Featured Stories
Secular Groups Seek Records From Tenn. School Districts About 10 Commandments Plans
MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 22 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation posted the following news release on Aug. 21, 2026:
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Secular groups seek records from Tenn. school districts about 10 Commandments plans
Leading secular groups have requested from five Tennessee school districts all public records related to their recently announced plans to display the Ten Commandments in schools.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State have asked for in letters sent yesterday to Blount County
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 22 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation posted the following news release on Aug. 21, 2026:
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Secular groups seek records from Tenn. school districts about 10 Commandments plans
Leading secular groups have requested from five Tennessee school districts all public records related to their recently announced plans to display the Ten Commandments in schools.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State have asked for in letters sent yesterday to Blount CountySchool District, Rutherford County Schools, Washington County Schools, White County Schools and Wilson County Schools all school-district emails and other communications, as well as all board documents, regarding the display of the Ten Commandments. The letters also seek, pursuant to Tennessee's Public Records Act, all proposed or approved display designs. The records will shed light on the implementation of a new state law that authorizes local boards of education to post the Ten Commandments in a "prominent" location in school buildings.
The letters follow recent votes by the districts' boards of education requiring their schools to post the religious rules. A Tennessee law enacted earlier this year, House Bill 47, provides that boards may "allow" schools to display the Ten Commandments in "a prominent location." The statute defines "prominent location" as a "school entryway, cafeteria, or common area where students are likely to see the display." Under the law, displays must include "text in a font size that is no smaller than [at] least twenty-six (26) point, and in a style and manner that is easy for students to see and read."
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, the ACLU of Tennessee, ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued the following joint statement regarding the requests for public records:
"Forcing biblical scripture on public-school children violates families' religious freedom. Families and faith communities, not the government, get to decide what role religious doctrine and belief play in their lives. We are committed to protecting students' and parents' constitutional rights and are launching an investigation of every school district that foolishly accepts the state's invitation to trample those rights. We urge families who will be affected by these religious displays to contact our organizations."
The public records requests can be found online here (https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2026/08/Tennessee-FOIA-Requests-FILE.pdf).
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INFODOC: https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2026/08/Tennessee-FOIA-Requests-FILE.pdf
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/secular-groups-seek-records-from-tenn-school-districts-about-10-commandments-plans/
[Category: Religion]
TPPF Releases New Research on Rising Healthcare Costs
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 21 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release:
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TPPF Releases New Research on Rising Healthcare Costs
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AUSTIN -Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released new research examining healthcare costs in Texas. This report confirms that healthcare costs are rising because opaque pricing, consolidation, anti-competitive practices, and administrative control limit patient choice and weaken market competition.
The report recommends that Texas should pursue transformational healthcare reform by expanding transparency, restoring patient purchasing
... Show Full Article
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 21 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release:
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TPPF Releases New Research on Rising Healthcare Costs
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AUSTIN -Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released new research examining healthcare costs in Texas. This report confirms that healthcare costs are rising because opaque pricing, consolidation, anti-competitive practices, and administrative control limit patient choice and weaken market competition.
The report recommends that Texas should pursue transformational healthcare reform by expanding transparency, restoring patient purchasingpower, creating ACA alternatives, strengthening HSAs and portable benefits, reducing drug middlemen, enforcing antitrust laws, banning anti-competitive practices, and protecting physician-led medical decision-making.
"Our current healthcare system isn't serving patients or physicians as well as it should," said Brooke Garner, Healthcare Policy Scholar. "Patients and employers need clear disclosure of actual prices, fees, commissions, conflicts of interest, and facility charges."
"Texas has addressed healthcare transparency problems one law at a time, but incremental fixes cannot repair a fundamentally broken market." said Dr. Clifford Porter, Senior Fellow for Healthcare Policy. "Instead, Texas should pursue transformational healthcare reform. Reform that promotes greater competition, transparency, and accountability would place downward pressure on prices, improve access, and allow medical decisions to be driven by patient needs rather than government or corporate financial incentives."
Read the full research paper here.
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Original text here: https://www.texaspolicy.com/press/tppf-releases-new-research-on-rising-healthcare-costs
San Antonio Airport Fuel Workers Opposed to Forced Dues Win Freedom from Unwanted Machinists Union Bosses
SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, Aug. 21 -- The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation posted the following news release:
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San Antonio Airport Fuel Workers Opposed to Forced Dues Win Freedom from Unwanted Machinists Union Bosses
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Faced with overwhelming, majority-backed petition to remove the union, IAM union officials left rather than face election defeat
San Antonio, TX (August 21, 2026) - Fueling employees with Allied Aviation Fueling Company of San Antonio have regained their workplace freedom from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), District 142.
... Show Full Article
SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, Aug. 21 -- The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation posted the following news release:
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San Antonio Airport Fuel Workers Opposed to Forced Dues Win Freedom from Unwanted Machinists Union Bosses
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Faced with overwhelming, majority-backed petition to remove the union, IAM union officials left rather than face election defeat
San Antonio, TX (August 21, 2026) - Fueling employees with Allied Aviation Fueling Company of San Antonio have regained their workplace freedom from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), District 142.The workers, who operate and maintain the fueling facilities of San Antonio International Airport (SAT), filed a petition for a "decertification" election earlier in August. Employee Matthew Garwood, the lead petitioner, received assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys.
The petition was filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal agency responsible for enforcing federal labor law, a task that includes administering elections to install (or "certify") and remove (or "decertify") unions. The petition was signed by the majority of fuel workers, easily surpassing the threshold of signatures needed for the NLRB to schedule a decertification vote.
However, before the vote could be scheduled, IAM District 142 union bosses, likely fearing a defeat in a secret-ballot election, formally "disclaimed interest" in the bargaining unit, meaning that they withdrew their claim of monopoly bargaining powers over the workers. As a result, the approximately 38 airline fueling workers are now free to negotiate directly with their employer.
"The IAM was not negotiating in our best interests," said Garwood. "We are grateful to have regained control over our workplace after being confronted with a poorly-written contract that negatively impacted employees in multiple ways and threatened us with forced dues just to stay employed."
#Union Bosses Tried to Circumvent State and Federal Law
Texas is one of 26 states with a Right to Work law, which safeguards workers by making union membership and dues payment strictly voluntary. However, the IAM was attempting to claim the employees were subject to the Railway Labor Act, which overrides worker protections against forced dues provided by state Right to Work laws.
Ultimately though, despite pushing for mandatory dues in the union contract, IAM union officials were apparently unwilling to defend the claim that these workers were covered by the Railway Labor Act before the NLRB.
"Union bosses have no shortage of tricks to use when trying to maintain their stranglehold on hardworking Americans' paychecks, but in this case, the workers of Allied Aviation made their will abundantly clear," commented National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix. "We are grateful to have assisted these workers as they exercised their rights, and especially pleased that they were able to regain their workplace so quickly.
"Cases like these demonstrate why all hardworking Americans need Right to Work protections to ensure union affiliation and financial support is strictly voluntary, including those who might fall under the jurisdiction of the Railway Labor Act because they work in the railroad or airline industry," added Mix.
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The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory unionism abuses. The Foundation, which can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-336-3600, assists thousands of employees in about 200 cases nationwide per year.
Posted on Aug 21, 2026 in News Releases
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Original text here: https://www.nrtw.org/news/texas-airport-fuelers-decertification-08212026/
Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust: Surgical Specialists Show the Power of Collaboration in a Complex Cancer Surgery
LONDON, England, Aug. 21 -- The Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust issued the following news:
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Surgical specialists show the power of NHS collaboration in a complex cancer surgery
Three NHS trusts came together to successfully remove a 7kg tumour from 26-year-old patient, Brandon Lee.
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A collaboration between four clinical specialities from three NHS Trusts has successfully removed a tumour from a patient's shoulder blade that threatened to cut off his airway if left untreated.
Surgeons from The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, Aug. 21 -- The Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust issued the following news:
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Surgical specialists show the power of NHS collaboration in a complex cancer surgery
Three NHS trusts came together to successfully remove a 7kg tumour from 26-year-old patient, Brandon Lee.
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A collaboration between four clinical specialities from three NHS Trusts has successfully removed a tumour from a patient's shoulder blade that threatened to cut off his airway if left untreated.
Surgeons from The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital(RNOH) and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust carried out the surgery in The Royal Marsden theatres on Thursday 13 August.
Patient Brandon Lee, 26, a former hydraulic engineer from Barnet, was diagnosed with a chondrosarcoma in his scapula (shoulder blade) and referred to The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.
Chondrosarcomas are rare bone cancers that grow out of cartilage-type cells found in areas of the bone called growth plates.
The 7kg tumour posed a risk to Brandon's respiratory system
Brandon has been diagnosed with hereditary multiple exostoses, a genetic condition caused by mutations in the EXT1 or EXT2 genes which results in multiple hard masses appearing near a person's joints. There is a lifetime risk of between two and 10 per cent that these benign growths may transform into chondrosarcomas.
Due to the size (approximately 20cm in length and 7kgs in weight) and location of the tumour, as well as the risk it posed to Brandon's respiratory system, a team of specialists was assembled to carry out the operation.
They included Professor Vinidh Paleri, Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon, Dr Andrew McLeod, Consultant Anaesthetist, and Mr Aadil Khan, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon from The Royal Marsden; Professor Craig Gerrand and Mr Sudhir Kannan, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons from RNOH; and Professor Colin Bicknell, Consultant Vascular Surgeon from Imperial.
The team of specialists were able to remove the tumour, including Brandon's scapula and part of his collarbone, without damaging his airway and while retaining his hand function.
"I feel really fortunate to have had a great team behind me here. Everyone involved from all three hospitals has been really helpful and explained everything from start to finish," said Brandon.
"My family have provided so much support and have been by my side the whole way, helping keep my courage up and keep me thinking positively. When I'm fully recovered, I'm looking forward to spending more time with my kids and getting back to living a normal life."
15 surgical staff were needed for the operation
Professor Vinidh Paleri, Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon at The Royal Marsden and Professor of Head and Neck Surgery at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, shared his thoughts on Brandon's care.
"This operation shows the NHS at its very best," said Professor Paleri. "Three NHS trusts have come together to provide the very best care for this patient, each bringing their own expertise. A regular major cancer surgery may require, at most, six to seven surgical staff, but this operation required up to 15, so the level of orchestration needed to make this happen was incredible."
Professor Paleri is Director of The Royal Marsden's International Centre for Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer (IReC). IReC has been made possible thanks to Charles Wilson CBE and Dr Rowena Olegario and Keith and Isabelle McDermott's generous support of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Specialist expertise provided by The Royal Marsden
The surgery was led by Professor Craig Gerrand, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.
"Although we manage a lot of patients at The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, from time to time we have to phone a friend," he said.
"We came to The Royal Marsden because this particular patient had a tumour that required their expertise as well as ours. The tumour was very large and involved the whole of his shoulder blade, having also grown onto the chest wall and into the neck. By operating here, we are able to access other specialists who are used to operating in the neck and also on the chest wall.
"One of the things we underestimate in the NHS is the ability to collaborate across hospitals and it has been a great pleasure to work alongside our colleagues."
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Original text here: https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/surgical-specialists-show-power-nhs-collaboration-complex-cancer-surgery
Foundation for Economic Education Issues Commentary Entitled 'I Bought Beans at the Government Store'
DETROIT, Michigan, Aug. 21 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary by editorial associate Ryan Devine:
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I Bought Beans at the Government Store
Atlanta bet on a private grocer; New York is betting on the government.
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Downtown Atlanta has an unpleasant grayness to it, as if its architects forgot their charm at home when it was built. I glanced up at the towering corporate buildings that block out any sun that could have reached me, cut through Georgia State University's greenless college campus, and my route was redirected by the relentless percussion of
... Show Full Article
DETROIT, Michigan, Aug. 21 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary by editorial associate Ryan Devine:
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I Bought Beans at the Government Store
Atlanta bet on a private grocer; New York is betting on the government.
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Downtown Atlanta has an unpleasant grayness to it, as if its architects forgot their charm at home when it was built. I glanced up at the towering corporate buildings that block out any sun that could have reached me, cut through Georgia State University's greenless college campus, and my route was redirected by the relentless percussion ofjackhammers that chipped away at the sidewalks. Finally, I approached the automatic doors to my destination, Azalea Fresh Market, and was welcomed by two security guards.
At first glance, the store seemed like an ordinary supermarket, but a bit smaller than my usual. Upon a closer look at the items, the prices were anything but ordinary. My eyes darted toward the row of eggs displayed: $3 per dozen. Next to the eggs was a gallon of milk, $4. Behind me was a loaf of Sara Lee Honey Wheat bread, $5, and a 12-pack of canned sodas, $10. I trudged up a nearby set of stairs to see a modern cafe that featured a sushi counter, a sandwich shop, and a smoothie stand with several iPads to place an order. The sleek wooden tables and chairs were filled with professionals and students typing away on their computers while enjoying a sip and a bite. If you were anything like most Atlantans, given the prices and atmosphere, you probably thought that I was at the newest semi-luxury food market that I spotted on TikTok. In reality, I went to a government-funded grocery store that socialists are raving about.
Azalea Fresh Market opened last September to address a growing demand for a grocery store in downtown Atlanta. Its opening was the result of a partnership between the City of Atlanta, the Independent Grocers Alliance, and a successful local mini-grocery store chain, Savi Provisions. With no major grocery company inclined to open a location in the downtown area, the City of Atlanta managed to contribute roughly $8 million in cash, loans, and grants to provide the infrastructure needed to help open the business (as well as a second location that is under construction), while the owners of Savi Provisions operate it independently, hoping that the ongoing success of the store will eventually allow it to run on its own. To reach that goal, the store keeps the prices of staple food items as close to those at other supermarkets as it can (though $3 for a dozen eggs and $5 for a loaf of bread can really add up for the more budget-conscious shopper), while operating the cafe upstairs to generate higher-margin sales from college students and professionals.
Given the intent behind the establishment of this store, it's difficult to imagine why it's gaining so much praise from advocates for Zohran Mamdani's proposed government-owned markets. Mamdani's goal isn't to target food deserts; he aims to outprice private grocers in areas where supply is abundant because he's convinced that businesses are price-gouging consumers. Azalea was established because there is no grocery store nearby, meaning that there were no local grocers to worry about being priced out.
Azalea's location also serves a much different demographic from what Mamdani says his stores will be intended to serve. While Mamdani's stores will sit in busier, residential areas of New York, Azalea sits on a college campus and borders several government and corporate buildings. So it's not a quick walk for most low-income families who need fresh groceries for their homes. The store's main demographic consists of thousands of college students, a risky consumer base when a majority of the university's population leaves for breaks throughout the year. With many students enrolled in dining plans and few permanent residents to provide consistent foot traffic, it becomes easier to see why major grocers were hesitant to open in the area.
But more importantly, if Azalea Fresh Market is supposed to be a case study to show that the government should become a grocer in cities such as New York, it's a strange example. The city didn't open a grocery store and ask taxpayers to keep it afloat. It sought out a private grocer and helped them overcome the steep cost of entering a market that other grocers had already rejected. Savi will eventually need to stand on its own two feet. That sounds less like socialism and more like a government-funded bet on the private sector.
With Mamdani having no plans to perform a public-private partnership, taxpayers will foot $30 million of the bill for its first 9,000-square-foot location in East Harlem, compared with Atlanta's $8 million investment on a 30,000-square-foot location. That makes New York's project a much riskier investment. If socialists want to see a grocery store model that most closely aligns with what Mamdani has in mind, they should turn to Kansas City's Sun Fresh Market, which closed down after receiving roughly $18 million of taxpayer dollars over 10 years, citing low profits and crime as major factors for locking its doors.
But that doesn't necessarily make Azalea a victory for free-market advocates, either. The city responded to demand from consumers who wanted fresh food within walking distance, while private grocers had decided that opening downtown wasn't worth the risk. For Savi, the deal offered an opportunity to expand into downtown without shouldering the full upfront cost of entering an untested market. If the model fails, Savi's potential losses are cushioned by the city's support. If it succeeds, Savi gets a profitable new location, an expanded customer base, and a reputational boost from being seen as a company willing to serve a community that other grocers had passed over.
As the store approaches its first anniversary and construction continues on a second location, Azalea Fresh Market is still too young to know whether that bet will pay off. Perhaps the private market was failing to provide something downtown Atlanta genuinely needed. Or perhaps it was accurately assessing the risks of doing business there. Either way, Azalea will eventually provide an answer. And should the store succeed, the success won't belong to the mayor's office alone. It will belong to the private grocer that managed to make a business work where others wouldn't.
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Ryan Devine is an Editorial Associate at FEE. He earned a BA in Psychology from Salisbury University and an MPA from Villanova University. At Salisbury, he received the Psychology Department Award, presented to a graduating senior in recognition of academic achievement and meaningful contributions to the department.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/i-bought-beans-at-the-government-store/
FFRF Persuades Okla. School District to Cancel 'Prayer Walk'
MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 21 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF persuades Okla. school district to cancel 'prayer walk'
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has convinced the Muskogee Public Schools system in Oklahoma to cancel a proposed prayer walk at a district middle school.
A concerned parent had informed the state/church watchdog that on Aug. 12, Muskogee 6th and 7th Grade Academy was planning to host a school-sponsored "prayer walk." The academy distributed a flyer to parents promoting the event and inviting the community to gather at
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 21 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF persuades Okla. school district to cancel 'prayer walk'
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has convinced the Muskogee Public Schools system in Oklahoma to cancel a proposed prayer walk at a district middle school.
A concerned parent had informed the state/church watchdog that on Aug. 12, Muskogee 6th and 7th Grade Academy was planning to host a school-sponsored "prayer walk." The academy distributed a flyer to parents promoting the event and inviting the community to gather atthe school at 11 a.m. on that day for the prayer walk. An academy employee also sent parents an official message inviting them to "join us as we pray for our students, staff and families for what we know will be an amazing school year!"
FFRF insisted the district investigate the situation and ensure that the school refrained from organizing and promoting religious events going forward.
"Here, the academy is displaying blatant favoritism toward religion over nonreligion by organizing, promoting and encouraging student and family attendance at an on-campus prayer walk," FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote.
The school district serves a diverse population that includes not only religious students, families, and employees, but nonreligious people and members of minority faiths. When Muskogee 6th and 7th Grade Academy organizes, promotes, and invites students and parents to "pray for our students and staff" at a school-sponsored prayer event, it sends an exclusionary message to students who are not religious as well as those who do not believe in the dominant religion. More than one-fourth of Oklahomans identify as religiously unaffiliated.
Thankfully, the district listened to FFRF's reasoning and changed course.
Superintendent Jarod Mendenhall responded via email confirming that the district took corrective action.
"After reviewing the circumstances, the district has directed that the prayer walk be canceled immediately," he wrote. "We have also directed that any social media posts promoting the event be removed and that the school communicate with parents regarding the cancellation."
Mendenhall also verified that future school-sponsored activities would remain in compliance with the First Amendment and that the district would not organize or promote religious activities.
"It is encouraging to see a school district respond quickly when constitutional concerns are brought to its attention," FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor says. "The district made the right choice in canceling this school-sponsored prayer event. Students deserve to start the year off on the right foot."
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With more than 40,000 members across the country, including hundreds of members in Oklahoma, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-persuades-okla-school-district-to-cancel-prayer-walk/
[Category: Religion]
Boston Foundation Distributes $376,000 in Grants From Meeting the Moment: Supporting Our Immigrant Neighbors to Organizations Helping Immigrants Impacted by TPS Revocations
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Aug. 21 -- The Boston Foundation issued the following news release on Aug. 20, 2026:
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The Boston Foundation distributes $376,000 in grants from Meeting the Moment: Supporting Our Immigrant Neighbors to organizations helping immigrants impacted by TPS revocations
The Boston Foundation today announced the distribution of $376,000 in new grants to nine organizations from its Meeting the Moment: Supporting Our Immigrant Neighbors initiative, targeting organizations supporting immigrants being uprooted by recent decisions on Temporary Protected Status, or TPS. Tens of
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Aug. 21 -- The Boston Foundation issued the following news release on Aug. 20, 2026:
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The Boston Foundation distributes $376,000 in grants from Meeting the Moment: Supporting Our Immigrant Neighbors to organizations helping immigrants impacted by TPS revocations
The Boston Foundation today announced the distribution of $376,000 in new grants to nine organizations from its Meeting the Moment: Supporting Our Immigrant Neighbors initiative, targeting organizations supporting immigrants being uprooted by recent decisions on Temporary Protected Status, or TPS. Tens ofthousands of immigrants in Massachusetts, primarily Haitians, are at greatest risk from federal rulings allowing the Trump Administration to unilaterally cancel TPS designations, resulting in thousands of jobs lost and families displaced to countries many of them have not seen in well over a decade.
"Beyond the very real economic impact summarily evicting thousands of workers will have on Massachusetts, the human toll on thousands of our neighbors is unconscionable," said Orlando Watkins, Vice President and Chief Program Officer at the Boston Foundation. "These organizations are providing critical supports, helping TPS holders navigate the legal process, meet their basic needs, protect their families and defend their legal and human rights as they explore any options they might have to avoid returning to often unsafe homelands many of them have not seen in over a decade."
Meeting the Moment: Supporting Our Immigrant Neighbors is a focused, three-prong strategy to provide resources for immigrant communities across Greater Boston. TBF is expanding legal aid and community-based supports to protect families facing immediate threats, providing flexible resources so immigrant-serving nonprofits can meet rising demand and plan for the long term, and investing in research, local journalism, and storytelling to counter misinformation and guide effective policy.
Launched this spring in partnership with the City of Boston and other organizations, the initiative is funded by the Boston Foundation and its community of donors.
Among the grants in this round are support for eight nonprofit organizations working directly to support immigrants and their families. In addition, the Foundation is making a $50,000 grant to the United Way of Massachusetts Bay's United Response Fund, which provides support statewide for organizations on the front lines to deploy emergency financial assistance to individuals and families to ensure they can access basic needs such as food, housing, healthcare and childcare.
Grantees include:
Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA): $46,000
The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) is a statewide coalition advancing the rights and integration of immigrants and refugees through advocacy, education, organizing, and direct community resources. In response to the recent TPS decision, MIRA has provided dedicated information and education for Haitian TPS holders, including Haitian Creole resources, webinars on legal options and asylum, and guidance for advocates supporting impacted community members.
International Institute of New England: $40,000
The International Institute of New England provides comprehensive services to refugees and immigrants, including immigration legal assistance, case management, employment support, housing and food connections, and other services supporting long term stability. IINE has served thousands of Haitian immigrants in recent years and, following the Supreme Court's TPS decision, launched a dedicated TPS Support Initiative offering legal consultations, family preparedness planning, intensive case management, employment assistance, and connections to essential resources such as food and housing.
Greater Boston Legal Services: $40,000
Greater Boston Legal Services provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents throughout Greater Boston, including extensive immigration representation and advocacy. Its Immigration Unit represents immigrants before USCIS, ICE, immigration courts, and federal courts while also providing communities and service providers with information about immigration rights and available remedies; GBLS also offers services addressing housing, public benefits, health coverage, employment, and other basic-needs issues.
Caribbean Youth Club: $40,000
Caribbean Youth Club (CYC) provides culturally specific support to newly arrived Afro-Caribbean immigrant and refugee youth enrolled in Boston Public Schools, helping young people and their families navigate the transition to life in the United States. Its year-round programming includes academic support, mentoring, life-skills development, employment opportunities, culturally connected peer networks, and assistance navigating education and social-service systems.
WelcomeNST: $40,000
WelcomeNST mobilizes community-based Neighborhood Support Teams to help refugee and immigrant families establish stability and self-sufficiency in their new communities. In Greater Boston, its model connects immigrant households with teams that can provide practical assistance such as food access, accompaniment to appointments, financial-literacy and Know Your Rights education, housing support, and help overcoming barriers to self-reliance.
Justice at Work: $40,000
Justice at Work is a multilingual legal nonprofit that partners with worker centers and grassroots organizations to protect workers in low-paying jobs, with deep roots in supporting immigrant worker communities. The organization provides direct legal services, workplace-rights education, technical assistance, and representation for workers facing wage theft, discrimination, retaliation, workplace injury, sexual harassment, and other violations.
Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN): $40,000
The Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN) is a community-based network providing direct accompaniment and practical assistance to people impacted by the immigration enforcement system. Its support can include accompaniment to court and ICE check-ins, legal referrals, assistance with bond and legal costs, transportation, paperwork support, and short-term housing and other immediate needs for people released from detention.
Brockton Workers Alliance: $40,000
Brockton Workers Alliance (BWA) is a worker-led organization that educates, organizes, and advocates alongside immigrant workers experiencing workplace abuse, exploitation, and other systemic barriers. BWA provides workers' rights clinics, Know Your Rights education, ESOL classes, voter education, immigration defense and deferred-action assistance, and advocacy around health-care access and economic justice; its organizing has included Brockton's Latinx, Haitian, and Cape Verdean communities.
United Way of Massachusetts Bay/United Response Fund: $50,000
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Original text here: https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2026/august/meeting-the-moment-grants-tps-revocation-20260820
