ACTION FOR REGIONAL EQUITY AND ON THE MOVE MERGE:
​New, multi-issue equity organization created--Action For Equity

​Action for Equity now leads regional campaigns demanding good jobs for people of color, anti-displacement zones protecting our neighborhoods, and supports key campaigns for transit and housing justice for our communities.
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In 2002, Action for Regional Equity was formed with the assistance of the national policy organization out of Oakland, CA, PolicyLink. Over the next several years, ARE issued reports on equity issues in Massachusetts, held a number of forums and conferences, created  ILEAD and changed the narrative on how regional equity is viewed. Also in 2002, a new transportation advocacy group, On the Move for Public Transportation Justice (OTM), was formed.

​This group was successful in leading the fight to reduce the amount of the fare increase  by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and got the MBTA to create the Transit Riders’ Oversight Committee, a group comprised of MBTA riders and MBTA officials to work on issues and concerns brought forth by community residents. In late 2017, the two coalitions began exploring the possibility of a merger and completed the merger in late 2018.