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JOBS ACTION NETWORK
First results are in--51% POC in Encore's good jobs!
​Back in 2013, we said “if there is going to be a casino, we want there to be good jobs and we want our fair share!”  We have just finished Year 1 of a two year “proof of concept” pilot, testing interventions into the labor market that can connect under-employed residents, particularly residents of color, to good jobs.  Using the new Region A casino start-up as a huge hiring opportunity with good quality jobs, we thought it could kickstart the second year testing the model with other employers. 
Encore has just documented its initial 51% hiring of people of color!  At the midpoint of our 2-year test, we see enough positive proof of concept to drive forward into Year 2!

The fight to get to today

In 2012, we saw that Greater Boston's economy was coming back, but the benefits were not going to residents and in particular, not to residents of color.  Access to good jobs was a new issue for many community leaders.  As one leader said, "I work on housing and violence and transportation problems. I don't know what to do about the problems people have at work.  I don't even know who to go to."  
We learned through our support for Fight for $15 and campaigns like for good jobs for SEIU 32BJ (then 615) and airport workers, that support for unions was critically important, but was not going to be enough.  We needed to invent new policy demands as well. 
Briefing Paper #1 "Our Common Ground, One Dream (2012) laid the direction for our campaigns since then. 
Briefing Paper #2 "A Fair Share for Boston's Residents" (2018) lays out the argument for new policies on job access.