Celeste Hewitt

I have over 40 years experience of volunteerism, community and political advocacy. Service to others has been a cornerstone of everything I do and has been from a very young age. From baby sitting at Crossroads shelter for women and children at the age of twelve, developing citywide events in Boston and volunteering with veterans at the Chelsea Soldiers Home at the age of 15 - and the last two decades of hands on political engagement - community focus has been a way of life for me. As the Co-chair of No Eastie Casino from 2011 through 2014, I pushed back on special interest millionaire initiatives poised to impact our quality of life and defended our unprecedented win before the Mass State Gaming Commission as they sought to skirt the legislation. As the chair of Committee for Sustainable and Responsible Economic Development in 2016 - I travelled the state to defend our economy against initiatives sponsored by international dark money interests. While civic engagement and investing in the quality of life of my friends, neighbors and community are important to me - they come an extremely close second to my role as Mom, Step Mom, Wife, caretaker, daughter, sister and aunt to my family. Selfishly I am involved because I want to ensure the quality of life for my family and anyone they might cross paths with. I want to show my daughter, nieces, nephews and young people that you can be and do anything. That nothing is insurmountable and together - we are better than we are apart. That outlook extends outside of my family and into my community. As a first generation American and latch key kid who started my own family at a young age, I recognize the value of ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live, work, raise a family and be successful – whatever that means to them. As someone whose grandparents hailed from the greatest generation – I have the utmost respect for our veterans of yesterday and today. Those same grandparents who toiled in the factories and mills, earning piece work rates and taking on 2 and 3 jobs at a time, while providing in every way for their family – gave me my affection for every single working person who have literally built and continue to sustain our nation by the sweat of their brow and relentless determination. As someone who believe it truly takes a collaborative community focused mind set that make up the heart, soul and really life of a community – I get involved. I serve on the Citizens Advisory Commission on Climate, because I believe it is my responsibility to contribute to the well-being of my community. As a solution focused problem solver, I believe that there is an attainable path to resilience and security for our coastal community. I serve on the Winthrop Commission for Diversity Inclusion and Community relations – because I know that when our neighbors feel seen, heard, welcome, safe and secure - we all do. I love Winthrop for so many of the reasons that a lot of folks do. It is a town full of beauty and possibility. I love it for it’s coastal charm and resilience. I love it for it’s diversity and accessibility. I love Winthrop for all the things that it is, and can be. We are still very early on in this election and I hope to meet as many residents as possible as I am out and about in the community. I want to learn about you, your goals and needs and vision for our beautiful town. I want to get to know one another and to earn your support and more importantly, your trust. I’ll likely only make one campaign promise along the way – that is to make sure that I am available, accessible and that every time I engage on behalf of council business, I will do so with the singular goal of representing each and every constituent to the best of my ability.

Winthrop is a small, working class community - that is always on the go. In order to keep Winthrop moving we need truly effective and safe multi modal transit opportunities. This means - streets that are maintained in good repair, more and more effective public transit options, walkable streets and alternatives to carbon based modes that does not pose a hazard to those who choose it over traditional travel. Winthrop has a gorgeous coastline and enhancing accessibility for a safer way to utilize alternative transit options should be a priority for quality of life, to organically decrease carbon based transit and to enhance our tourist based economy and experiences. I cannot underscore enough how we need to forge and maximize engagement with the MBTA and DOT who have a responsibility to ensure that Winthrop is well served.

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