Battle of Lexington, re-enacted.
Author: senmikeb
Organ donors give the gift of life
Surgeons performed nearly 1,700 life-saving organ transplants in New England last year, according to New England Donor Services (NEDS). To kick off Organ Donation Month, commemorated each April, I joined NEDS, town officials, and organ recipients at Waltham City Hall to raise a banner encouraging donor registration.
You can register to become a donor here: www.mass.gov/OrganDonor
Ramadan Mubarak!
The Iftar — the breaking of the fast during Ramadan — represents compassion, coexistence, and collective responsibility. In Chelmsford, I joined the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell (ISGL) for their Iftar dinner, where over 150 community members gathered in a celebration of unity. Thank you to ISGL for bringing us all together!
Waltham and Weston: Two communities on the Henry Knox Trail
Waltham and Weston, two communities I represent, deserve their fair share of credit for their roles in the American Revolution. Both sit along the Henry Knox Trail, named for the route that Colonel Knox followed as he hauled his “Noble Train of Artillery” from upstate New York to Boston for the Continental Army. When Knox passed through in 1776, both Waltham and Weston provided aid.
At a Revolution 250 event, I presented plaques honoring each community to Pam Fox, president of the Weston Historical Society (and pictured above), and Wayne McCarthy, president of the Waltham Historical Society.
Photo credit: Nicole Mordecai/Weston Observer
A clip from “Raising Us,” an upcoming film about the impact of disability advocacy
“Chasing EV goals, locals mark wins and headwinds”
The Concord Bridge
The leaders of Minute Man Arc, a non-profit that supports people with disabilities, are excited about their recent swing toward an electric van fleet. As the state urges wider electric vehicle adoption, other Concord groups are weighing their own projects.
With 12 chargers and 15 electric vans, Minute Man is “blazing a leadership path,” state Sen. Michael Barrett said.
Talking climate with Brooksby residents
Brooksby Village, a senior living community in Peabody, is home to some terrific climate advocates. Members of Brooksby’s climate change committee — Dan Greenberg, Jean Wright, and Tom Bracewell — dropped by the State House to discuss EV chargers, solar panels, and other clean energy projects.
Meeting the next generation of leaders at Bridge Elementary
If you’re looking for future presidents, Bridge Elementary School in Lexington is a good place to start. I met with fifth graders from Bridge’s student government program, who filled me in on what they’ve been working on. Some of their recent projects: collecting gifts for low-income seniors, cleaning up a local park, and organizing a food drive for the Lexington Food Pantry. Impressive stuff. Thanks to Bridge’s Heather Kinney for organizing.
Let the super-rich super-pollute?
State Senator Mike Barrett, Lexington League of Women Voters, December 2025
Minute Man Arc goes electric
Minute Man Arc, a nonprofit that supports people with disabilities in the Concord area, just unveiled its new fleet of electric vans. I helped lift the giant scissors at the ribbon-cutting.
We can keep pushing forward on climate regardless of the headwinds coming out of Washington. Nonprofits like Minute Man are planting the seeds of progress that will enable Massachusetts to continue decarbonizing through the Trump years.
