburban Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens. CMM held viewings for the documentary, Empty Plates: Hunger at Home and offered congregations an opportunity to rent the documentary. Protein drive continued, recognizing food pantries were often under-stocked with protein-rich goods.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM joined forces with a number of other hunger and nutrition groups to form a coalition and lobby for more funding for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutritional program. Also, CMM joined coalition of groups working to bring the benefit levels of AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) grants up to the poverty level. (At the time, CMM was the only interreligious organization to pursue this effort.)
1987
Overview: New Executive Director: Claire Kashuck Fall 1987-2006. CMM’s then-current committees—Hunger, Housing, Elder Concerns, Information on Social Justice Issues, and Networking. This year was described in a Fall 1987 newsletter as a “year in crisis”, which was preceded in 1986 as the “year of survival,” and planning forward for 1988, “the year of rebuilding.”
Housing/Hunger: Spring protein drive continues among 32-member churches and temples (compared with 24 the year before) with donated foods to be sent to urban and suburban food pantries. “Second home” opened for occupancy–a brick apartment building housing project in Roxbury for 24 homeless, handicapped men and women, plus staff. CMM Housing Committee assisted with the search for the property, recruitment of volunteers to help rehab of building, and granting money.
Misc. Projects: Continued work with Interfaith Aids Ministry (I.A.M.), a nonprofit cooperation of men and women with an interest in promoting AIDS awareness, spiritual support, and guidance for AIDS related concerns. CMM provided $5,000 seed money to their organization in its early stages. In June, CMM received their “Tax Exempt status” and focused on a publicity campaign to acquaint and reacquaint the public with CMM. (One idea was an art contest for children in CMM member congregations with an interfaith theme and the CMM logo.)
1988
Housing/Hunger: Guide to Suburban Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries was updated and sent to all CMM members. CMM put out a call for volunteers living in the suburbs to remain engaged with the Boston Food Bank (now a separate entity) located in Roxbury. By the end of the year, over 50 volunteers were engaged. Spring Protein Drive continued. One of CMM’s members began their own usable clothing and household furnishings collection (in her garage) to be distributed to various shelters and organizations in need. CMM wrote to members to encourage more people to partake in such efforts.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM reinstated our program to host seminarians as a fieldwork placement.
Misc. Projects: CMM scheduled visits to congregations to give presentation on history of CMM (22 years old at this point) and current programs. Benefit concert held by children’s musician, David Polansky.
1989
Overview: CMM wrote a new mission statement: “CMM is a nonprofit interfaith organization committed to working on issues of social justice. CMM seeks to create a partnership between suburban and inner-city communities through hands-on projects and education programs to promote a just society.”
Housing/Hunger: Second Home, a single room occupancy house for homeless people in Dorchester, opened for occupancy (a three-year project). CMM then shifts housing focus to a new initiative, a third house to be added to the other two which Second Home Inc. operated. CMM food collection and distribution volunteer initiatives continued. Spring Protein drive continued, recognizing that protein foods are still in short supply in food pantries. Each year, the protein drive generated donations of more than one ton of high-quality food.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM was again a part of the field education program, this time with Andover Newton Theological School (now at Yale).
Misc. Projects: CMM continued financial support for Interfaith Aids Ministry (IAM). Another benefit concert held by musician, David Polansky, and Harvard’s Pro Musica also held a benefit choral concert for CMM.
1990
Housing/Hunger: CMM shifted towards longer-term hunger relief goals and influenced local legislation. However, CMM still continued timely action projects, such as Spring Protein Drive, and ongoing coordination of furniture, clothing, and food donations.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: A legislative breakfast focusing on child nutrition is sponsored by CMM. Six legislators and over 100 CMM members and concerned citizens attended. Dr. Deborah Frank, Director of the Failure to Thrive Clinic at Boston City Hospital, was the keynote speaker. Out of this breakfast CMM formed a Hunger Task Force.
Misc. Projects: CMM held a yard sale at the Eliot Church which generated a net profit of $1,300 and the remaining merchandise left over was donated to family shelters.
1991
Housing/Hunger: Protein Drive Continued; Renovations of Cornerstone Community, permanent single room occupancy housing in Central Square, Cambridge for nine men and women with a history of homelessness, which began in February and ended in July. CMM, project developer, raised $35,000 for the development costs, recruited volunteer work groups from our membership and oversaw the renovations and furnishing of the house. Also, information on hunger issues was disseminated to our membership.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: Continuation of the Legislative “phone tree” which identifies a contact person at each of member organization.
Misc. Projects: Summary of volunteering activities (wide-ranging): sorting and delivering used clothing, distributing donated bread, helping to renovate affordable housing for homeless people, sponsoring monthly birthday parties at Roxbury Family Shelter, sorting salvage food at Boston Food Pantry, and more.
1992
Housing/Hunger: Distributed list of selected urban food pantries; distributed CMM guide to Suburban Food Pantries and Meals Programs to social action committees of member congregations; channeled food donations to Haitian community in Cambridge; continued response to emergency needs. Continued annual spring protein drive.
Volunteerism: CMM congregations provided volunteer labor time and donations towards the construction of a playroom and outdoor facilities in Somerville house, New Day program.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM organized our membership to advocate for the passage of Massachusetts Childhood Hunger Relief Bill
Elder Care: Established “CMM Players”- an intergenerational troupe of volunteer actors. (Coors Foundation created a video of skits to educate about elder housing issues.) Elder Housing Workshops continued.
Misc. Projects: CMM co-sponsored Project Bread’s legislative breakfast as well as served as a co-sponsor of Suburban-Urban Network forums.
1993
Housing/Hunger: Linked a suburban temple with a project in an inner-city food pantry. Renovation of “New Day” playroom, a unique residential treatment program for pregnant women and their children. Held meeting between H.O.M.E. Coalition, Senator Lois Pines, David Cohen, and Newton communities, to endorse current legislation to combat homelessness.
Elder Care: CMM publishes “Elder Housing Information: A Consumer’s Guide to Housing Options for Elders.” Conducted workshops with elders in seven communities about housing alternatives.
Misc. Projects: Responded to direct calls: furniture to a family new to city for Children’s Hospital; clothing for a family burnt out of their apartment. Supplied St. Frances de Sales Summer Camp in Roxbury with art supplies, books, and toys for 275 AFDC children. Also secured donations of hundreds of books to low-income families in Chelsea.
1994
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM’s Legislative Advocacy Committee hosts a dialogue with state legislators on the Home for ALL bill, one aspect of a large CMM campaign (Home if Key for ALL) to support this bill. CMM continues spring protein drive. CMM was approached by The Homeless Empowerment Group to help establish a new program of support–Coupons, Inc. There were mixed reactions of member support and member opposition to the project.
Volunteerism: CMM continues to research and publicize volunteer opportunities for our member congregations. One such initiative was at a homeless children’s shelter, and another was engaged with another network of interfaith volunteers called “MATCH-UP,” working with older and disabled persons to decrease isolation and enhance quality of life.
Misc. Projects: CMM was presented the Humanitarian Award from Spare Change, the newspaper published by the homeless community. First Annual Interfaith Choral Festival fundraiser held in November. Six urban and suburban choirs from CMM member congregations filled the sanctuary of Second Church in Newton—Jewish and Christian traditions. The choral event raised over $5000; Children’s book drive, in which hundreds of books are sent to Chelsea Family Life Program.
1995
Urban-Suburban: Established partnership with Boston’s Ten Point Coalition to implement #5 of the Ten Points—to establish links between suburban [and urban] churches and front-line ministries—led to CMM’s Urban-Suburban Dinner & Dialogue.
Volunteerism: CMM organized four sessions of “Youth Outreach Weekends,” for high school students to learn about homelessness and volunteer in the Boston community. The volunteering was coupled with discussions on issues of poverty and homelessness.
Misc. Projects: Interfaith Choral Festival occurred again in the Fall.
1996
Overview: At the end of 1996, CMM moves towards a more encompassing definition of “interfaith” as Muslim participants and Board members join efforts as society diversified more.
Mission Statement: “Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries (CMM), founded in 1966, is an interfaith association of 51 churches and synagogues in 16 urban and suburban greater Boston communities. Our purpose is to improve major social concerns through urban-suburban cooperation, resource sharing and action.”
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM Legislative Advocacy Committee spent year examining most effective approaches to advocacy within their network of congregations.
Misc. Projects: Monthly Urban-Suburban dialogue dinners attended by average of 25 persons.
1997
Overview: CMM stopped using Judeo-Christian symbols for logo in newsletters and changed description from “churches and synagogues” in their mission statement to: “an interfaith coalition of congregations throughout Boston area.”
Expanded “Interfaith”: Muslim Board member listed in 1997–Rahim Al-Kaleem; there was a partnership between the rabbis of Temple Shalom in Newton and the Imam of the Masjid Al-Quran in Roxbury for shared worship and service projects.
Misc. Projects: Urban-Suburban Dinner Dialogues continued.
Housing/Hunger: Collected and delivered household goods for families moving out of homelessness shelters into housing. Distributed Christmas gifts to Dorchester Head Start.
Education/Training: Conducted Racial Justice trainings, One Heart, One World in CMM congregations.
1998
Urban-Suburban: Urban-Suburban partnership continued.
Housing/Hunger: CMM Emergency Assistance Fund (funded by member congregations and individuals) provided help to over 150 families each year in crisis situations for food vouchers, utility bills, rent arrears, and emergency medical expenses. Partnership with Metropolitan Boston Housing, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to helping families secure housing opportunities in communities throughout the greater Boston area.
Misc. Projects: Partnership and meeting with Greater Boston Interfaith Organization.
1999
Overview: Promotion of Urban-Suburban Cooperation.
Misc. Projects: CMM brokered six urban-suburban congregational partnerships and leveraged approximately $100,000 of support annually (financial, volunteer, pro-bono professional services, and material donations) to community-based organizations serving at-risk youth and families.
Volunteerism: CMM spearheaded a project of interfaith volunteers supported Marshall Elementary School by creating a colorful kit of school supplies. CMM delivered 400 kits, enough for every student in 1st and 2nd grades.
Misc. Projects: Fifth Annual Interfaith Choral Festival.
2000
Overview: Now at 64 Member congregations.
Urban-Suburban: Continuation of monthly Urban-suburban Dinner and Dialogue meetings on topics related to social justice and community service opportunities. CMM conducted a 1.5-hour workshop on the U-S partnerships, entitled “Peace is in Our Hands: a conference on local peace building initiatives”; also, CMM held the 2nd annual picnic in July with Boston Ten Point Coalition.
Misc. Projects: Interfaith Choral Festival Continued; CMM members were invited to attend an overnight Anti-racism training in Roxbury, free of charge.
Expanded “Interfaith”: Cambridge Zen Center joins as member congregation; Unitarian Universalist members also then listed on the board (though they may have joined earlier).
2001
Urban-Suburban: Monthly dialogues are slowed down a bit as CMM hires new staff, welcomes new board members, and focuses on strategic planning.
Mission Statement: “The Mission of CMM is to bring together people from across economic, religious, racial, and ethnic boundaries so that in partnership we can work more effectively for a just society.”
Misc. Projects: 8th Annual Interfaith Choral Festival; CMM had 7 flourishing partnerships and a booklet was published, Urban-Suburban Partnerships Stories from CMM Member Congregations, describing their relationships and experiences; CMM participated in “Interfaith Ramadan Observance Program.”
2002
Urban-Suburban: Received $7500 grant from United Way to begin Urban-Suburban Youth Leadership Councils.
Housing/Hunger: Officially joined One Family Campaign to develop strategic solutions to end family homelessness by 2005. This eventually resulted in seven CMM member congregations signing on the OFC and becoming partners in the effort. Hired a part-time staff (10 hours a week) to spearhead this initiative.
Misc. Projects: CMM asked to speak on “Islamic Perspectives” broadcast, in which CMM discussed its Urban-Suburban partnerships, particularly Masjid Al-Quran in Dorchester and Temple Shalom in Newton.
2003
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM joined Organizational Partnership Program to enhance the brokering of resources for effective grass roots organizations and ministries serving at risk youth and families. Also, CMM joined an initiative to enhance literacy among at-risk youth, based on early detection and treatment of the reading disorder, Irlen Syndrome.
Urban-Suburban: Dialogue Dinners were reconsidered to be more topics driven than “meeting-to-meeting” themes. 2nd Annual Temple Masjid Dialogue Group Barbeque; Youth: CMM brokered a partnership between youth in Wellesley Friends Meeting and New Covenant Church in Cambridge and held a Multicultural Youth Leadership Council in beginning of summer.
Misc. Projects: CMM participates in a trip to the Holocaust Museum, sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League. Holds 10th Annual Music Festival, followed by a silent auction. CMM member from Wellesley Friends Meeting made a video about CMM titled, “Advocating for Homeless Families.”
2004
Education/Legislative Advocacy: 3rd year of “One Family” campaign and a newsletter stated that 1/3 of CMM’s member congregations had signed on, “publicly stating that they have committed themselves to work to reduce family homelessness, prevent it and/or assist families in need.”
Housing/Hunger: Family homelessness was the focus of the church’s Outreach Commission for 2003-2004.
Misc. Projects: CMM continued to offer opportunities for Hearing, Thinking, and Doing. Began the initiative, “A Hire Purpose,” to mobilize business networks in CMM congregations to provide employment to low-income workers. Also, Mobilized CMM constituents to prevent the ending of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 292 citizens of Montserrat who came to this country in 1997, after the volcano eruption.
2005
Education/Legislative Advocacy: Faith-Based Business Initiative began a project geared at meeting employers’ needs while expanding job opportunities for homeless job-ready parents and other low-income individuals (partnered with ‘Transition to Work, nonprofit). CMM also continued Dinner Dialogues, including advocacy workshops: “make your voice heard, no experience necessary” with a focus on reducing family homelessness, in partnership with consultants. One example: Miriam Stein project director at ‘One Family’
Misc. Projects: In the Spring, CMM partnered with Amachi Big Brothers Big Sisters of MA to match children of incarcerated parents with mentors from the faith-based community as an open invitation for CMM members to volunteer or otherwise support.
2006
Overview: Many strategic business and development planning (feedback reports from this year called for CMM to focus its work/clarify “what CMM does”/clearer identity) Mission as stated in 2006: “CMM mobilizes congregations across economic, religious, racial and ethnic boundaries so that, in partnership, we can work more effectively for a just society.” Focus: “CMM seeks to affect change in areas of housing and homelessness, at risk youth and families, and cross-cultural understanding.”
Misc. Projects: Katrina Response–CMM helped coordinate projects for congregations that wanted to help those relocating to MA (noted in 2006 newsletter: Morningstar Baptist Church in Mattapan called CMM to ask for assistance with Katrina survivor family moving to Newton; Eliot Church youth group wanted to help and organized supply drive for families relocating to Boston; food drive in Newton).
Housing/Hunger: Continued work to end family homelessness in MA through education, direct service, and advocacy.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM continued the “no experience necessary” advocacy workshops (because of a growing requests for these, listed in a 2006 newsletter). Also, A Hire Purpose, continued as an initiative to mobilize business networks in congregations to provide employment for work-ready, entry-level workers.
Expanded “Interfaith”: New congregations joined: The Islamic Society of Boston and The Newton Baha’i Community
2007
Overview: New Executive Director: Alexander Levering Kern 2007-2013
IFYI: In 2007 IFYI, Interfaith Youth Initiative, became part of CMM with Matt Carriker as the director of the program, formerly the Faith Youth Initiative (which had been started in 2000). “In response to tragic shooting of IFYI mother Beth Cann and her daughters, there was a call for an IFYI conference call, which organized a group visit to funeral and follow-up meeting…grief care/counseling for IFYIers” ongoing mentoring and service learning.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM heled to pass the Sudan Divestment Bill and was invited to stand in the Corner Office with Gov. Patrick as he signed the bill. CMM also attended many rallies and tried to educate our members about direct aid through Tents of Hope and other steps through Mass. Coalition to Save Darfur. “Legislative issue survey” designed and distributed to congregations and clergy.
2008
Overview: CMM gained broader intergenerational appeal and relevance through IFYI. Since 2006, CMM had gained a wider public profile, greater interfaith diversity, and dynamic new partnerships with new immigrant communities in Boston. Stated priority issues in ‘07-‘08 Annual Assembly report: “poverty and homelessness, youth and domestic violence prevention, immigrant rights and reform, workers’ rights, environmental justice and global warming, building a culture that welcomes religious “minorities,” and ending the genocide in Darfur.”
Housing/Hunger: CMM worked with Rosie’s Place to host training for people of faith on the subject, “You Are Not Alone: Standing in Solidarity with Families at Risk of Abuse and Neglect.”
Environmental: In January, CMM helped launch, lead, and serve on the steering committee for the Massachusetts Interfaith Climate Action Network (MICAN), which worked with religious and environmental community allies to secure extraordinary victories in helping “green” the state’s Energy Bill and pass Global Warming Solutions Act.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM organized and led a major Interfaith Prayer and Rally as part of the national “Fighting Poverty with Faith” campaign. A Prayer for Healing was held, in partnership with Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, for Homicide victims’ families and friends. CMM also spoke at their Mother’s Day Walk for Peace. Between 2007 and 2008, CMM hosted and trained seven Social Action Interns, over twice as many as in the previous year.
Misc. Projects: Investors Against Genocide; CMM signs letter to editor of Phoenix newspaper in support of Muslim American Society and their commitment to pluralism; Film screening and discussion of James Carroll’s “Constantine’s Sword” in October.
IFYI: 1st Annual Day of Interfaith Youth Service in April. That summer the week-long summer program, Interfaith Youth Initiative, occurred in July with dialogue, service, and leadership training components.
2009
Education/Legislative Advocacy: Alex Kern on panel after viewing of “Fremont, USA” regarding religious coexistence in wake of 9/11; “Stand for Security” Campaign.
Housing/Hunger: CMM continued its Material Aid Program (MAP) in which clothing, toys, and household items were dropped off at the office in Newton and then distributed to various shelters and resource centers.
IFYI: 2nd Annual Day of Interfaith Youth Service on March 29; 2009. Summer Institute themed, “Being Peace, Doing Justice”. In February, there was a CMM IFYI presentation at Harvard Divinity School Solutions Conference.
Misc. Projects: New Year’s Kwanza House Party with CMM, GBIO presenters, hosted by CMM partner Nuraddeen Development. In January CMM held an Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Israel/Gaza (CMM as cosignatory for Declaration from Greater Boston interfaith Community). In February CMM held a Shabbat dinner and Service with the unveiling of CMM’s cosponsored Boston Interfaith Mural Project, at Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, Newton.
2010
Overview: CMM merged with the Ruah Interfaith Spirituality Program, which becomes a major and exciting new part of CMM’s work.
Misc. Projects: Interfaith Rally in Commons, to protest Anti-Muslim activity (stabbing of cab driver in NYC and plans of Florida pastor to burn Quran).
Education/Legislative Advocacy: In the Fall, CMM joined other faith leaders in Boston to fight housing law repeal, urging MA Residents to vote no to Question 2 that would repeal the state’s affordable housing law.
Environmental: 3rd Annual Day of Interfaith Youth Service included several break-off groups, one being a group of young people who helped clean up the area off of Memorial Drive, near the BU Bridge.
Quote: “Young people are the pioneers of the new religious landscape.” -Alexander Kern.
2011
IFYI: The Carpenter Foundation began to fund IFYI program at $45,000 in support of the “graduate theological education” component of the work (training seminarians, rabbinical students, and younger clergy, who are also the counselors/mentors for the week.)
Housing/Hunger: Homelessness Forum in March in Waltham.
Misc: Board discussion of moving CMM office into Cambridge. 1st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Interfaith Service with Brandeis University.
Education: Diana Eck, Harvard Professor and head of Pluralism Project, gave a talk with CMM at First Church Cambridge: “Faith in the City: How Interfaith Cooperation Can Transform our Nation and World.”
2012
Education/Legislative Advocacy: Hosted a viewing of the inspiring film KINYARWANDA, set during 1994 Rwanda Genocide. CMM hosted “In Celebration of Rumi” event to pay tribute to the inspiration of the Sufi mystic, Jelaludin Rumi thanks in part to Ruah relationship. Also, on November 16th, CMM held a Spirituality and Healing Conference on the theme: “Repairing our Broken World: Interfaith Responses.”
Misc. Projects: 2nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Interfaith Service, publicized in the Boston Globe. New website for CMM.
Environmental: Going Green Together campaign during National Volunteer Week and Earth Week; also, in April, an interfaith evening with author and environmental activist Bill McKibben.
2013
Overview: Alice Kidder serves as Interim Executive Director, followed by the eventual hiring of Whitney Retallic in February 2013.
Housing/Hunger: CMM’s 3rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Interfaith Service with on-site service project packing 6440 meals to distribute to surrounding food shelters. Educational component with interfaith dialogue and performance art as well.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: October Speaker Series, featuring Jewish, Christian, and Muslim voices: Oct. 26 “Making Our Way: Muslim Women in North America” event at the Paulist Center, with Dr. Ingrid Mattson, former president of the Islamic Society of North America. Muslim women shared perspectives on Muslim women’s experiences in North America as it has been shaped by 9/11 and other events. Oct. 18 “Evolving Spirituality for the 21st Century: Are the sciences providing new common ground for world religions?” with presenters Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, along with executive producers of the film “Journey of the Universe.” And finally, on Oct. 3, a festive crowd gathered for a night of “Spirituality, Justice and Humor” with comedian Rabbi Moshe Waldoks of Temple Beth Zion, marketed as a FUNdraiser for CMM.
Misc. Projects: August 28, CMM joined several organizations in sponsoring the Memorial March for Peace to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
IFYI: Summer program in July and a Fall retreat in November.
2014
Overview: Whitney Retallic stepped down as Executive Director; Rev. Dr. Rodney Petersen selected as new interim ED in summer 2014, until it became official after a year review. There was a fall focus at CMM to reconnect and engage with new and old member congregations and allow their voices to shape CMM’s upcoming agenda.
Current mission statement: Our mission is “to mobilize congregations and communities across economic, religious, racial, and ethnic boundaries so that, in partnership, we can work more effectively for a just and peaceful society and for spiritual growth and interfaith understanding.”
Housing/Hunger: 157 people joined for 4th Annual MLK Day of Interfaith Service. Of those participants, 65 were youth who were paired with a mentor for the day to learn more about college. Volunteers packaged a total of 11,116 nutritious meals that were distributed to local food pantries.
Ruah Interfaith Spirituality: CMM continued 3rd year of Interfaith Dinner Dialogues and hosts Harvard Humanist Chaplain, Greg Epstein, for their fall dinner. In November, philosophy professor and theologian, Roger S. Gottlieb spoke at Temple Shalom in Newton about “Spirituality: What It Is and Why It Matters.”
Environmental: In the spring, our Episcopal City Mission (ECM) urban-suburban partnership held a youth educational forum on healthy eating, food accessibility, and sustainability in Dorchester, followed by volunteer project in urban garden in Lower Roxbury, which included participants across different ages and faiths.
IFYI: Summer program from July 31 to August 7; Last year for Matt Carriker as IFYI Program Director, who had been the director since 2007. Karin Firoza was hired as the new IFYI Program Director.
2015
Housing/Hunger: CMM’s 5th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Interfaith Service in January at Brandeis University where over 12,000 meals were packaged by over 250 youth and adults. Educational component with interfaith dialogue and performance art as well.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM members testify at the State House against the inhumane rules which force homeless women with children to stay in unsafe conditions “not fit for habitation” before they can access emergency aid.
Values over Violence (VoV) program introduced in Mattapan, Dorchester and Roxbury. Over 27 ministers and social workers trained in a curriculum developed by ESPERE of Bogotá, Colombia in Forgiveness and Reconciliation. Trainees encouraged to develop projects that foster grassroots instruction and job readiness programs. Gardening project in Dorchester with Jhana Senxian and the Sustainability Guild with a grant from the Mass Service Alliance also took advantage of Values over Violence training.
Ruah Workshops, Conferences, and Dialogue Dinners draw interfaith community interest. Continued “In Celebration of Rumi,” evenings of poetry, dance and music.
CMM courses in the fall: “Thomas Merton” at St. Peter’s Church, Cambridge, and “Toward an Improved Understanding of Islam and of our Muslim Neighbors,” hosted at the Andover Newton Theological School.
IFYI: Stephanie Sanger-Miller was hired as the new IFYI Program Director, and ran a successful eight-day intensive program in July with twenty plus youth and six theological students and staff mentors.
CMM and CIRCLE program of Hebrew College and Andover Newton Theological School launched “The Dignity Project” and conducted a day-long conference on Racial Justice with keynote speakers Dr. Donna Hicks and Rev. Dr. Raymond Hammond.
Kimball Gallagher “Global Harmony” Fundraising Concert at Andover Newton Theological School
2016
Housing/Hunger: CMM’s 6th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Interfaith Service in January at Brandeis University where 300+ volunteers packaged over 17,000 meals and participated in educational workshops ranging from immigration to issues of racism and privilege. CMM also held a community meeting in Mattapan (“Brick & Mortar”) on potential housing initiative to resurge.
Education/Legislative Advocacy: CMM testified on behalf of Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC).
IFYI: Our IFYI program extended to 10-days and incorporated more year-long fellowship components.
Ruah Workshops, Conferences, and Dialogue Dinners continued to draw interfaith community interest. Dialogue Dinner in April on “Chronic Illness” at Temple Israel in Waltham; Dialogue Dinner in June, “Conversations on Race: Reflections from a Boston to Birmingham Trip.” Partnered with the Lord’s Day Alliance for “The Regenerative Sabbath” conference at Old South Church. Partnered with The New Story group on “Evolutionary Spirituality.” CMM also continued “In Celebration of Rumi,” evenings of poetry, dance and music.
Values over Violence (VoV) program launches two 10-week sessions at the Walker Center and with Newton churches, First Unitarian Society of Newton and Myrtle Baptist Church; production in process of a Boston-based curriculum.
Dignity Project: April – CMM and CIRCLE present day-long conference on “Religious Diversity” with keynote speaker Dr. Diane L. Moore of Harvard University.
Inaugural Fr. Raymond Helmick, S.J. Lecture: CMM partners with Boston College and the Helmick Family to honor the life and legacy of Fr. Ray with Georgetown Professor, David Little, giving the keynote address.
50th Anniversary Fundraising Dinner: May 5th at Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, featuring Sister Simone Campbell, leader of “Nuns on the Bus” and Executive Director of NETWORK – A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby.
2017
Housing/Hunger: Clergy Laity for Affordable Housing (CLAH) program started, which has volunteers from congregations and local programs working together to repair homes of low-income families. Later, it was renamed to Community Leaders for Affordable Housing in an effort to be more inclusive.
Ruah Interfaith Spirituality Program starts its “Conversational Circle” program with intentional, sustained relationship building by having people come together in a safe and confidential place, creating a small and caring community of diverse people of all ages, faiths and spiritual practices, committed to learning from and with one another. Partnered with The New Story group on “Recovering Sacred Presence.” Continued “In Celebration of Rumi,” evenings of poetry, dance and music. Launched the “At My Neighbor’s Table” (AMNT) Needham community potluck series, where CMM invited leaders of Black Lives Matter Boston to do a racial justice workshop. People from the inner-city attended as well.
Fr. Raymond Helmick, S.J. Lecture: CMM’s partnerships continues with inviting the Rev. Jesse Jackson to speak at BC and around the community.
IFYI: Shelton Oakley Hersey was hired as the new IFYI Program Director, and the program was turned into more of a year-round fellowship program.
Boston Bridges program started as a collaboration with Hebrew College’s Miller Center that provides outstanding individuals early in their ministerial career the opportunity to develop sustained relationships with peers from different religious and cultural contexts and to refine and deepen their leadership skills for service in a diverse society.
2018
Reading King: “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” sermon read outside Boston City Hall with representation from clergy, civic, and community leaders.
IFYI: Theme for this year’s fellowship was “The Way Forward: Forging Common Ground Amidst Beautiful Difference.”
AMNT Needham Community Potlucks: CMM formalized partnerships with the Needham Interfaith Clergy Association, Needham Diversity Initiative and the Needham Human Rights Committee for more conversations on equity and inclusion.
Climate Change: CMM uplifted Rev. Dr. Jim Antal’s book Climate Church, Climate World along with Kerry A. Emanuel at MIT with his reflections on climate science and ethics.
2019
Board: David Killian resigns as Board President at the end of June (receiving the Spirituality and Justice Award from All Saints Parish Brookline) and Ramin Abrishamian was elected as Board Chair. CMM established an Advisory Council.
AMNT Needham Community Potlucks: CMM partnered with First Parish in Needham specifically to address its slaveholding past, and uplifted young adult voices of color on growing up “other” in suburbia in a spinoff program.
Reading King: “Letter from Birmingham Jail” read outside Boston City Hall. Launching of newly announced program in the fall, aptly named, “Reading King in Boston,” pairing King’s famous writings with four public holidays & commemorations.
IFYI: Rebranded itself and held its midyear retreat in January at Myrtle Baptist Church in West Newton with some of the summer 2018 cohort. Mireille Bishay hired as Associate Director of IFYI for the summer. A new cohort of 21 high school fellows and 7 graduate students did a week-long program at Brandeis University with the theme “Standing Tall: Advocating for Self and with Others.” More year-round programming continues in the fall.
Climate Change: CMM partnered with Friends Meeting at Cambridge for the 10th anniversary of commemorating the UN International Day of Peace on the Boston Common. This year’s theme was “Climate Action for Justice,” as also reflected in that year’s interfaith prayer book, Just Peacemaking with the Earth. Partnered with MA Interfaith Power & Light for a book talk with Dr. Roger Gottlieb and Rep. Jennifer Benson: Morality and the Environmental Crisis. Public Conversational Circle with IFYI on Environmental Justice and Creation Care was held at First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain.
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