Our Purpose is to help Unitarian Universalists advocate for and with young people. We give special priority to initiatives that promote the well-being of low-income children and youth.

Our Work

Promise’s main activities include:

• Researching policy issues and educating our members about legislative campaigns.
• Lobbying legislators through visits, phone calls, letters, e-mails and petitions.
• Leading worships, discussions and trainings at churches.
• Building relationships with church members, local advocates, education experts, and lawmakers.

Our Successes

Over the last five years, Promise The Children has supported voluntary early education for children who are ages 3 to 5 and living in Massachusetts. Our work along with that of colleague organizations has generated a functioning Massachusetts Department of Early Education that is coordinating public preschool education in our towns.

We have also consistently advocated for funding for the Massachusetts Housing Trust Fund. Since the inception of the Trust Fund in 2001, more than $60 million has been committed to assist in the construction or renovation of 4,358 units of housing. Of these, 80% (3,546 units) are affordable for eligible working families.

Our Evolution

Promise the Children grew out of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s call to rally in Washington D.C. in June of 1996.

We recently changed our name, from Promise Massachusetts Children, to Promise the Children.

We continue to work on both local and national issues. Promise the Children is an Independent Affiliate of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Our Values

Legislators must have voter support to pass and fund laws that support equal quality education for all of our children. Promise helps provide that support. 

Our children continue to need better schools, access to health care, affordable housing and healthy food. Their caretakers need living-waged jobs in order to support their families. Every preschooler needs guidance and support either at home and/or in school so that he or she is ready to learn in kindergarten.

Each young student deserves the education necessary to pass standardized tests in grade school and high school. All of our children should be prepared to find employment that pays a living wage and to participate in the growth of our society.

Our Relationships

Promise the Children has working partnerships with Neighbor to Neighbor, Teen Empowerment, and Care for Youth.

Promise the Children is a member organization of the Campaign for Early Education, the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, the Food Stamp Coalition, the Working Family Agenda, and the Family Economic Initiative.