Over 600 Caring Force members turned the State House gold last week for the 14th Annual Caring Force Rally and Lobby Day! You showed up to advocate for a livable wage and a sustainable student loan repayment program for human services workers, and together you made this sector impossible to ignore.
The heart of the morning was our human services speakers. Katie Ilkovich of Justice Resource Institute (JRI) spoke as both a clinician and a parent, reminding the room that “a livable wage is not an extra benefit — it is the baseline requirement for a stable, effective workforce.” Carla Norris of AIDS Project Worcester shared her lived experience and decades of advocacy in Central Massachusetts. And Nancy Lussier-Brand of Riverside Industries put it plainly: “Now more than ever we need the Livable Wage Bill so that we can recruit, retain and support a valuable Caring Force.” Three voices, one message — human services workers matter, and so do the people they support.
We were also honored to hear from Senate President Karen Spilka, a longtime champion of the sector, and to present our Caring Bear Awards — the QTs — to two legislators who consistently show up for human services: Representative Michael Finn and Senator Robyn Kennedy, Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
Couldn’t be there, or want to rewatch our amazing speakers? Watch the full rally on YouTube, here.
All week, we’ll be sharing highlights, photos, quotes, and behind-the-scenes moments across our channels. Follow along, tag your coworkers in your photos, and post with #TheCaringForce and #CaringForceRally.
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The Caring Force is nothing without each of you. Thank you for showing up, speaking out, and making your voices heard.