By Bob Katzen
“It was great to welcome Suni Williams to the Statehouse and back home to Massachusetts. Her resilience and dedication to service serves as an incredible model for young people across the state, reminding them that their potential is as limitless as outer space. We hope that some of the students who joined us today will be inspired to pursue careers in STEM and truly reach for the stars.”
—Gov. Healey hosting a meet and greet with American Astronaut and Needham native Suni Williams and local students at the Statehouse. Williams is the first woman to fly on a flight test of an orbital spacecraft during the 2024 Boeing Crew Flight Test and had her stay extended for nine months by technical problems aboard the ISS.
“We are here to make our voices heard and we are asking our legislators to listen and to act, to protect and to strengthen the programs which keep older adults safe, nourished and at home. And to continue to invest in our nonprofit system of care that has delivered value to the commonwealth for decades and so that it can continue to do so for generations to come.”
—Betsey Crimmins, Mass Aging Access Executive Director speaking at the Older Adult Lobby Day at the Statehouse along with some 600 older adults and their supporters.
“Every statewide election, thousands of voters show up to vote on Election Day but encounter preventable barriers to voting. The Voting Access Campaign seeks to remove those known barriers by advocating for important voting reforms like Same Day Registration. Let’s ensure that every eligible voter who seeks to cast a ballot on Election Day can cast one that counts and that we make sure the door to our democracy is fully opened to all eligible voters in Massachusetts.”
—Geoff Foster, executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts at a press conference announcing the group’s 2025 legislative campaign to strengthen voting access for all Bay Staters.
“Investing in our youth and young adults is an essential part of our state’s strategy to develop pathways for our future talent and workforce. YouthWorks provides an invaluable chance for young people to discover why Massachusetts is an exceptional place to live and work.”
—Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones announcing some $22 million in funding grants to hire 6,540 youth in summer and year-round employment through the state’s YouthWorks program for the 2025-2026 program year. The program provides teens and young adults with hands-on work experience and soft-skill development, and places them in jobs in industries such as education, health care, information technology, camp counselors, arts and communications.