MA Senators Host Town Hall Style Forum: Commonwealth Conversations Tour

WORCESTER, MA—In a town hall style public event, several senators are inviting the community to Commonwealth Conversations, taking place this week in Worcester.

Senators Harriette L. Chandler (D- Worcester), Ryan C. Fattman (R- Webster), Anne M. Gobi (D- Spencer), Michael O. Moore (D- Millbury) announced that the "Commonwealth Conversations Tour,” established by the State Senate, will be returning for its Central Massachusetts event on Tuesday, April 25.

Commonwealth Conversations, co-sponsored by Senate President Stan Rosenberg (D- Amherst), Senator Michael Rodrigues (D- Westport), and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R- Gloucester), is a statewide listening tour of various geographic regions.

"The overall goal of Commonwealth Conversations is to foster more civic engagement in the community and help each Senator learn more about issues outside of his or her own district while visiting with local residents, businesses, and interest groups to listen directly to their needs and concerns," said the release.

Senators Chandler, Fattman, Gobi, and Moore host this town hall-style public forum at the Seven Hills Foundation (81 Hope Ave., Worcester) from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25.

All residents of the Central MA region are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussion, and sign-up sheets will be available at the forum for attendees. In an effort to accommodate all speakers, comments will be limited to no more than 2 minutes per person.

“Commonwealth Conversations provides a unique opportunity for the Senate to bring Beacon Hill to local communities across the state,” said Chandler in the announcement. “Central MA is home to the second largest city in New England and I hope that constituents will come to join members of the State Senate at the public forum.”

“I am honored and excited to be a part of this year’s Commonwealth Conversations,” said Fattman in a statement. “I hope that this tour will serve as a positive arena for open conversation and discussion to improve the well-being and overall success of the Commonwealth.”

“We are excited to build on the success of last session’s Commonwealth Conversations tour,” said Gobi in a statement. “There is a lot we can do to help our communities and it goes a long way to have our colleagues visit our communities to learn what needs to be done in areas that they don’t typically see.”

“This tour is a tremendous opportunity for area residents to connect with Senators from across the region and to share their perspectives about matters involving the Legislature,” said Moore in a statement. “It also fosters a productive learning experience that helps inform policy initiatives undertaken by the Senate. I hope that many local residents will join us at the evening forum and participate in the conversation.”