Community Labor United

What Community Labor United does

Community Labor United (CLU) is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit coalition organization founded in 2005 and headquartered at 8 Beacon Street, 5th Floor, Boston. It operates as an intermediary that unites labor unions and community-based organizations around shared campaigns advancing social, environmental, and economic justice for working-class people and communities of color in Greater Boston and across Massachusetts. The organization's core operational model is coalition organizing rather than technology product development: it runs the Green Justice Coalition (focused on Project Labor Agreements, energy democracy, and MBTA transit equity), the Care That Works coalition (focused on child care access, provider wages, and Family/Friend/Neighbor caregivers), and supporting programs including Young Workers' Rights, Equitable Pathways for Work, and a quarterly Strategy Table. CLU also produces coalition-based research publications that translate frontline organizing experience into policy reports and briefs.

CLU's primary 'products' are advocacy campaigns and research outputs, not software or services sold commercially. Its technology stack is minimal — a WordPress website (massclu.org), an email newsletter, and standard social channels — and it explicitly has no proprietary technology platform. Its GTM motion is community-led: member-driven organizing, rallies on Beacon Hill, press conferences, participatory research, earned media in outlets such as the Boston Globe, WBUR, and Bay State Banner, and direct engagement with policymakers at the City of Boston, Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, MBTA Board, and state legislature.

CLU's revenue model is that of a typical 501(c)-class nonprofit: donations, grants from philanthropic partners, and institutional support. Identified funders include the Boston Children's Collaboration for Community Health (Oct 2021–Sep 2024), Boston Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, the City of Boston, and individual donors. The organization employs 7 staff members and is governed by a board composed of senior leaders from partner unions (Greater Boston Labor Council, Massachusetts AFL-CIO, IBEW Local 103, UFCW 1445, IUPAT DC 35, SEIU 509) and community organizations (ACE, Neighbor to Neighbor MA, New England Community Project). Executive leadership is provided by Executive Director Natalicia Tracy, with Susanna Bohme serving as Research Director and deputy director.

Name

Community Labor United

Legal name

Community Labor United

Website

https://massclu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Community Labor United is a Boston-based nonprofit, founded in 2005, that unites Massachusetts labor unions and community organizations to run coalition-driven campaigns and participatory research advancing working-class, environmental, and care-economy justice.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Coalition Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (81393)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Labor, Worker Rights & Employment Policy Advocacy (BPAGAFAH), Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI)

Keywords

• Community organizing
• Labor coalition building
• Workforce advocacy
• Environmental justice campaigns
• Child care advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: CLU operates as a non-profit organization funded through donations and grants from partners and supporters.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Community Labor United is a coalition-building nonprofit organization that unites labor unions and community groups in Massachusetts to advance social, environmental, and economic justice. It runs strategic campaigns through coalitions such as the Green Justice Coalition (environmental justice, just transition, transit equity) and Care That Works (child care access and provider wages), alongside workforce programs and participatory research publications. Its work is funded through donations and grants, and it does not sell products or services.

Product overview

Community Labor United (CLU) is a coalition-building nonprofit organization that operates through multiple interconnected coalitions, programs, and campaigns rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include the Green Justice Coalition (GJC), which advocates for environmental and economic justice through energy democracy, Project Labor Agreements, and public transit initiatives; Care That Works, a coalition focused on child care advocacy and Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregiver support; and several programs including Young Workers' Rights, Equitable Pathways for Work, and the Strategy Table. CLU also produces research publications developed with coalition partners. All offerings are advocacy and organizing initiatives rather than technology products or software platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Green Justice Coalition (GJC) A partnership of community-based nonprofits and labor organizations that runs strategic campaigns to achieve environmental and economic justice and a just transition to a sustainable economy. Focus areas include energy democracy, Project Labor Agreements, and public transit.
• Care That Works A multiracial, feminist, working-class coalition of unions and community groups organizing paid and unpaid child caregivers to reimagine and realign the care ecosystem as a public good, ensuring all care jobs are good jobs.
• Young Workers' Rights Program Program engaging low-income young people of color aged 16-26 in environmental justice communities, helping them see themselves as part of the broader response to climate change through workplace rights education, environmental justice education, career pathways, and leadership development.
• Equitable Pathways for Work Program Program building a pipeline for communities of color, women, and workers new to unions and the trades to enter climate-critical careers by helping participants understand requirements, deadlines, and application processes for union building trades.
• Research Publications Coalition-based research that supports campaigns by analyzing structural problems and identifying opportunities for change, produced with coalition partners and frontline organizing to shape every step of the process.

Quantifiable outcome

• PLA expansion legislation passed with 150-2 vote in Massachusetts House; Governor signed executive order promoting PLAs on public works projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Greater Boston Labor CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLU board chair Darlene Lombos also serves as President of Greater Boston Labor Council. Deep partnership in labor organizing and coalition campaigns.
• Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDwaign Tyndal serves as Executive Director of ACE and CLU Board Treasurer. Partner in Green Justice Coalition.
• IBEW Local 103coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReneé Dozier serves as Business Agent. Partner in Green Justice Coalition focusing on electrical trades workforce development.
• Chinese Progressive AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Green Justice Coalition representing Asian American community interests.
• Neighbor to Neighbor MassachusettscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDálida Rocha serves as Executive Director. Partner in community organizing coalitions.
• New England Community ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNoemi Ramos serves as Executive Director. Partner in coalition campaigns.
• Greater Boston Building Trades UnionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrian Doherty and Chaton Green represent building trades unions in Green Justice Coalition.
• Massachusetts AFL-CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDarrin Howell serves as Director of Organizing. Labor federation partner in coalition campaigns.
• IUPAT DC 35coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJorge Rivera serves as Director of Organizing. Painters and allied trades union partner.
• UFCW 1445coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYesenia Alfaro-Alvarez serves as Business Agent. United Food and Commercial Workers union.
• Building PathwayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Care That Works coalition; leads pre-apprenticeship training for union trades; Nancy Luc represents Building Pathways on CLU's leadership team.
• SEIU 509coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService Employees International Union local partner in Care That Works coalition.
• Brookview HousesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeless shelter and housing organization co-sponsoring childcare advocacy with CLU.
• UAW (United Auto Workers)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor union partner in Care That Works coalition.
• La ColaborativasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerChelsea-based community organization partner in childcare initiatives.
• Policy Group on TradeswomensecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting women in building trades partnerships.
• NECP (New England Community Project)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner in Care That Works coalition.
• Boston Children’s Collaboration for Community HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded CLU as a partner from October 2021 to September 2024 to support community health initiatives.
• City of BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided grants to support child care pilot programs; Mayor Michelle Wu signed executive order strengthening child care zoning.
• Boston Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing grants to support child care pilot programs.
• Boston Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing grants to support child care pilot programs.
• Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency that strengthened support for Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers following CLU advocacy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Massachusetts Jobs with Justice: Boston-based labor-community coalition focused on worker rights and economic justice in Massachusetts; the closest direct peer to CLU in mission, geography, and coalition model.
• Boston Worker Alliance: Boston-area worker center organizing immigrant and low-wage workers — overlaps with CLU's worker rights advocacy and Care That Works base-building approach.
• Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE): Roxbury-based environmental justice organization and CLU board partner in the Green Justice Coalition — directly comparable mission and Boston geography.
• Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts: Massachusetts community organizing group and CLU coalition partner focused on immigrant communities and housing equity — comparable base-building organizing approach.
• New England Community Project: Community organization and CLU board/coalition partner focused on immigrant worker rights — comparable mission and Boston-area base.

Broad incumbents

• Grassroots Global Justice Alliance: National network of base-building organizations advancing racial, economic, and environmental justice — comparable coalition philosophy to CLU's Green Justice Coalition, scaled nationally.
• Center for Popular Democracy: National labor-community alliance organizing for progressive policy at state and local level — comparable high-level coalition model with broader geographic reach than CLU.
• Right to the City Alliance: National alliance of community organizations addressing gentrification, housing, and urban equity — adjacent to CLU's community-labor organizing approach, especially on transit equity.
• Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD): Boston's largest antipoverty community action agency — overlaps with CLU's workforce and care-economy work for low-income families, though at a much larger scale.

Regional players

• Massachusetts AFL-CIO: State labor federation representing union members across Massachusetts — directly overlaps with CLU's labor coalition partners and shares campaign infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dept.public.imagination

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Labor United