05/22/2026
A message from Victory CEO, Sarah Porter: Today is Melnea Cass Day. You might recognize the name from a street sign, but do you know the incredible woman behind it?
Known as the "First Lady of Roxbury", Melnea Cass was truly a force of her own, as the chairperson for the Massachusetts Advisory Committee for the Elderly, the president of the Boston branch of the NAACP, and the only female charter member of Action for Boston Community Development, Melnea epitomizes Boston’s civil rights activism. Despite this trailblazing legacy, her name has unfortunately become synonymous with the most troubled part of our city, "Mass and Cass".
Mass and Cass is frequently referred to as the epicenter for New England's growing opioid crisis. Which is a shame, because it's existence demonstrates that we're not doing enough to respond the way Melnea Cass did: with action, urgency, and humanity. Melnea Cass was a problem solver of the highest order, dedicating her life to combating racial discrimination, economic oppression, and advancing women’s suffrage. She didn’t wait for perfect conditions or sweeping change; she acted where she stood, with what she had.
In honor of her legacy, I want to leave you with this profound quote of hers: “If we cannot do great things, we can do small things in a great way.”
So, over the next 365 days, let us all try our best to live like Melnea and turn the street named after her into something Boston can be proud of. Support a local organization. Advocate for better policy. Check in on your neighbors. Challenge the narratives we accept about our communities. Honoring Melnea Cass isn't about a street name or a day on the calendar. It's about continuing her work and fighting the good fight, regardless of how tiring it may be.
