Press Release: 2022-12-05

Massachusetts has elected new leaders: time to reach out to the Healey-Driscoll administration — and their transition committees

Massachusetts has elected new leaders: time to reach out to the Healey-Driscoll administration — and their transition committees

Next month, Massachusetts will have new leadership, so it’s time for advocates to learn about and reach out to key players in state public policy.

One good place to start is learning about the transition teams that have been created by Governor-elect Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor-elect Kim Driscoll.

The key committee for early childhood advocates to focus on is called “Thriving Youth and Young Adults.”

Chaired by Amanda Fernandez, the CEO of Latinos for Education, and Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Rachel H. Monárrez, the committee is looking at, “How we address learning loss from the pandemic and give all children and families equitable access to the educational, social, emotional and behavioral supports they need.”

Serving on the committee are well known members of the early education and care community, including:

– Turahn Dorsey, chief impact officer at Eastern Bank Foundation

– William J. Eddy, executive director of Massachusetts Association of Early Education & Care

– Lauren Kennedy, co-president and chief strategy officer of Neighborhood Villages, and

– Mark Reilly, vice president of Policy & Government Relations at Jumpstart

Another long-time friend of early childhood policy JD Chesloff, the executive director of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, is a co-chair of the “Jobs and a Flourishing Economy for All” transition committee. As the pandemic has shown, a strong early childhood system is essential for the economy, businesses, and working families.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be on a transition committee to participate. If you have ideas to share, just click here and fill out a form to share your thoughts. The administration wants “to hear your ideas on how we can work together to move Massachusetts forward.”

Healey and Driscoll’s inclusive goal: “Let’s move Massachusetts forward, together.”