Jia Jia Mai is a Malden Resident and new member of Mass Senior Action Council. She joined this year after meeting MSAC Metro North members at the Malden senior center and has been enthusiastically attending meetings since.
Jia Jia explained why she became a member, “I went to the Senior fair at the Malden senior center for the first time, hoping to find someone to talk to about providing seniors with free public transportation and discount monthly Internet fees,” she says. “At the fair, I saw a group of people wearing the same blue T-shirt sitting by a table, and the T-shirt said Mass Senior Action Council. I decided to join the group and attended their monthly chapter meeting and found that MSAC is an organization that empowers seniors to have their voices heard.”
Jia Jia continued, “MSAC is made up of seniors just like me and I did find the information from MSAC that I went to the senior fair to find. I found people who want to improve public transportation and they shared information about the discounted internet. I am so glad I attended the fair and met MSAC.”
Another perk of becoming a member Jia Jia shared, “I met fellow senior Maldonians through the chapter that I wouldn’t have met otherwise, and I’m excited to learn more about some of MSAC’s key statewide issues. MSAC members are enthusiastic, energetic, and dutiful,”.
Jia Jia found herself on a new learning curve,”MSAC provided information on issues I didn't know before, for instance, how to apply for the internet discount and how to build people power by mobilizing members to address issues. I see how we work together to get things done.”
Jia Jia is keenly interested in transit as a vital public good, and believes it should be free for seniors, who rely on it to get around. Jia Jia joined other MSAC members at the July rally at the state house to push for a means tested fare known as the low-income fare. The policy is included in the state budget as a pilot program, showing Jia Jia and others - Participation Matters!
The Metro North Chapter is thrilled such a wonderful advocate joined and is “not taking it, Jia Jia is ready to take charge with MSAC!