Clients and Leaders Alike Doing Work in the Community - Advocating for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG)
Catherine Harris, also known as “Grandmother Love” is the architect behind Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG), a forum which advocates for low-income families in need of legal services in Massachusetts. The forum was created to educate and empower all grandparents raising grandchildren to share their unique challenges regarding mental health, healing closure, and to improve legislation with community leaders, stakeholders, and policy makers. Since its creation, Ms. Harris has expanded GRG to include Specialized Support services, which provide information on housing, adoption, and unemployment to people in need. In addition to GRG, Ms. Harris is also working on other advocacy projects, such as her L-Jeeem Magnificent Action Association, Recovery Legislation Justice Foundation, and the Rome’a Jewelry Foundation.
Last year during the month of September (which is National Grandparents Celebration Month), GRG celebrated what Ms. Harris calls the “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Lives Matter Movement” during which jewelry, photo albums, t-shirts, flowers, and baked goods were sold to fund the forum’s work for underserved families.
In terms of political activity, Ms. Harris recently met with Massachusetts State Senator Edward John Markey, with whom she discussed the goals of GRG. In this meeting, Ms. Harris argued for Senator Markey’s support of her Specialized Support program, as well as a pilot program to aid young homeless people in MA (18-30 years old) suffering from mental illness. She also emphasized the importance of immigration and economic reform policies. Ms. Harris is drawn to this noble work through her faith, which plays an important role in her daily life. She believes that God has a plan for her advocacy, stating proudly that “God is not through with me yet!”