Thousands of Harvard student volunteers joined forces with activists around the Boston area when the Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) entered into the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO) this week.

The entrance is part of a conscious attempt to turn PBHA's mostly service-minded volunteers towards greater political activism, says PBHA president Trevor S. Cox '01-'02.

"[The] move toward advocacy gives volunteers and directors a more enriched view of what they're doing," Cox says.

Formed in 1996, GBIO unites about 90 Boston-area congregations and community groups together to advocate for social action in Boston. Last May, the organization prompted the Mass. state legislature to earmark $100 million toward affordable housing after a series of public rallies and petitions.

With yesterday's move to mail off membership dues, PBHA is now officially a part of the GBIO roster. PBHA representatives will vote on behalf of the organization at GBIO's monthly meetings.

Ari M. Lipman '00, a former PBHA volunteer who now works with GBIO, says students have an important perspective to offer the organization.

"Students are a large part of Boston, so it's important that students be represented," he says.

Building Consensus