Representative Mary S. Keefe Democrat - 15th Worcester

Elected in 2012, State Representative Mary Keefe represents the 15^th Worcester District, comprising of the Theatre District, Piedmont, and Belmont Hill neighborhoods in the City of Worcester. Mary’s vision for a more equitable Massachusetts is evident in her progressive policy priorities encompassing criminal justice reform, education, affordable housing, fair labor and wage practices, arts and culture, and environmental justice. Mary’s approach to policy-making brings stakeholders most affected by the issue to the center of the conversation, while convening partners and advocates from multiple sectors. She was committed to this philosophy while crafting the underlying legislation for the omnibus criminal justice reform bill signed into law in April 2018 (Chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018).

Currently serving her fourth term in the House of Representatives, Mary is the Vice Chair of the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change. She also is a member of the Joint Committee on Public Health, the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, and the House Committee on Ways and Means. In addition to her Committee leadership, Mary serves as the co-chair of the Legislative Criminal Justice Reform Caucus, a coalition of legislators working to address the root causes and symptoms of mass incarceration through comprehensive policy reform, education, and coalition building. She is also the co-chair of the Legislative Cultural Caucus, which aims to build awareness for the power of the arts, culture, and creativity in the Commonwealth. Furthermore, Mary is an active member of the House Progressive Caucus, Gateway Cities Caucus, Food Systems Caucus, and the Women’s Caucus.

Prior to her election as State Representative, Mary was the Executive Director of the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center (PSNNC) for twelve years. This grassroots, resident-led organization centers its work on issues that most concern working families, immigrants, business leaders, churches and institutions within the Piedmont area of the Worcester 15^th District. Her experience modeling solutions to city-wide challenges such as lack of summer jobs for youth, youth violence and impact on families, isolation and lack of community, failing neighborhood schools, and gaps in public safety services laid the foundation much of her policy focus in the Legislature.

A lifelong resident of Massachusetts, and originally from the town of Sutton, Mary has lived in downtown Worcester for close to thirty years. Neighborhood life and community work have been central in her organizing work. She has been a longtime neighborhood leader and advocate for the importance of democracy and public life. Her affiliations include; founding member of Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts, Co-chair of Worcester Interfaith, board member of the Green Hill Park Coalition, and founding member of the Worcester Community Labor Coalition.

Mary has three adult children, Joe, Thom, and Nora Kate Keefe. Mary is a graduate of Massachusetts College of Art, has been an art educator at the Worcester Art Museum for many years, and an active member of Blackstone Printmakers.