Mass Senior Action Council, Neighbor

MISSION:

As a democratic grassroots senior-run organization, The Massachusetts Senior Action Council (MSAC) is committed to empowering seniors and others statewide in Massachusetts to act collectively to promote the rights and well being of all people, particularly vulnerable seniors.

HISTORY:

In April 1981, 27 people from five cities came together to launch the Massachusetts Senior Action Council (MSAC). From the beginning MSAC set the standard for successful grassroots, multi-racial organizing of low-income senior citizens in Massachusetts and beyond, inspiring the development of similar activist senior organizations in other states and exporting some of its key campaigns, as well.

Less than two years later, thousands of seniors in the greater Boston area had participated in public meetings, rallies, and government hearings. Their initial victories included the return of local bus routes, the establishment of medical and shopping transportation services, the creation of special taxi fare discounts, the institution of the 10-cent MBTA fare for elderly and handicapped riders, and the improvement of maintenance at local subsidized housing complexes. Local officials were overwhelmed by the emergence of well-organized, articulate groups of lower income older adults who were focused on pressing local issues.

Today, MSAC has over 1,100 members, 30 affiliated groups, and seven active chapters located in Boston, Bristol County, Cambridge, Central Massachusetts, Greater Springfield, Metro North and North Shore communities.

Mass Senior Action has a known ability to turn out large, well-informed groups of seniors who make the critical difference in dialogue with policymakers and the press, at both the local and state level, and with federal policymakers, as well.

Now in its 4th decade of organizing, Mass Senior Action is more than a seniors’ organization. It is an effective, grassroots activist group, fighting for social justice, which is led by seniors. It is the acknowledged “go to” organization in Massachusetts for developing intergenerational social change strategies to safeguard and strengthen the systems that all community members need to rely on for economic and health security. The political, social and economic landscape for seniors and their families would look very different without the tireless work of MSAC members over the last 30 years.