Join Us - Graduating Our 18th Class

Join us Friday, November 20th at 11 a.m. for our 18th Commonwealth Seminar graduation. The graduation will take place in the Senate Reading Room, on the 3rd floor of the State House, in Boston, MA.

We will be honoring the commitment of our current, outstanding class of seminar participants - who committed themselves to 6 weeks of the program to deepen their understanding of the legislative process.

In addition, we are pleased to be recognizing the Boston Foundation for its seed funding of the seminar 6 years ago, when the program was only a rough idea in the minds of co-founders Jarrett Barrios and Joel Barrera. Paul Grogan, the President of the Boston Foundation, is scheduled to participate.

After the graduation, we will be hosting a catered reception honoring the graduates in Nurses' Hall at the State House. Please RSVP so that we know how much food to order.

- Joel Barrera

I'm Just a Bill

Charles Glick, one of our founding advisors, gave the first presentation to our new seminar class two weeks ago -- an overview of the legislative process.

He used the old Schoolhouse Rock song to explain the legislative process. If you are a middle-aged American, you will remember the song from Saturday mornings.

However, if you are younger or from another country, you might never have seen this cartoon. Enjoy.

Somos Latinos Recognition

I am honored that the organization Somos Latinos is recognizing me with one of their Latino Pride Community Member Ally Award. There will be a dinner and ceremony this Thursday night.

Originally, I am from conservative South Texas and in high school I remember that if we went to the movies we had to sit separated by a seat from our friends - because we wouldn't want anyone to think anything.

I was privileged to work for Senator Cheryl Jacques, and to be on her staff when she came out to her family and the public -- becoming the first openly gay state senator in Massachusetts history. I saw firsthand the fear and the struggles that gay people often have to go through, and took part in the early debates around the historic gay marriage debate. As a result, I am proud to be counted as an ally in this civil rights struggle.

- Joel Barerra

Accepting Applications Now

We are accepting applications now for the Fall 2009 Seminar. The DEADLINE TO APPLY IS OCTOBER 2ND.

This is the first time that the Commonwealth Seminar has ever run an evening session of the seminar. As a result, I expect that acceptance into the Fall 2009 Seminar will be extremely competitive. Please make sure that you do a good job on the application to give yourself the best chance for acceptance.

In addition, a minor theme of the Fall 2009 Seminar, since it will be housed at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, will be "place," and we will hear from advocates working to build community in greater Boston.

The seminar is intended as a resource to leaders from communities of color, immigrant groups, and others working to directly benefit those communities. Our growth is by word-of-mouth and we encourage you to forward this blog post to leaders who might be interested in the Commonwealth Seminar.

Diverse leaders will gain an inside perspective about working with the Legislature, and graduates will leave with an understanding of the basic legislative and budgetary perspective.

If you have questions, please e-mail Jenn Chin.

- Joel Barerra

Maria Carrasco

Great, unsolicited article in the Lynn Item profiling the Commonwealth Seminar and featuring one of our star alums: Maria Carrasco.

Maria made history in 2006 by becoming the first Latino or Latina ever to be elected to any position in Lynn, Massachusetts - a community that has become central to the Latino community in Massachusetts.

In the article, Maria credited the seminar with boosting her confidence as she decided to run for election. "(The seminar) is teaching people how to use the State House, because a lot of people like me didn't know," she said, "The State House is not a secret to people, we should feel comfortable going in there and walking around. This teaches you where you have to go to advocate."

Lynn Item News Story

-Joel Barrera

Nonprofits Count 2009

There are few issues more important than Census 2010. Next year, the federal government will count everyone in the country, and if our communities are not counted, they will not get the resources or the representation they deserve.

On Wednesday, September 16th, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., you are invited to a special discussion on Nonprofits and the Census in 2010 at the The Boston Foundation, located at 75 Arlington Street, 10th Floor, in Boston, MA.

Learn how you, your organization and your community can engage in the work of Census 2010. The conversation is sponsored by The Boston Foundation, the US Census, Nonprofits Count, and the Providers' Council.

Featured speakers include Regional Census Director Kathy Ludgate, Cheryl Crawford from MassVOTE, and Kelly Bates (pictured), the Executive Director of Access Strategies. Our friends at the Access Strategies Fund are conveners of the Massachusetts Census Equity Fund, which will spearhead census work targetting hard-to-count communities.

To attend on Wednesday, please RSVP to Clair Dunning.

More information: www.initiativefordiversity.net

- Joel Barrera

Rodman Ride for Kids

Seminar graduate Eliza Wagner is an organizer with the Rodman Ride for Kids, a fundraising event that brings together more than 1,000 bike riders to support a wide assortment of youth programs across the Greater Boston.

Eliza convinced me to join the cause, and I am going to do a 25 mile ride to support AFC Mentoring, a special organization focused on providing mentoring and adult guidance to foster and adopted children in Massachusetts. As the father of two adopted children, this a cause that is meaningful to me.

In addition, I'm turning 45 in December and will officially be middle aged. Time to actually listen to doctor's orders (and my wife) and return to better health -- maybe not to the shape I was in when I was captain of the varsity football team, but at least a more fit and active lifestyle.

Consider learning more or participating in the Rodman Ride for Kids. If you are interested, I would also welcome your support in my September 26th ride.

- Joel Barrera