Boston, MA – February 10, 2025 – MassProBono.org, a vital online resource for lawyers, paralegals, and law students looking to contribute their time to meet the legal needs of vulnerable people across Massachusetts, has been redesigned and updated. Volunteers can now browse more than 60 curated, up-to-date pro bono opportunities from legal aid organizations across the Commonwealth to find projects that match their skills, interests, and availability. The website also features a calendar of training sessions and events aimed at strengthening volunteers' ability to serve those in need of legal assistance. Mass Pro Bono is managed by the Massachusetts Legal Aid Websites Project, at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI).
January 2025
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time for all of us to reflect on Dr. King’s unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and the eradication of poverty. His vision, his dedication and his life’s work drive all of us who fight each day to eliminate poverty, injustice and inequality and to advance racial justice.
BOSTON, MA (December 23, 2024) – Low-income families struggling to put food on the table are a major casualty of last week’s political maneuvering to avoid a government shutdown.
Since summer 2022, thousands of Massachusetts families have had their food benefits stolen through no fault of their own due to organized card-skimming schemes. SNAP benefits are particularly vulnerable to theft because the benefit cards use a magnetic stripe instead of a chip. To make matters worse, Congress in 1996 denied SNAP families the recourse available to other cardholders whose funds are stolen.
As we reflect on the close of another year, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible support and unwavering commitment of our community. This year, we’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact of our collective efforts, as together, we’ve empowered individuals, supported families, and created lasting change in our Commonwealth. We are excited to share the legislative strides we've made, the successes that have defined this year. Your generosity has been a vital force in every step forward, and we are honored to share this journey with you.
On Thursday, September 26, 2024, President Biden signed a continuing resolution to keep the government open until late December. We applaud the resolution’s continuation of federal replacement for SNAP benefits stolen through December 20, 2024. We are grateful to our Massachusetts delegation, particularly Congressman Jim McGovern, for their leadership in Congress and focus on this critical issue.
Statement of Georgia D. Katsoulomitis,
Executive Director of Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI)
In Response to Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric Against Haitian Community
The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit poverty law organization that does not endorse any political candidate. At the same time, as an organization grounded in social, racial and economic justice, we do not and cannot turn a blind eye to injustice.
We cannot remain silent in the face of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance’s relentless, baseless and racist attacks upon all immigrants – and currently against the Haitian people, so many of whom are our cherished friends, neighbors and co-workers in Massachusetts.
On September 6, 2024, Governor Healey signed into law an Act to Improve Quality and Oversight of Long-Term Care -- Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024. The 66-page Act includes many important provisions affecting long term care and related topics including significant changes to MassHealth policies regarding estate recovery.
In this Boston Globe Letter to the Editor, MLRI Executive Director Georgia Katsoulomitis calls attention to the $20 million in federal funds secured by Governor Healey to help keep families in Massachusetts in emergency shelter, while still reminding us that this fight is not over.
For all media inquiries, please email press@mlri.org.
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