State House
Room 254
Boston, MA, 02133
Elected in November 2010, Russell Holmes represents Massachusetts’ Sixth Suffolk District, which includes a
portion of the communities of Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park, Roslindale, and Jamaica Plain.
At an early age, Russell learned the importance of community involvement from one of his first mentors in life,
Lenzer Evans. Mr. Evans owned Brigham’s Ice Cream in Mattapan Square, which provided the first
employment opportunity for many young people in the community, including Russell. Mr. Evans taught all his
young employees that work was not just a means for getting ahead, but that they must also leave the community
better than the way they found it. From the small corner bench in his shop, Mr. Evans met with state and city
leaders to discuss policy and public affairs. Mr. Evans encouraged Russell to participate as well.
Russell remembered the lessons of his youth about the importance of community and purchased his first home
in Mattapan. Soon after, he began to get involved in public service and civic activism when he decided that the
streets in his community could use some upkeep. Enlisting the help of his neighbors, Russell grew his street
cleaning initiative into a community-wide operation that culminated in a partnership with Mayor Menino.
As a community leader, Russell has worked passionately on issues related to local economic development,
education, and public transportation. He chaired the Mattapan Library Task Force, which brought Boston’s first
new public library since 2001.
In 2007, Russell chaired the Mattapan Economic Development Initiative (MEDI) and was an instrumental force
in developing a new set of building codes to attract businesses to the community. More recently, the team won a
federal Main Streets designation for Mattapan Square. This accomplishment will allow the community to tap
into city funds to repair storefronts and improve buildings. In addition, the community will develop a holistic
marketing strategy for the surrounding business district.
Russell loves volunteering. In addition to teaching Sunday school at the church of Christ in Roxbury, Russell
has mentored 18 to 22 year-olds, serving as a male role model and coach on the transition from adolescence to
adulthood. He has tutored elementary, high school, and college students on academic and life skills and has
served as a Big Brother in Big Brother Big Sisters.
Russell graduated from Boston University with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1992, and he received his
MBA from Northeastern in 2000. He currently works as a Certified Financial Planner with Ameriprise. When
he is away from the State House, you can usually find Russell working on local initiatives, teaching Sunday
school with his wife Sheree, and knocking on doors to listen to the concerns of his constituents.
Personal Information
Certified Financial Planner, Legislator
Sheree Holmes
- Golf, Tennis, Community Service
Career Highlights
- Treasurer of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Caucus, Treasurer of the 187th General Court of the Commonwealth freshman class
- Certificate, Emerging Leaders program at University of Virginia Darden School of Business, Certificate, 2012 Healthcare summit at John Hopkins Medicine
- Member of the Judiciary Committee 2012-2013, Member of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card Commission
- Member of Public Housing Sustainability and Reform Advisory Committee, Vice Chairman in his Sophomore year as a legislator
Education & Public Service
- Hyde Park High School, Hyde Park
- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Boston University
- Masters in Business Administration, Northeastern University
- Certified Financial Planner at Ameriprise Financial
- Former Chair of the Mattapan Economic Development Initiative
- Former Chair of the Mattapan Library Task Force