Category: Events

Webinar: What the Heck is HOTMA?

HOTMA, a federal housing program, stands for the Housing Opportunities & Modernization Act. In 2024, the program underwent significant changes that may affect how federal tenants’ rent and income are calculated.

Join Mass Union and Mac McCreight from Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) on April 25 to learn more about HOTMA, including opportunities to influence how your housing agency responds. Webinar details are as follows:

Date: Thursday, April 25
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Via Zoom – Link provided after you register below

Please let us know if you have any questions. Looking forward to seeing you online!

Please email info@massunion.org if you would like to attend.

This webinar will be co-led by Maria Fernandes-Dominique of Culture Builders Cooperative LLC and Mac McCreight of Greater Boston Legal Services. It is part of our partnership with the Mel King Institute.

Coming in April: Online Resident Leader Training Series

Tuesday mornings: April 2, 9, 23, 30 and May 7
10am – 11:30am
Via Zoom (link provided after you register)
Download and Share the Flyer (PDF)

This five-part training series will help you build confidence and skills to manage a successful Local Tenant Organization (LTO). Starting and sustaining an LTO is a lot of work, but Mass Union, MKI and our network of fellow tenants are here to help! Whether you are a seasoned leader or just getting started, join us to share tips, tricks and encouragement. We’ll talk about:

      • Why to form a Local Tenant Organizations – and why not to!
      • Leadership do’s and don’ts
      • The rights and responsibilities of Local Tenant Organizations
      • How to reach and engage other tenants by overcoming fear
      • How to build power and voice to win changes at your Local Housing Authority

The official registration date has passed, but email info@massunion.com to request to register late. 

This series will be co-led by Maria Fernandes-Dominique of Culture Builders Cooperative LLC and is part of our partnership with the Mel King Institute.

May 19: Mass Union Board Election

OFFICER ELECTION
Nominees

At the Convention on May 19, there will be an Officer election to fill the five Officer positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Assistant Treasurer. The Officer election is open only to the current members of the board. Officer nominations are posted here and will be circulated in a mailing to affiliates in April, along with the Director nominations.

DIRECTOR ELECTION
Nominees

The Mass Union Board of Officers and Directors has decided to hold a special election to fill four open Director seats on the board. The election will be held at the Spring Convention on May 19, 2024. Any member of one of our affiliates may run for the open Director seats.

The nomination deadline has been extended by one month to March 31, 2024!

Members of our affiliates may run for the open Director seats. Nominations are due on March 31, 2024. Please see information about eligibility on page 6 of our bylaws. The Election is being overseen by an impartial Election Committee made up of people who are not running for a seat. Director Nicole Beckles is the Chair of the Committee. Affiliates may also join the Committee! If you would like to join the Election Committee, please email info@massunion.org.

How to Run

You may nominate yourself or another eligible member of one of our affiliates. If you nominate someone else, we will confirm that they would like run before circulating their nomination.

Submit the nominee’s name, contact information, and the name of her/his affiliate (LTO) to info@massunion.org by 5pm on March 31, 2024. If you wish, send us a photo and brief statement (not to exceed one half page) about the candidate.

April 3: Resident Board Member Roundtable

Join Resident Board Members from across the state to share stories, challenges and accomplishments! Two experienced resident board members, Carol Roberts of Brockton and Jessica Quinonez of Northampton, will facilitate an open agenda. As said by a resident board member at a recent training, “we are all in the same boat!”

Potential discussion topics:

    • Navigating board rules and regulations
    • Working with other board members, executive directors and local tenant organizations
    • Building confidence and leadership

Resident Board Member Roundtable Training: Wednesday, April 3, 2024 from 10am-11am. 

Register here: https://www.tfaforms.com/4634263?tfa_1=PHTP%20Resident%20Board%20Member%20Roundtable&tfa_2=2024-04-03&tfa_4=&tfa_12=701Qg000009n3cJ&tfa_3=

Prior to the training, we will send you the Zoom link. If you have any questions, you can email or call me at emmac@macdc.org, 617-379-5933.

This roundtable is being offered by our partner the Mel King Institute.

Mass Union Spring Convention & Lobby Day

May 19 and 20, 2024

REGISTER HERE: RESIDENTS | NON-RESIDENTS

Download the Convention Flyer (PDF)
Paper Registration Form – with New Prices (Word)

REGISTER BY APRIL 24, 2024

May 19: Convention at the Marlborough Marriot
75 Felton St, Marlborough, MA 01752
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Provided
Spanish Interpretation Provided

    • 8:00am – Registration and Continental Breakfast open
    • 10:00am – Programming Begins, including the morning plenary, lunch, workshops, and board election
    • 5:00pm – Day-time Programming Wraps Up
    • 6:30pm – Dinner

May 20: Lobby Day at The Massachusetts State House in Boston
Breakfast and Lunch Provided
Spanish Interpretation Provided

    • 7:30am – Continental Breakfast opens. Buses will leave for the state house, exact time TBD
    • 10:00am – Programming begins at the statehouse
    • 2:30pm (approximate) – Buses will leave for Marlborough, the North Shore and the South Shore (see below)

Please click here to see our Lobby Day info sheet.

Transportation

Buses will transport residents from the Convention to the State House and back to the Marriot in Marlborough. The bus is included in your Convention registration, no need to register!

Mass Union is also organizing a Convention/Lobby Day bus from the North Shore! The bus will leave Salem early in the morning of May 19 and take everyone to Marlborough for the Convention. The next day, it will take everyone to the state house for Lobby Day. After Lobby Day, it will  take everyone home to Salem. The bus is included in Convention registration fees. To reserve your spot on the North Shore bus, email info@massunion.org.

Interpretation

Spanish interpretation will be provided. If residents from your Housing Authority will need interpretation in other languages, please email us at info@massunion.org.

Paying for the Mass Union Convention

Mass Union is working hard to keep the costs of our Convention low and to raise money through sponsors and vendors. We are also providing these additional ways for you to fund your attendance.

    1. Ask Your Housing Authority to be a Resident Patron, Resident Sustainer or Resident Sponsor

This spring, Mass Union and MassNAHRO are once again teaming up to encourage Housing Authorities to send resident leaders to the Mass Union Convention. Housing Authorities who pay to send residents will be recognized in Mass Union and MassNAHRO publications, including our Program Book. Ask to speak with your ED and show him or her this PDF about this exciting opportunity!

    1. Sell Ads for our Program Book

You can also ask local vendors to purchase an ad for our Program Book. Sell one full-page ad, two half-page ads, or three quarter-page ads to pay your way! See information online here or download the paper version here.

    1. Apply for a Scholarship

If all else fails, click to apply for a scholarship: English |Español

Thank You to Our Convention Sponsors!

Gold

Silver

REGISTER HERE: RESIDENTS | NON-RESIDENTS