BVOCAL

BWH Informational Picket
2026-04-29 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
Nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, members of the Mass Nurses Association (MNA), are holding an informational picket.
At the bargaining table, Mass General Brigham (MGB – the hospital system), has offered a 0% raise (no, that is not a typo), while increasing their health insurance costs. Sign Up to Show Up.

Protect Act singing at the State House
2026-05-01 11:00 - 12:00 | State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA, 02133, United States
We will lead singing as we stroll through the halls of the State House calling for legislation to protect MA immigrants.
The Protect Act coalition is organizing singing every day next week.
Can’t make it on Friday? Join the singers on Tuesday, April 28 instead of or in addition to Friday. Friday’s singing will be led by BVOCAL; Tuesday’s singing will be lead by other members of the coalition. Sign Up to Show Up.

Harvard Graduate Student Union picket line
2026-05-05 14:00 - 15:30 | MA
Over four thousand Harvard graduate students have been on strike for almost two weeks. Despite bargaining since February 2025, the university administration has refused to negotiate on several key issues, including how the university handles harassment and discrimination complaints and protections for noncitizen graduate student workers. Sign Up to Show Up.

Any strike is about more than one union contract. History has taught us that unions raise the standard of living for all workers, union and non-union. History has also taught us that we are much more likely to prevail against fascism when we have a strong labor movement in the fight.

State House singing for the Protect Act and Progressive MA Lobby Day
2026-05-07 10:00 - 12:00 | State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA, 02133, United States
From 10-11am, we’ll sing in the halls of the State House for legislation to protect MA immigrants. A Senate vote on the Protect Act is expected that same afternoon.
Then from 11-noon, Progressive Mass. holds its annual Lobby Day. We will teach songs as part of the lobby training then march through the State House halls. PM’s legislative priorities include the Protect Act, plus data privacy, an end to pipelines and new jail construction, and rent control. Join us for one or both time slots.
Sign up here

Rehearsal - Farnsworth House, JP
2026-05-07 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-06-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Farnsworth House Community Room, 90 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130, United States
Free on-street parking on nearby streets; short walk from Orange line – Forest Hills Station

Rehearsal – Friends Meeting House, Cambridge
2026-05-13 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-06-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Friends Meeting House, 5 Longfellow Park, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
Ample free parking available in the U-shaped driveway

Refugee Immigration Ministry singing in Malden
2026-05-23 19:00 - 21:00 | MA
We will join a multi-cultural line-up of ensembles (African, Chinese, and more) for an annual concert in Malden, sponsored by the Refugee Immigration Ministry. As always, BVOCAL will be there to lead singing, not perform. The evening promises to be especially moving.
Sign up here.
Learn more about the full program here.

Song Leading Skills Workshop
2026-05-30 09:30 - 12:30 | Boston Workers Circle, 6 Webster St., Brookline, MA, 02446
Everyone in BVOCAL can be a song leader! Whether you take the mic to teach a song or lead as part of a group, this workshop is a chance to build your skills.
Together, we will create a caring and supportive space in which to learn best practices for song leading,
Anyone interested will get a chance to lead a song in a small group and get feedback from your fellow BVOCAL members.
Sign up here

Faulkner Hospital information picket
2026-06-04 14:00 - 15:30 | MGB Faulkner Hospital, 1153 Centre Street, Boston, MA, 02130
We will join front line caregivers at MGB Faulkner Hospital, members of 1199 SEIU, on their informational picket line. They are bargaining for fair wages, AI protections, and staffing conditions that will help retain experienced caregivers and support quality patient care.
Their slogan: Nobody working at a Mass General Brigham Hospital should be struggling to survive! Sign up here.

Justice At Work annual dinner at the SEIU 32BJ union hall
2026-06-04 19:30 - 20:30 | SEIU 32BJ, 26 West Street, Boston, MA, 02111, United States
Justice At Work supports workers in low-wage jobs to exercise collective power by providing legal assistance and training. One of BVOCAL’s members is being honored, along with LUCE, and instead of an acceptance speech we will lead singing! Our singing will take place sometime between 7:30 and 8:30pm. You are also welcome to buy a ticket and join a group of BVOCALers who will be staying for the full evening program, including dinner (approximately 6-9pm or later).
Sign up here
Learn more about the full program here.

Acton and Concord Indivisible "action hour"
2026-06-07 02:30 - 15:30 | MA
Acton and Concord Indivisible are hosting an indoor “action hour” focused on the Act On Mass call for accountability and transparency in the MA state legislature. BVOCAL will teach the crowd of activists some of our call and response songs. State Auditor Diana Dizoglio will be there to discuss her accountability efforts. Apparently she is a singer and may join us for a song!
Sign up here

Rehearsal - On Zoom
2026-06-11 19:00 - 20:30 | MA
We will start learning music for the We the People cultural spectacle, along with reviewing many of our street songs.
Need the zoom link? Fill out this form to see the link for rehearsal. It will show on your screen after submitting.

ICE standout at Hanscom Airfield in Bedford
2026-06-12 13:30 - 15:00 | Hanscom Field, 55 Grenier St, Hanscom AFB, MA, 01731, United States
We will join the weekly ICE standout at Hanscom Airfield in Bedford. Thousands of detainees have been flown out of Hanscom. Parking is available on both sides of Old Bedford Road where it intersects with Hanscom Drive.
Join for all or just a portion of the time. Sign up here.

Dedham Flag Day parade
2026-06-14 17:00 - 18:30 | MA
The local UU church and the Dedham Human Rights Commission are assembling progressive voices to join the annual Dedham Flag Day parade. BVOCAL will lead singing as we march.
Sign up here

Concert for the First Amendment - Watch Party
2026-06-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Boston Workers Circle, 6 Webster St., Brookline, MA, 02446
No Kings is livestreaming a Concert for the First Amendment and watch parties will be happening all over the country.
Join the BVOCAL Watch Party on Sunday, June 14, 7-9pm at 6 Webster Street in Brookline. Bring a beverage or snack to share. This will be a time to socialize and connect, but of course we might find ourselves singing along with the performers!
No need to sign up. Just come!

MTA BESE Rally
2026-06-23 08:15 - 08:45 | MA
We’ll join the MTA outside the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in solidarity with immigrant students and families calling for stronger protections in MA public schools. The short rally will take place as BESE members arrive, and a delegation of speakers will then deliver public comment at the meeting.
Sign up to receive final details.

Abolish ICE event with Friends Meeting of Cambridge
2026-06-27 14:00 - 15:30 | Friends Meeting House, 5 Longfellow Park, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
Friends Meeting of Cambridge is co-hosting an Abolish ICE event. The money that is raised will go to support The Welcome Project, an immigrant advocacy organization in Somerville. We will lead the audience in singing a variety of songs to bring to their next street action. This is a way to give back to FMC, which offers us free rehearsal space, as well as support a worthy cause.
Sign up here.

Union women’s leadership organization - WILD training institute
2026-06-27 19:30 - 20:30 | Bridgewater State University, 131 Summer Street, Bridgewater, MA, 02325
The union women’s leadership organization (WILD) has invited BVOCAL to lead singing during their weekend training institute.
The WILD weekend is for women only, so this invitation is limited to BVOCAL women. The institute is attended by rank and file union members as well as members of workers centers. It is taking place at Bridgewater State University which means a one hour drive there and back; we will arrange carpools. Sign up here.

We the People - POSTPONED - DATE TBD
2026-07-03 12:00 - 15:00 | Downtown Boston
[POSTPONED DUE TO HEAT WAVE. NEW DATE COMING SOON!]
BVOCAL and the Good Trouble Brass Band are planning a pop-up spectacle to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Boston will be teeming with tourists visiting historic sites, and our goal is to reach a broad audience with our message: No one is above the law and the rights enshrined in our country’s founding documents are at risk. We will “perform” our show for crowds in downtown Boston, several times during the afternoon.
Sign-up here

MGB Homecare Clinicians strike
2026-07-14 12:00 - 14:00 | MA
BVOCAL will sing with MGB homecare clinicians on strike at MGB.
We’ll join the picket line at MGB headquarters at Assembly Row in Somerville.

Sign Up to Show Up

Rehearsal with Good Trouble Brass Band for upcoming Pop-Up Concert [Second Location Change!]
2026-07-14 19:15 - 20:45 | Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church, 155 Powder House Blvd, Somerville, MA, 02144, United States
Rehearsal with Good Trouble Brass Band for July 19 Pop-Up Concert
Time: 7:15-8:45
Location: Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church, 155 Powder House Blvd, Somerville, MA 02144

SEIU 509 Rally at MA Association for the Blind
2026-07-15 11:00 - 13:00 | MA
Contract negotiations have stalled and community service workers at the MA Association for the Blind will be holding a rally with their union, SEIU 509, on Wednesday, July 15, 11am-1pm at Union Square in Allston.

Sign Up

250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
2026-07-19 13:30 - 15:00 | Downtown Boston
BVOCAL and the Good Trouble Brass Band are planning “pop-up concerts” to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and join a national call for a weekend of action, “Good Trouble Lives On.”

On summer weekends, downtown Boston is busy with tourists visiting historic sites.
Our goal is to reach a broad audience with our message:
The rights enshrined in our country’s founding documents are at risk.

We will perform the 15-minute pop-up concert several times in multiple locations downtown Boston.

For more details on how to ger ready – Sign up here
Note: If you signed up for the July 3rd pop-up concerts that were cancelled due to the heat, you must sign up again to get details for this new date.

BVOCAL Practice Sing – Farnsworth House in JP
2026-07-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Farnsworth House Community Room, 90 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130, United States
This will be a time to learn the repertoire and build our singing community.
Free on-street parking on nearby streets; short walk from Orange line – Forest Hills Station

Singing Resistance Community sing - Cambridge Friends House
2026-08-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Friends Meeting House, 5 Longfellow Park, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
This will be a chance to learn many of the new movement songs that are meeting the moment while in community with other resistance singers. It will be collaboratively led by BVOCAL, Boston Area Singing Circles and other guest song leaders.
Ample free parking available in the U-shaped driveway

Tufts Union Rally - SEIU 32BJ
2026-09-03 15:30 - 16:30 | MA
Workers in the Tufts Facilities Department, members of SEIU 32BJ, are holding a rally to demand that the university bargain in good faith.
Despite widespread community support, including a resolution from Medford City Hall and a petition calling for a fair contract signed by over 600 campus community members, contract negotiations have gone nowhere.
This is one more example of how workers are being denied a living wage while in 2025 billionaires got $1.5 trillion richer.
Sign up here

Boston Labor Day Parade
2026-09-07 10:00 - 12:00 | MA
March with BVOCAL in Boston’s second annual Labor Day Parade!

Let’s show our solidarity with our union brothers, sisters, and siblings who are essential partners in the resistance to authoritarianism, and join this planned “kick off” of a season in which we will all be working to protect the right to vote.
We’ll be singing about union pride, immigrant rights, election protection, and more.
Sign up here
