Amazing Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester community!
This is it! The last campaign blog post in this series. The next time I post will be in the new year as your State Senator.
My last blog ended with October 27, 2018, so I’m picking up from there to let you know what I’ve been up to on our behalf. I’ve loved this work to ensure that constituents in our district have visibility into my preparation to take office.
What this won’t show you are:
- the many calls I’m having with colleagues about the next session and building a Senate team,
- the work I’m doing to build a strategic legislative platform for our district, and
- my efforts to find a physical office location,
- and all of the planning and preparation for events.
It also won’t show you the modest amount of case work I’m doing to help pick up individual advocacy that’s needed in the district.
But here goes:
October 28: Offered remarks at an FCCPR summit in Montague
October 29: Spoke at Paul Newlin’s Smith class
October 29: Attended a vigil and service to mourn the tragic mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue
October 30: Visited the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission for a briefing on the incredible work happening in Hamsphire and Hampden counties
October 31: Attended a briefing hosted by North Star: Self-Directed Learning for Teens
November 2: Met with the amazing team from Franklin Regional Council of Governments
November 3: Attended a benefit for the Northampton Survival Center
November 4: Met with Senator Adam Hinds
November 4: Hosted a phone bank for Antonio Delgado
November 4: Met with a group of Mount Holyoke College Democrats
November 5: Toured the Academy of Music to learn more about its vision for the future
November 5: Toured Service Net programs in Greenfield, met with Greenfield Public Library supporters
November 6: Election Day!
November 7: Met with the GCC President, Yves Salomon-Fernández
November 8: Dance class for the Pathlight benefit! (The picture above is with two fellow dancers!)
November 13: Spoke at the Annual NPP dinner
November 13: Attended a Northampton City Council hearing about a proposed change regarding tenants on the Northampton Housing Authority board
November 14: Attended a briefing on education funding in Gill Montague
November 15: Attended a briefing by CISA
November 16: Attended a housing summit organized by the WMA Network to End Homelessness
November 17: Jared (from our team) attended Greening Greenfield
November 17: I performed with my team Solid Gold at the Let’s Dance fundraiser for Pathlight
November 18: I held community meetings in Royalston, Leverett, and Wendell
November 19: Attended a briefing by Dairy Farmers, nursery growers, and snow mobilers
November 20: Joined Day 2 of Monte’s March and an incredible team
November 26: In Boston for a host of meetings!
November 27: Spoke at the UMass class of Professor Raymond LaRaja
November 27: Spoke at the South Hadley Select Board meeting
November 29: Met with Register of Deeds, Mary Olberding
November 29: Met with the staff of Jim McGovern and Senators Warren and Markey
November 29: Attended an annual gathering of the Franklin County Selectboard Association
December 2: Participated in the Hot Chocolate Run
December 2: Attended the swearing in of the new Amherst Town Council
December 4: With CDH President Joanne Marquesee, convened a meeting to address the nursing shortage
December 4: Attended a meeting focused on economic development with GCC President Yves Salomon-Fernández and Senators Lesser and Hinds
December 4: Met with the Massachusetts Nursing Association
December 5: Spoke to a Five College Learning in Retirement Class at Smith College thanks to Nancy Mihevic
December 5: Spoke on a panel at the Hitchcock Center
December 6: All day Democratic caucus retreat with Senate colleagues
December 7: Attended a Legal Aid luncheon
December 8: Spoke at a Franklin County League of Women Voters event in Shelburn
December 9: Spoke at the Annual Human Rights Day event hosting in Amherst by Amherst Amnesty International
December 10: Toured Northampton High School along with Education Commissioner Riley
December 11: Brought Senate President Karen Spilka to the region for a packed day of events, ending with a Springifield fundraiser
December 12-14: Attended a Legislative Academy for new legislators
December 15: Attended a Friends of Leverett Pond gathering
December 17: Met with Max Page from the MTA
December 17: Attended a briefing by Franklin County MassHigher about workforce development
December 17: Attended a briefing by regional veterans groups
December 17: Joined a call with the Senate Progressive Caucus
December 18: Toured the Carpenters’ Union Training Facility
December 18: Attended an environmental hearing in the State House
December 18: Attended the kick off of Fund Our Future
December 19: At the State House for meetings and calls with SP Spilka, Senator Jason Lewis and others, followed by a briefing by MA Architects
And that takes us to today!
Warmest wishes for a bright and just new year.
-Jo
