Skip Navigation
Action Center Fighting Oppression Protecting Public Education
Financial Aid for Educators ALL IN: Building Union Power Legal Resources & Know Your Rights Paid Family & Medical Leave Weingarten: The Right to Representation
Events & Conferences Bargaining Certificate PDP Courses Racial, Economic & Social Justice Video Library Calendar
Our Mission Our Leaders Our Members History Grants, Awards & Opportunities Online Store
All Articles MTA Publications Obituaries
MTA Elections Resources for Union Leaders Staff Directory Handbooks and Documents Board of Directors Executive Committee Dues Allocation NEA Directors
We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, provide ads, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.

Human Relations Committee

The Human Relations Committee promotes the advancement of women in education and addresses issues of civil and human rights.
black and white photo of Nelson Mandela
In 1986, the MTA’s Human Relations Committee offered special recognition to Nelson Mandela. Read the letter that Mandela wrote to the MTA.
By: MTA
Published: September 2025

The Human Relations Committee promotes the advancement of women in education and addresses issues of civil and human rights. Learn more about the MTA Human and Civil Rights Awards.

 

Chair: Denise LaPolla

Staff Consultant: Jennifer Freeling, jfreeling@massteacher.org

Staff Assistant: Eileen Pitts, epitts@massteacher.org

 

Get Involved!
Apply to serve on an MTA committee

Seeking appointment to an MTA committee or council?

Committee work is a key component of MTA member engagement. Committees advise the MTA Board of Directors, Executive Committee and staff on issues and services related to their assigned areas of responsibility.

Get Involved

Save the date for the 2025 awards ceremony

What: Human and Civil Rights Awards
When: Sunday, July 27, 2025
Where: MTA Summer Conference at UMass Amherst
Who: MTA Human Relations Committee
Why: The annual HCR Awards ceremony, attended by educators from across the state, honors those who have shown extraordinary dedication to civil rights and human relations.

A rally of teachers with a hand holding a megaphone

Join Our Union

Stand with educators across Massachusetts! Join the MTA to fight for strong schools, fair resources and the future our students and communities deserve.
Massachusetts Teachers Association logo

A Diverse Union of Education Workers

The MTA represents 117,000 members in 400 local associations throughout Massachusetts. We are teachers, faculty, professional staff and Education Support Professionals working at public schools, colleges and universities across Massachusetts.
Learn More
Join MTA

The Massachusetts Teachers Association is a state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.

Learn more at NEA.org

Signup

Indicates Required

Validate your MTA membership to create an account and access members-only content.

Use the same first and last name as your MTA membership.

Find your membership number on your MTA membership card. If you can't access it, call the MTA Membership Division at 617-878-8118 or email membership@massteacher.org to request. If you need additional support, email contactus@massteacher.org.
A valid email address. All emails from the system will be sent to this address. The email address is not made public and will only be used if you wish to receive a new password.

Login

Indicates Required

Log in to access content only available to MTA members.