Striving for a world where safe and stable housing is guaranteed for everyone, Essex County Community Organization (ECCO) stands out for its dedication to listening and lifting community voices to create lasting change. As one of United Way’s 124 New Way Forward partners selected within the Public Policy portfolio, ECCO is tackling systemic inequities head-on, advocating for affordable housing and policies to achieve racial justice and equity.  

“United Way is excited to partner with organizations like ECCO that center community voice and effectively collaborate with diverse communities. Together, we can address both the immediate issues that people are currently facing as well as the systemic changes needed to support and sustain everyone's holistic wellbeing,” said Eva Tine, Director of Safe and Stable Housing at United Way of Massachusetts Bay 

ECCO, a multifaith network based in Lynn of 59 congregations and the North Shore Labor Council, strives to foster communities where everyone belongs, thrives, and has a say in the decisions that shape their lives. By uniting individuals from diverse religious backgrounds, ECCO harnesses collective strength to advocate for policy changes that address the underlying and deep-rooted injustices that have held people back.   

ECCO's advocacy for immigrant justice is exemplified by The Work and Family Mobility Act, effective July 1, 2023. This law allows all qualified Massachusetts residents, regardless of their immigrant status, to apply for a standard driver’s license. ECCO, along with other organizations, worked toward this milestone for over twenty years. This historic achievement enables undocumented immigrants to drive legally to their jobs and doctor's appointments, obtain car insurance, and handle daily tasks without fear of legal repercussions.

At the heart of ECCO’s efforts is the organization’s executive director Rabbi Margie Klein Ronkin.  Raised in a family of civil rights activists, Rabbi Margie blends faith with social justice advocacy. “I became a rabbi to help build a religious movement for social justice. No single community can win on their own, but when we work together and are truly committed to solidarity, we can create big change,” said Rabbi Margie. 

Over the years, Rabbie Margie has transformed ECCO from 11 mostly-White congregations to into a diverse coalition of 59 congregations, the majority of which are Black and Latinx faith communities – helping to ensure their advocacy is informed by the lived experiences of those who have been historically marginalized. 

ECCO leaders and community members.

Ensuring affordable housing and rental options for all, regardless of immigration status, has become a central focus for ECCO and highlights its crucial role in advancing racial justice.  “One of the statistics that really blew me away is the racial wealth gap in the Boston area,” she said. “According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston in 2015, Black households in Greater Boston had an average net worth of just $8 compared with the $247,000 average net worth for White Bostonians.”  

She highlights housing discrimination and the legacy of racist housing policies as major contributors to this wealth gap. “White people were given opportunities to buy affordable housing, allowing them to build equity, while people of color were systematically denied these opportunities. If you care about racial justice, you need to take action to change housing policies, so that everyone has the chance to build wealth through homeownership,” said Rabbi Margie. 

ECCO's vision extends beyond providing immediate solutions to housing challenges; it encompasses building community power, fostering equity, and challenging systemic barriers. Their approach integrates grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and leadership development to create sustainable change.  

ECCO’s impact is best seen in the stories of leaders like Brenda Reed-Womack and Blanca Martinez. 

“We think service provision is important, but that's not our primary work. We're really thinking about leadership development and getting people to work on long term policy change,” said Brenda Reed-Womack, a board member and vice chair at ECCO.  

Brenda moved to Massachusetts in 1970. As a child in rural Georgia, Brenda witnessed first-hand the disparities faced by Black communities. This laid the foundation for her lifetime commitment to social justice. “As a black person, there's often an unfair assumption that we're combative or confrontational when we speak up for ourselves. But that's far from the truth. We're simply asserting our rights and standing our ground with dignity and respect, challenging misconceptions and striving for equity," said Reed-Womack. 

Brenda Reed-Womack ECCO Board Member.

Throughout her career in social services, Brenda recounts numerous instances of individuals being denied opportunities and assistance solely based on their backgrounds. Her work fueled her fervent dedication to justice and equality, driving her advocacy for the belief that everyone deserves respect and dignity. “What's available should be available for everyone, regardless of their background, the color of their skin and what they have. Everyone deserves a little kindness along the way,” said Reed-Womack.  

Five years ago, upon retiring from social services, Brenda found herself drawn to ECCO’s mission. "If you can help smooth that road out for someone else and empower them along the way, you're doing what you should be doing," Reed-Womack emphasized." Brenda believes in developing leaders from diverse backgrounds and empowering individuals to advocate for themselves and others to help create a more just and equitable society.  

“ECCO helps people realize that they have a voice, one that can be heard and matters. They just need to learn how to speak up for themselves,” said Reed-Womack. “If the actions and decisions of those in power aren't serving us, we need more voices, more people realizing they have a right to speak up.”  

One of those voices that embodies ECCO’s mission is Blanca Martinez. “Giving Blanca the avenue to bring out her strengths allowed her to step into her power, which has been amazing to watch,” said Reed-Womack.    

Facing health issues and fleeing violence, Blanca left her homeland Honduras and has lived in Salem for the last nine years.  

She contracted polio as an infant, and by age five she was placed in an orphanage because her parents couldn't take care of her. At 12, she traveled to Canada for polio treatment, enduring four surgeries. After a coma and 10 months in the hospital, she returned home for further recovery. Leaving boarding school at 18, she later decided to immigrate to the United States. "Nobody wants to leave their country. Even though I had nothing, emigrating was a difficult decision," said Blanca.  

During her migration journey through Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico to reach the U.S. border, Blanca fractured her good leg in the desert. Unable to walk due to her disability and injury, she crossed a river on a raft with assistance After enduring three detentions, spending two and a half months in Texas before ending up in Louisiana, and facing health struggles, she applied for asylum and was granted permission to stay.  

In 2014, she moved to MA and sought legal representation. However, her asylum claim was later denied after a lengthy three-year legal process, resulting in a deportation order. Faced with the possibility of deportation, Blanca confided in one of her English teachers, who connected her with ECCO.  

ECCO supported Blanca by helping her articulate her story, providing crucial legal assistance for her immigration appointments and coordinating meetings with senators like Ed Markey in Washington D.C., Elizabeth Warren, and Representative Seth Moulton in Salem, amplifying her voice and advocating for her case. In 2019, Blanca had the opportunity to meet the director of ICE, an experience made possible by ECCO's support.  

ECCO leaders supporting immigrants.

“ECCO played a tremendous role in my life. It propelled me by teaching me how to tell my story and raise my voice.  In the last appointment with ICE, ECCO mobilized 10 religious leaders from the churches and congregations to support me. It was beautiful,” said Blanca.  

Journalists, including Carolina Piñeiro from Telemundo and The Boston Globe, covered her story, shedding light on her journey and struggles. With ECCO's assistance, Blanca fought deportation orders and now possesses legal status, accompanied by a work permit that allows her to work, acquire a driver's license, and travel within the U.S., though she still lacks permanent residency.  

As an ECCO leader for two years, she advocates for immigrant rights and affordable housing, continuing to inspire change through her story. "ECCO was my backbone, my support; it gave me security, stability, and power," said Martinez.  

Blanca Martinez and ECCO leaders.

Blanca now leads Shine Together, a cooperative offering house cleaning services, established four years ago with ECCO's backing. Immigrant women, facing job barriers due to lack of social security numbers, gather regularly to discuss solutions. Initially, ECCO sponsored their financial operations, but Shine Together now operates autonomously. Blanca, a founder, and administrator, underscores that all owners are immigrants. “We are paid weekly,” a church affiliated with ECCO provided seed capital for this cooperative. 

ECCO’s community-driven initiatives and faith-inspired activism underscores the transformative power of advocacy to address complex social challenges. Partnerships with organizations like United Way enhance their ability to amplify their efforts to drive social justice and create equitable communities. 

Join ECCO and United Way in building a future where everyone has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.  

To Learn More: Contact Colette Lima / Racial Justice Organizer at colette@eccoaction.org