Tom Stanley

Looking for another way to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our great country?

Visit Massachusetts and MA250 invite municipalities, schools, cultural institutions, and community organizations to participate in “Sharing the Spirit of America”, a nationwide initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the public readings of the Declaration of Independence.

On July 8, 2026, communities across all 50 states and U.S. territories will be invited to participate in a synchronized reading of the Declaration on the anniversary of the first public reading.

Even though the United States is spread across thousands of miles and nine different time zones, all of us in America may read the Declaration of Independence ‘together’, at the ‘same’ time. As the birthplace of the American Revolution, Massachusetts is uniquely positioned to participate!

To learn more about Sharing the Spirit of America and how MA250 is supporting communities for this event, check out 👉https://tinyurl.com/yc5nsk6m

Last week, I attended the Bentley University Service-Learning & Civic Engagement Center’s Annual Community Partner Luncheon!

BSLCE works with over 1,000 Bentley students each academic year, connecting them with service opportunities at 60 community partner sites, including my state house office!

I very much enjoyed hearing from students at the luncheon on how BSLCE has helped them engage with the The City of Waltham Community and how these experiences improved their skills

Waltham is lucky to have such an innovative partner in our great city and the BSLCE’s work is just one example of how we all benefit when students engage with our community organizations, families, schools, neighborhoods, and others💪

A BIG thank you goes to BSLCE for being so involved in Waltham and for providing their students with these amazing opportunities! I look forward to our continued partnership 🙏

I am beyond excited to share my nomination for the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women Class of 2026 Commonwealth Heroines - Maura Sullivan 📢

Maura is CEO of The Arc of Massachusetts and mother of three children, including two sons with autism, intellectual disabilities, and medical complexities. Most importantly, 😉she is also my constituent!

Each year, the MCSW partners with state legislators to identify women who make outstanding contributions to their communities. Whether in her personal life or professional career, Maura has done so much to make The City of Waltham a better place 🙏

Prior to her role as CEO, Maura was an extremely successful advocate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism and their families. Her achievements include:
✅Nicky’s Law (establishing a statewide abuse registry),
✅ Police Training in Autism
✅ Statewide adoption and public funding of Operation House Call, The Arc’s nationally recognized medical education program that partners with all major Massachusetts medical and nursing schools.

Her leadership and advocacy have supported so many individuals and their caregivers in the Waltham community and beyond. Waltham is extremely fortunate to have Maura and The Arc call our great city home.

I’m looking forward to celebrating Maura and her fellow Class of 2026 Commonwealth Heroines on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at the Massachusetts Statehouse 🎉🎉

In the meantime, please join me in giving her a round of applause for this well-deserved honor 👏👏

2026 marked the 27th Annual Charles River Earth Day Cleanup! 🌎

To celebrate this occasion, I recently joined DCR Commissioner LaChapelle, State Rep. John Lawn, and Sonja Wadman, Executive Director of the Waltham Land Trust for an event to promote one of the largest Cleanups in the Country!

Over the weekend of 4/24-4/25, hundreds of volunteers joined Charles River Conservancy, the Charles River Esplanade Association, Charles River Watershed Association, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and WLT to remove litter along the banks of the Charles and Muddy Rivers!

Grateful to these organizations for efforts to preserve the Charles River’s environmental beauty and recreational uses 🙏

On Wednesday (4/22), I had the honor of presenting an award to the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University as part of the annual Clubhouse Employment Celebration at the State House🎉

Brandeis University has partnered with Charles Webster Potter Place Clubhouse since 2015 to employ one of their members, Aaron Needle, as a Gallery Attendant at the Rose Art Museum on their campus.

This partnership provided meaningful employment opportunities for Clubhouse members living with mental health, helping them remain involved in our community without stigma or judgement.

Thank you Potter Place Clubhouse for inviting me to share this moment with your organization, your members, and Brandeis University 🙏

Keep up all the great work on behalf of those with mental health!

Taking a break from the House budget debate to share the amazing news that WATCH CDC received a $375,000 award from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) Program🎉

WATCH was one of 52 Community Development Corporation and Support Organizations that received awards from EOHLC to advance affordable housing development and preservation, strengthen neighborhood-based programs, and expand economic opportunity in communities across the Commonwealth.

For a full list of awardees, visit 👉https://tinyurl.com/yms2zm4z

To learn more about the CITC program, check out 👉 https://tinyurl.com/2rnxx6zy

Budget season has arrived! 💸

On Wednesday (4/15), the House Committee on Ways and Means released their FY27 Budget. Totaling $63.3 billion, Chair Michlewitz and the budget writers worked hard to balance the needs of Massachusetts residents with the fiscal uncertainty around federal funding and potential future revenue changes.

Some highlights include funding for MassHealth, local aid, education, transportation, and affordable housing programs.

Today marks the first day of House Budget Debate! Stay tuned for more specific budget info coming soon!!