Proud Brockton homeowner, married to Adam. Animal lover with a dog & 2 cats (Petey, Gink & Charlie). Attended Brockton Public Schools K-12. Bachelor’s Degree, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. 20 year career in non-profit management & administration.
We must fix the education funding formula. There's a lot at stake! In 1991, when I graduated from Brockton High, urban education funding was similarly in crisis: the jam packed classrooms and the negative effects on students (and the broader community) from inadequate education funding were the same then as now but the buildings are also almost 30-years older now, there are more students now and gaining a living wage in our technology economy demands a strong education system now.
As your State Rep I have advocated for implementation of the Foundation Budget Review Commission's recommendations. Together I know we can (and we must) get this done.
Across Massachusetts and right here, opioid addiction is devastating families. This is why I filed and supported budget earmarks to provide direct State funds to EB Hope; the Champion Plan; and the Plymouth County Police Outreach groups. I will continue to fight for expanded funding of long-term and proven addiction treatment. Big pharmaceutical companies lobbied for government-deregulation of opioids, and expanded prescribing authority, which facilitated this crisis. We must take the fight to the top by holding big-pharma and over prescribing doctors accountable.
My Uncle died in Korea. Growing up the pain of his loss, the pride for his service, and the respect that is owed to all those who serve our Nation was the standard example in my home. I take this patriotic belief with me each day as your State Representative and at each opportunity I work to make it real by supporting the needs of our Veterans.
Our aging population is rapidly expanding. I have been advocating for additional long-term home care services for seniors and individuals with disabilities, ensuring that all residents have access to the services needed to remain living in the community with the least restrictive environment possible.
Each year, Brockton is in the top 5 municipalities in the State with the most asthma hospitalizations for children. This has driven my involvement in community efforts that stopped a proposed trash transfer station and the 14-year, on-going battle to Stop a massive fracked gas power plant that is proposed in Ward 4, on the West Bridgewater line.
Throughout my career in public service, I have worked towards a healthcare system that is accessible to all residents in our district and across Massachusetts. I know that healthcare is a fundamental right, not a luxury, and that we need to continue to work towards an affordable, universal healthcare system for all residents.
As your State Representative, I have worked to ensure that Massachusetts remains a leader in the Innovation Economy and will continue to ensure that working families have the tools and resources needed to climb the economic ladder and contribute to our local economy. I understand that when all families have access to our economy and the workforce, everyone benefits.
Secured a major victory in FY20 through the passage of Student Opportunity Act (SOA) that will add between $1.5 & $2.4 Billion to state-wide public education funding. Michelle's 'Transient Student' bill was included in the SOA.
- In FY19 Rep. DuBois helped to save Brockton Public School from laying off 100 teachers by securing emergency funding and in the face of devastating cuts due to COVID.
- Michelle recently secured a commitment to fund all school districts at the FY20 level (as a floor) with inflation (this adds additional funds for Brockton, West Bridgewater, and East Bridgewater School districts).
· Michelle has held monthly office-hours in each community, at councils on aging, and at senior housing from her first month taking office in 2015 until COVID hit in March 2020.
· When COVID hit, Michelle went on-line with many daily COVID updates on Facebook and Twitter and weekly facebook lives.
· Michelle started a Senior Call team to check-in on and help elders in need.
· Michelle has coordinated a "Mask-A-Neighbor Save-A-Life" volunteer group that has made and distributed of over 3,000 free cloth masks.
- Michelle's bill to require municipal employees to follow and be protected by OSHA in trenching work was included in a major municipal worker safety bill in FY19.
- Michelle is currently working on passage of an OSHA-violation disclosure bill she filed to ensure safety violations are disclosed during State bidding contracts and municipal trench permits to further support and protect construction workers.
Passed 'Home-Rule' petitions: Proposed laws from West Bridgewater & East Bridgewater that allowed East Bridgewater to sell otherwise unproductive land, and expanded West Bridgewater's special police capacities.
- McKinley Park ($150,000 in budget earmarks)
- Mulberry St Playground (state grant funding)
- Keith Park (state grant funding)
- East Jr High ($150,000 in budget earmarks used for basketball court & phase-1 of the playground renovation - more to come).
Rep DuBois' plan is to renovate every park in the district and build a district dog park.
Secured additional budget earmarks for West Bridgewater and East Bridgewater COVID response, Summer Youth Educational Programs, Summer Youth Jobs, Domestic Violence services, as well as budget earmarks for EB Hope and the Champion Plan (opioid abuse programs).
- Michelle sustained efforts achieved a remarkable out come in the closure of the human waste incinerator that doe decades burned human waste above our heads 24-hours a day / 7 days a week.
While science is confirming worst health outcomes and increased death rates for people who live in areas with elevated air pollution if they contract COVID-19, Michelle's long-standing efforts to clean our air has saved lives!
The closure of this incinerator stopped 7-tons of significant air pollution from floating in the air we breath every year.