LEOMINSTER CHAMPION: A MESSAGE FROM LEOMINSTER’S NEW STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Originally published in: http://www.leominsterchamp.com/articles/a-message-from-leominsters-new-state-representative/​

I am thrilled to have a monthly column in the Leominster Champion and reach Leominster residents in a new way.
It is my privilege and honor to serve as your state representative. I plan to use this column to update you about legislation moving in the State House, share community resources, and discuss important issues affecting the people of Leominster.
Growing up in a working-class family, we never saw government as an accessible resource, and we did not know how to best advocate for ourselves. However, the Office of the State Representative can play a unique role in bridging the gap between the community and the State Legislature. It is my goal to fill that role and bridge the gap, but this is where I also need your help.
This month I would like to talk about the role you can play in our state and local government, through advocacy to your elected leaders.
For the last decade, I have worked as an advocate and community organizer throughout Central Massachusetts for many under-resourced communities, including sexual violence survivors, our elderly neighbors, and public higher education. Throughout all of those roles, I have seen how powerful organizing and advocacy tools like storytelling and relationship building can be.
As your state representative, I want to work with you to raise your concerns within Leominster and across the state. In order to do that, I have been setting up a number of accessible spaces for you to reach me.
I have already started my early morning and evening office hours, and I want to thank all of the people who have taken the time to meet with me. I hope you can drop in Monday evenings anytime from 5:30-7 in the Leominster Public Library’s Small Conference Room 204. The first and last Friday of the month I will be at local breakfast spots throughout Leominster from 7-8 a.m. The middle Fridays I will be available at the Leominster High School Media Center at the same time. In addition, I will have Senior Mondays set up as a casual coffee hour throughout Leominster: The first Monday at the Senior Center at 12:30 p.m., before the Golden Agers Meeting, the second Monday at the Sunset Tower at 10:30 a.m., and the third Monday at the LaPierre Building at 10:30 a.m.
I am also pleased to be appointed to four committees in the 2017-18 legislative session: Higher Education; Mental Health, Substance, and Recovery; Community Development and Small Businesses; and Technology and Intergovernmental Affairs. I look forward to keeping you up to date with committee progress.
You can check out my full public calendar at www.RepNatalieHiggins.com.
I can be reached at my Leominster office at (978) 227-5278 or my Boston office at (617) 722-2425, or via email at Natalie.Higgins@mahouse.gov.
I look forward to connecting with you soon.
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