About Us

MassVOTE educates, connects, and organizes Massachusetts citizens to vote, to become active in their communities, and to speak for justice.  Since 1999, our Democracy for Nonprofits program has helped nonprofit organizations become civic engagement engines, signing up their clients, members, and communities to vote and speak on issues that matter.  Our Fair Elections program works to reduce the power of entrenched interests, and level the playing field for ordinary citizens, encouraging free and fair elections that are welcoming to all.  Our Young Civic Leaders program is training a new generation of high school leaders.  Our organization is as powerful as our members.  To join us or to learn more about our work, call or email us.

 

Staff


Reach us at (617) 542-8683 and then the extension below.

Avi Green

Executive Director

agreen [at] massvote [dot] org

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Avi Green is an experienced community organizer, campaign manager, and policy analyst. A native of Pennsylvania, Avi graduated from Columbia University, where he studied Religion.  He went on to teach World Cultures and kindergarten to school children in North Carolina.  There, Avi became involved in promoting a stronger democracy in response to the Senator Jesse Helms' refusal to debate his opponent, Harvey Gantt.  Avi moved to Massachusetts in 1997, where he earned a Master's degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School in 1999. In 2000, Avi went to Florida to participate in the Presidential recount. He has served as Executive Director of MassVOTE since 2006.  Avi currently serves as Chair of Mayor Thomas Menino's Election Advisory Committee, a group that works to make sure that elections in Boston are free, fair, and welcoming for all.  A sought-after trainer and speaker, Avi lives in Inman Square, Cambridge, with his wife, Sarah Almer.  

David Ortiz

Deputy Director

dortiz [at] massvote [dot] org

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David grew up in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and worked for 13 years in the non-profit sector as an organizer, outreach worker and later as the founder and Director of the Youth Development Department at La Alianza Hispana before coming to MassVOTE. He also brought two years of managerial experience in the corporate sector.  Since 2005, David has managed the Civic Engagement Initiative, a $3 million program which has mobilized grassroots organizations in Boston and Chelsea in a nonpartisan effort to register and turnout voters.  In 2007, David became the Deputy Director of MassVOTE, and create the Young Civic Leaders program, which brings together his passions -- civic engagement and working with young people.

Cheryl Crawford

Policy Director

ccrawford [at] massvote [dot] org

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Cheryl has worked for many years in the African American community in Mattapan and other areas of Boston. At MassVOTE, Cheryl directs the Democracy for Nonprofits program and is a critical public face for MassVOTE, recruiting coalition members, new donors, and volunteers. She continues her work in public service as an Executive Board member of the NAACP/Boston Branch; she serves as Chair of the Membership Committee. Before coming to MassVOTE, Cheryl served as Chief of Staff to State Representative Willie Mae Allen. Cheryl grew up in Boston and graduated from Lesley College.

 

Board

Esme Caramello
 Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School
Sonia Chang-Diaz
 State Senator, Second Suffolk District
Kim M. Janey
(Chair) 
Massachusetts Advocates for Children
Alethea Pieters Office of Governor Deval Patrick

Celina Barrios

(Treasurer) 

Immigration Reform for America
Deborah Shah
(Clerk) 
Independent Consultant
Duamarius Stukes
 Massachusetts Office of Elder Affairs