Joanna O’Connell Named 2020 Commonwealth Heroine

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — NORTH Andover's Joanna O'Connell was recognized as a 2020 Commonwealth Heroine, Wednesday. O'Connell is a member of the town Sustainability Committee and was honored for her work to compost food waste at North Andover Public Schools.

The annual Commonwealth Heroines celebration recognizes women from across the state who "perform unheralded acts daily that make our homes, neighborhoods, cities and towns better places to live." State legislators are responsible for recommending women within their districts for the honor. O'Connell was nominated by state Rep. Christina Minicucci.

"Joanna earned her college degree in Environmental Geography and later began a career
as an environmental consultant," the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, which gives out the honor, wrote. "After having two children, Joanna shifted gears. In 2017,
Joanna joined the North Andover Sustainability Committee and made it her personal mission
to make change at a local level."

In 2018, O'Connell ran a pilot program to compost food waste at two district schools, and then used data from the pilot to win a state grant to expand it to all the district's public schools.

"Through this process, she has breathed new life into the Sustainability Committee, drawing new members every month," the Commission continued. "Joanna has engaged our students in the fight against climate change, and continues to fight for and expand green initiatives across the community. She does all this behind the scenes while working, raising a family, and being an all around champion community volunteer."

Click here for the full list of Commonwealth Heroines.