MassLive recently asked readers to identify people they consider Black leaders in Massachusetts, working to make a difference in politics, education, business, the arts or another area of interest.
Profiles of these leaders will be published leading up to the Juneteenth holiday on June 19. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.
Staisha Chavis
Staisha Chavis. Courtesy of Sev-One Media.Sev-One Media
Age: 38
Community: Worcester
Her story: When she graduated with a degree in political science and public policy, Staisha Chavis knew she wanted to work towards promoting justice, equity and access for all people, she told MassLive. In choosing to become a public servant, she said it was a calling instead of a choice and pursued a career as an affordable housing advocate.
“My commitment and passion for public service was fostered during my time with the Massachusetts Trial Court,” she said. “I worked hand-in-hand with the general public providing support to individuals and families navigating a very complex and nuanced legal system. I witnessed first-hand how systemic inequities and institutional pitfalls showed up in the lives of everyday working-class people.”
Her involvement drove her to want to be an active part of the solution of tackling people’s challenges, she said. She took on roles in local and state government “assessing and evaluating needs, creating equitable policies and practices, and developing high-impact programs,” she added. In these roles, she’s engaged with elected officials, housing agencies and grassroots organizations as a means to find sustainable and long-lasting solutions to homelessness and housing disparities.
“There is no greater reward than seeing the tangible impact of the work you care deeply about,” she said.
From August 2020 to October 2023, she worked for the city’s Housing Development Division with the aim of assisting and supporting housing rehabilitation and new construction with an emphasis on offering quality affordable housing, she said.
“Our primary focus was on the delivery of enhanced physical and human infrastructure systems in Worcester’s most under-resourced neighborhoods,” Chavis continued. “I worked in tandem with stakeholders, community members and elected officials to ensure federal, state and local funding was allocated responsibly and reached areas of disinvestment, low to moderate-income communities, and BIPOC communities that were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Chavis has, since October 2023, moved on to work at Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, “a quasi-government agency whose mission is to support business formation and growth in the state’s technology sector, helping Massachusetts lead in the global digital economy,” she said. Operating with the state Legislature, municipalities, broadband service providers and other partners, Chavis said the agency bridges “the digital divide in Massachusetts [to bring] vital resources to both undeserved and unserved communities alike.”
In her words: “In the words of the great Amilcar Cabral: ‘Hide nothing from the masses of our people. Tell no lies. Expose lies whenever they are told. Mask no difficulties, mistakes, failures. Claim no easy victories…’
We’re always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If you’d like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
