Join us Saturday night!

Celebrating New Year's Day like we always do in Somerville by raising the Grand Union Flag atop Prospect Hill Tower on the 250th anniversary of the first flag raising there. #happynewyear #municipalfreedomgivesnationalstrength

Happy Kwanzaa to everyone celebrating the start today. May the principles bring peace and joy.

If you're celebrating Christmas today, I hope it's a joyful day spent with people who mean a lot to you. We need more peace and goodwill in this world, so here's hoping the spirit of Christmas carries over into the days ahead.

I attended the Somerville Community Land Trust's End-of-Year Celebration at Bow Market. It was a great opportunity to recognize everything SCLT accomplished in 2025 and look ahead at what's to come in the new year. I can't wait to work with them as Mayor in 2026!

On Saturday I helped wrap gifts at Connexion for the 2025 Somerville Community Toy Drive. Thank you to everyone who came together to make this amazing event happen!

From plans to playbooks. Our policy committees have drafted concise Summaries of Findings (what’s working, gaps, opportunities, specific recommendations) that feed directly into the First-100-Days framework. Clear owners. Public accountability. Read the update & add your voice: wilsontransition.org

Clarendon Residents United hosted a holiday party for Clarendon Hill residents this weekend. I loved seeing so many familiar faces and seeing the joy on families faces as CRU handed out presents for youngsters.

Here is the invitation for the 2026 Inaugural Ceremony. I hope you'll join us at the Somerville High School Auditorium and then at the Somerville Armory on Saturday, January 3rd. More information is available at: www.somervillema.gov/inauguration....

Proud to invite our community to celebrate together on Saturday, January 3, 2026: Inauguration Ceremony: 6:00–7:30 p.m. • Somerville High Auditorium (81 Highland Ave.) Public Reception: 7:30–10:30 p.m. • Somerville Armory (191 Highland Ave.) Kid & Teen Zone: 5:00–8:30 p.m. • Somerville Armory

Meet Denise Lauers! Denise has played an integral role with the Transition, from being a part of the Steering Committee to helping plan the Inauguration and ensuring the inclusion of immigrant and underserved communities. I am thankful for Denise's work and commitment to the transition process! 1/2

I am proud to be selected to join the Bloomberg Center for Cities Program for New Mayors: First 100 Days with Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harvard Institute of Politics, and other U.S. mayors to strengthen our capabilities to lead. Courtesy of the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University

We’re hiring for a service-first City Hall. Executive Administrative Assistant and core Mayor’s Office roles are moving, with additional city operations postings queued. If you’re collaborative and outcomes-focused, we want to hear from you! Apply/share: wilsontransition.org/hiring

The Transition Team is still taking responses to the Community Engagement Survey! I value everyone's opinion, so please share yours by following the link here: tinyurl.com/wilsontransitionsurvey. There are version in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

On the fifth night of Hanukkah, lit candles now outnumber unlit candles. The idea of there being more light than darkness seems particularly important right now, given the horrific attacks on the Jewish community here and abroad that have left our neighbors afraid for their safety.

Proud to invite our community to celebrate together on Saturday, January 3, 2026 for the Inauguration Ceremony and the Public Reception. Both events are free and open to the public. More details on the City’s website. #Somerville #Inauguration #Community #PublicService #SaveTheDate

The next Spotlight is Matt McLaughlin, the Steering Committee Vice Chair and Ward 1 City Councillor for the City of Somerville. Matt is a trusted partner on the City Council and I am grateful he has been a part of this transition process.

Amazing turnout for the 2025 Illuminations Bike Tour to see some of the standout holiday decorations around the city. Thank you to the organizers, volunteer marshals, and @somervillepd.bsky.social for making it happen!

Meet Dorinda Jaquith, the Chair of the Family, Youth, and Senior Support Services Policy Committee. Dorinda has been a Somerville resident for over three decades and brings immense knowledge about these issues, and we are grateful for her willingness to contribute to this transition process.

Had a great time at the Winter Wonderland celebration in the Mystics this weekend. Amazing job by the Mystic Tenants Association and volunteers who put this on! Some impressive dancing on display, especially by @councilorclingan.bsky.social and Ben Wheeler!

Continuing the Transition Team Spotlight Series, hear from Steering Committee member Rand Wilson about his priorities for the transition period. He is a union organizer and member of Somerville’s Ward 6 Democratic Committee, and we are grateful for his contributions to the Steering Committee!

Next for the Transition Team Spotlight Series is Jillian Harvey, a member of the Steering Committee. Jillian brings valuable experience in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at the city level to the team and we are grateful to have her as part of the Steering Committee!

It was a long time coming, but that made it sweeter to celebrate the start of demolition of the old Star Market (299 Broadway) in Winter Hill. Soon, we'll see a new six-story multi-use development with 136 affordable rental units. Thanks to everyone who got us here, especially @councilorclingan!

The next Spotlight is Ivan Abarca-Torres, the Chair of the Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs Committee. Ivan is a valued community member and has been an important part of the work we are doing during this transition period. Thank you for your commitment to this mission, Ivan!

Jarred Johnson is a Policy Committee member on the Mobility and Transportation Committee. Hear about why he is passionate about the work of this committee and being a part of the transition process. We are grateful for Jarred's work as a policy committee member!

It's finally here! Come celebrate the old Star Market coming down in Winter Hill to make way for commercial space, community space, and a ton of truly affordable housing. Join us at @winterhillbrewing.bsky.social at 10 AM on Saturday, December 13!

Next, meet Grant Pinsley! Grant is a Transition Team Intern who studies Political Science and Philosophy. On the Transition Team, he supports the Intergovernmental Affairs & Education and School Relations policy committees.

Continuing the Transition Team Spotlight Series, hear from former Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone about how he is helping our new administration prepare to hit the ground running on Day One and be ready to serve Somerville residents. Stay tuned for more members later today!

Next for the Transition Team Spotlight Series is Kerry Bowie, a member of the Steering Committee. Kerry brings valuable experience in environmental justice and sustainability to the team and we are grateful to have him on board!

We're turning community ideas and input into near-term, practical recommendations through our survey. Over 500 residents have already engaged with it. Thank you. If you haven’t weighed in yet, it takes two minutes and truly shapes the work in real time. Add your voice: wilsontransition.org

Meet Spencer Kluger, an intern providing support to three different policy committees with the Transition Team. We are so grateful for Spencer's commitment and time. Stay tuned for more Transition Team member spotlights in the following days!

School tours are happening now, and I spent time today at the Healey School talking to prospective families. It's great seeing so many community members around Somerville throughout this transition period!

As we move past the one month milestone of the transition period, I want to highlight some of the work of this transition team. These numbers represent the perspectives of community members and countless hours of work by those on transition committees. Continue to follow along for more updates!

I want your voice to be included in the transition process. We’ve launched a simple online form in English, Spanish, and Portuguese so residents can share priorities. It takes just a few minutes, and your feedback feeds directly into our committees and briefings. Add your ideas: wilsontransition.org

Thank you to everyone who joined our first policy committee kickoff, and the 140 community members who are stepping up every day to make a difference in the city. These committees will help frame near-term priorities and surface practical recommendations for the administration’s first 100 days.

We’re hiring for a service-first City Hall. If you’re collaborative, mission-driven, and outcomes-focused, we’d love to hear from you! See openings and apply here: www.wilsontransition.org/hiring #SomervilleJobs #MunicipalCareers #IntergovernmentalAffairs #Hiring

The Transition Team wants to hear from you! Make your voice heard and share your thoughts with us by filling out the Community Engagement Survey, linked here: tinyurl.com/wilsontransitionsurvey. There are versions in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Really enjoyed participating in the Massachusetts Mayors' Association's Newly Elected Mayors Training today. The storm moved the event virtual, but it was great connecting with other incoming mayors and hearing from experienced mayors and subject matter experts on issues facing mayors in our state.

As a part of the Transition Team, we have interns from Tufts University helping with various aspects of the transition, from committee support to community engagement and communications. Swipe through to meet the students interning with our Transition Team! 2/2

As a part of the Transition Team, we have interns from Tufts University helping with various aspects of the transition, from committee support to community engagement and communications. Swipe through to meet the students interning with our Transition Team! 1/2

For everyone celebrating today, happy Thanksgiving!

Congrats to the Somerville Highlanders football team on their 38-20 victory over our neighbors from Cambridge in the 2025 Battle for the Picket Fence. Great seeing so many faces from the community and fellow electeds at Russell Field cheering on our student-athletes!

Our last Steering Committee member is Rand Wilson, a union organizer and elected member of Somerville's Ward 6 Democratic Committee. Now that we have introduced the Transition Steering Committee, stay tuned here and on the transition website, wilsontransition.org, for updates on the transition!

Meet Anne Tate, a member of our Transition Steering Committee! Anne is a professor at the Rhode Island School of Design and has served on various Advisory and Steering Committees within Somerville. We are grateful for her contributions to our Steering Committee.

Samantha Silverberg is a visiting fellow at the Taubman Center for State and Local Government at the Harvard Kennedy School and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution. We are grateful for her contributions to the Transition Steering Committee. Stay tuned for more introductions!

Also on the Transition Steering Committee is Stacy Richardson, who is the Senior Director of Collaboration at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University. Check out the transition website, linked in bio, to learn more about this transition process!

The next member of the Transition Steering Committee is Denise Lauers! Denise is President of the Mystic Tenant Association and a member of the Somerville Renters Coalition at CAAS. Stay tuned for more Steering Committee members tonight and in the following days!

We are also introducing Jillian Harvey, a member of the Transition Steering Committee. Jillian is the Chief Equity Officer for the Massachusetts Municipal Organization. Thank you Jillian for being a part of the Transition Steering Committee!

Today we are introducing Douglas Foy, another member of the Transition Steering Committee. Douglas served as the Secretary for Commonwealth Development for Massachusetts. Don't forget to check out our transition website, which is linked in our bio, for the other Steering Committee members.

Also on the Transition Steering Committee is Janice Delory! Janice served as the Chief of Staff for former Mayor Joe Curtatone and is the former Vice President of Marketing at Fidelity Investments. We are grateful for her experience and service on the Steering Committee!