Brookline Town Meeting Member Recognized For Black Excellence

BROOKLINE, MA — Brookline resident and Town Meeting member Donelle Sean O’Neal was celebrated Monday as a 2022 Black Excellence on the Hill honoree by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus (MBLLC) as part of their Black History Month events.

O’Neal grew up in Brookline and learned how to advocate for civil rights at the 12th Baptist Church in Roxbury. This past summer, brought the first annual Juneteenth Celebration to Brookline, drawing more than 150 people to celebrate the holiday and to continue conversations surrounding racial justice.

“We’ve had a bad rap in Brookline, so I got involved in town seventeen years ago,” said O’Neal in a statement. "At the time there were only five Black Town Meeting members, and it was so important to have a seat at the table. I am humbled to be recognized by the MBLLC and to be nominated by Rep. Vitolo. There’s always a solution but we have a long way to go in Brookline.”

O’Neal is a longtime Town Meeting member and is a member of the Finance Committee, where he has served on the personnel and public safety sub-committees. He serves in honor of Prince, Dinah, Coff, Jack, and the many other named and unnamed people who were enslaved in Brookline.

“Congratulations to my friend and colleague, Donelle, on this much deserved honor,” said Rep. Tommy Vitolo in a statement. “Donelle leads with compassion, integrity, and a focus on equity. He is an essential voice in the community and a consistent advocate for BIPOC and low-income residents of Brookline. I am grateful that the MBLLC has chosen to recognize Donelle’s leadership.”