Marilyn MacNab, a Boston community activist and trained accountant, is profiled in this month’s edition. She is a key volunteer and leader in the Boston Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Campaign and founding member of the Disability Working Group in Boston’s EITC campaign.

Marilyn responded to a series of questions on her life, her work as a disability activist, and why she works so hard for social and economic justice for all Americans.  The writer of this article requests forgiveness for any statements that may be incorrectly quoted.  Poetic license is cited.

Please introduce your self to us:

My name is Marilyn MacNab.  I grew up in the best city in our country, Boston, Massachusetts, where we are surrounded by the reenactment of historic events which established our country, from current events being discussed openly on the Boston Common to some of the finest cultural institutions in the world (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Symphony Orchestra / Boston Pops.)  My favorite class was Civics as a young person, and I am a graduate of UMass Boston with a degree in Management. 

Are you a history buff?  

Maybe, in a way. Growing up here, surrounded by such incredible culture, it is hard not to be. I am especially fond of American history and Jack and Jackie Kennedy. They were important to my formative years.  And three early American presidents were from Boston. I spent a lot of time as a child walking the Freedom Trail.  There are such riches here.

Tell us about your parents:

My father was a member of the clergy, a Congregational minister at the Central Congregational Church in Dorchester, Massachusetts, one of the neighborhoods of Boston where I still live. My mother and father were very involved in social justice. I was taught to believe in myself, that here in this country, if you work hard enough, you can accomplish your dreams.  I believe that education is key: dream it, work at it, become it.

My parents also encouraged me to be myself.  It was OK to step to the beat of the different drummer.

What were some of the social justice campaigns you worked on prior to getting involved in the Boston EITC campaign?

I advocated for many social justice issues; one which comes to mind was the Generic Drug Bill I worked on as a teenager with my parents. This would allow people to obtain prescription drugs at a reasonable cost. Later as an adult I worked on the Orphan Drug Bill. These bills would assist all individuals in our country to obtain access to medically necessary medication at a reasonable price. This work was the precursor to the larger health care for all movement. I believe health care is a right, and we should fight for that. I am currently advocating for accessibility for ALL individuals to access affordable public transportation. Also the awareness of protecting the environment was a priority for me early on.

In the 1960's and 70's, Boston was an interesting place due to the civil rights movement which influenced me greatly, that we could all work together to make a better nation.

How did you get involved in the Boston EITC Campaign?

I was invited to a meeting by their Asset Building Coordinator, who encouraged me to participate. She told me the campaign was starting up a Disability Working Group, so I came to see how I could help.  I think this was 2005. 

What exactly is the Disability Working Group?

The Disability Working Group (DWG) has become a strategic wing of the coalition; the DWG exists to plan and manage disability initiatives that shape the mission of the coalition and support the rights and services we provide to our constituencies. In recognition of the right of every individual to build financial well-being, the Disability Working Group seeks to support the empowerment of persons with disabilities by providing accessible, no-cost tax and financial services and strategic advocacy in Boston.

Has the Disability Working Group been effective?

It has been excellent. More and more individuals with disabilities have been entering the workforce where they have not worked before. We have been able to provide a safe environment for taxpayers with disabilities to access mainstream financial service, to get their taxes done for free and to participate in free credit advising. People in the community see this tax campaign as a safe place to come to get their taxes done and to have access to services.

What were some of the earlier things you did with the DWG?

Early on, in 2005 and 2006, we worked with the National Disability Institute (NDI) to expand outreach to the disabled community, and we also participated in original research in conjunction with Ford Foundation research dollars. We helped with surveys and put together attendance for a focus group to hear the voices of the community to say what their financial and tax needs were.

How else has the Boston EITC campaign been effective?

People are fond of the program, and they are spreading the word by telling other people with disabilities. Before, they wouldn’t get their taxes done; they would just skip it, or they would pay because taxes are overwhelming for people. Now, folks now rave about it.

The campaign has also been a really important education tool. It helped to organize taxpayers; for example, the list of what to bring to the tax sites on the flyers has been really important for folks. The service has also helped people to maximize their benefits.

Anything else of note that you think is important?

In the past, mainstream folks have tended to segregate us, to keep us apart, not mainstreamed. This campaign has integrated us and given us options. Some of the sites are appointment only, which is good for some people, but others like to sit in the busy walk-in sites; they like to sit there and be a part of it. That was the big thing with the Americans with Disabilities Act, not to segregate us. Through this campaign we are treated with dignity and respect. That is a real success. 

Many people are paternalistic; they want to tell us what to do. This campaign does not treat us that way. Folks now have options; they can make their own decisions.

Can you talk about some other successful outcomes of your work?

This tax campaign has been successful. It shows what the community can do in collaboration with government. The ADA worked to break down architectural barriers, but that was only the first step. With the disability community mainstreamed and people working, people now need to be educated about work opportunities, and their obligation to pay taxes. If you never had a job and you didn’t go to the bank, or the bank was inaccessible and you couldn’t get in, or you had no money anyways, you would not have had the necessary information. Now, with people entering the workforce and with jobs available to people with disabilities, we can access financial resources at the tax sites. People have met bankers, they have opened bank accounts, they understand what their credit scores are; this campaign has rounded out the access for the community and took it a step further. Things have evolved. Taxes and financial services are important to obtaining independence.  Our goal is to be independent so we can make our own choices.