Please share far and wide >>> www.ruralschoolsma.org Spend 3.5 minutes listening to students, faculty, staff, administrators, local officials, and community members talk about the need for education funding and policy reform. Momentum is building for real and lasting change.

Ag Day at the State House and the MA Farm Bureau's annual meeting. Let’s keep showing up for the people who keep us fed and keep natural lands open and working for us all.

The human tragedy of the Iran war increases every single hour. So does the economic tragedy. Trump wants $1.5T for war. Here are 11 programs that cost $1.5T, courtesy of @nationalpriorities.bsky.social: www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2026/01...

In Deerfield @ Frontier Regional, students + community members sent an SOS signal to the Legislature + @massgovernor.bsky.social + LG @kimdriscollma.bsky.social . MA communities are sounding the alarm about the fiscal crisis of RURAL + DECLINING ENROLLMENT schools. www.ruralschoolsma.org

🔊 Across MA, communities are sounding the alarm about the fiscal crisis of RURAL and DECLINING ENROLLMENT schools. In Shutesbury, much of the community turned out to circle the elementary school threatened with closure. They need our help. @massgovernor.bsky.social @kimdriscollma.bsky.social

Check out our team's latest newsletter. It's packed with news, information, and ways to take action: conta.cc/4chP0Ki Sign up to get it directly: bit.ly/4pSCcgj

Terrific piece about a tax credit for famers who donate fresh produce to help fight food insecurity: recorder.com/2026/02/20/f... It's a win for famers, a way to battle food insecurity and diet-related diseases, and a way to tackle food waste. H/t Paul Franz for the photo

@bostonglobe.com editorializes in favor of a statewide water plan: www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/19/o...

The Boston Globe editorialized in favor of righting blistering historic wrongs when it comes to PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) in the Commonwealth: lnkd.in/ep4EC-Gs.

Catch the latest episode of Cup o' Jo: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gHh... Grateful to be joined by Sasha Goodfriend @ Mass NOW for a convo about advancing menstrual equity Join Sasha on 2/26 @ the State House for the 2026 Menstrual Equity Advocacy Day. More: www.massnow.org/events/advoc...

Thank you to Sen. Brownsberger, Chair Cindy Friedman, and Steering and Policy Colleagues for filing this bill ↙️. Glad to be on the team: malegislature.gov/Bills/194/SD...

I am on TikTok. Can you believe it? Follow me at @jocomerfordma for more.

Important briefing from pediatric medicine professionals from places like @bostonchildrens.bsky.social on harms to health from chemicals such as #PFAS, #phthalates, #bisphenols in #ChildrensProducts. Thank you @jocomerford.bsky.social & Jim Hawkins for your leadership on #ToxicFreeKids bill. #MAPoli

Last week, parents, pediatricians, environmental organizers, and GIRL SCOUTS all said the same thing: Toxic chemicals do not belong in children's products! Let's get legislation passed this year. Thank you to @jocomerford.bsky.social and Rep. Hawkins for showing up for kids! #mapoli

Watch bi-partisan support in the MA Senate for education funding reform, as part of a debate on early literacy: youtu.be/0QnUrtNkgfY

Gotta love Link413 — launched by three Regional Transit Authorities to connect the ridership of BRTA, FRTA, and PVTA in the 413. Info: Bit.ly/link413

Today at the State House! We're co-hosting a legislative briefing on An act relative to toxic free kids, to get the worst chemicals out of children’s products. Shout out to the bill's champions @jocomerford.bsky.social and Rep. Hawkins! cleanwater.org/releases/mas...

Today, in a massive show of support, 1,025 organizations, including immigrant justice, human rights, civil rights, faith, and labor organizations, sent a letter to members of Congress to express horror, outrage & deep grief about the recent shooting deaths by federal agents in Minneapolis.

Check out our team's latest newsletter. It's packed with news, information, and updates: conta.cc/4a8Rfhl Sign up to get it directly: bit.ly/4pSCcgj

THIS: People in western Massachusetts are increasingly tired of the one-sided bargain they get from their neighbors to the east. They need to keep pressing for fairness. Let's hear it for militancy! www.masslive.com/opinion/2026...

Where was I this morning? I often say that I have the most exquisite Senate district in the Commonwealth. That's why — every so often — I'm going to post images of natural and community beauty invite you to guess where I've been.

🔊Please SHARE: Stunning organizing in an open letter to the people of eastern MA, from the Quabbin Watershed Stewards — a growing group of people organizing in the communities that ring the Quabbin Reservoir. The letter is available through this link: senatorjocomerford.org/western-mass....

The Quagmire of Trump’s Venezuela open.substack.com/pub/robertre...

Trump's attack of Venezuela is "wildly illegal" — says U.S. Senator Chris Murphy: www.cnn.com/2026/01/04/p...

Glad to celebrate key funding ($5+ million) on its way to municipalities in the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district. TY to the Healey-Driscoll Administration, EOHLC, and municipal leaders for your work to rehabilitate housing, improve sidewalks and roads, upgrade public facilities, + more.

Farms across MA are facing unprecedented challenges — from rising costs to market volatility to climate change — and they deserve strong, sustained support. Check out 63 recs via the Special Com. on Agriculture in the Commonwealth in the 21st Century: malegislature.gov/Bills/194/SD...

So many in our region serve the public — in education, health care, human services, local government, public safety, food provision, the arts and tourism, keeping small businesses alive, + more. Love and gratitude to each of you in this new year. The work you do is important + life-affirming.

Glad to join Patrick Berry and InFocus earlier this month to talk about our team's work on behalf of the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district. Thank you, Patrick, for a great conversation: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JCB...

Celebrating key funding ($5+M) on its way to municipalities in the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district. Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration + muni leaders. Glad to be your partner in this work.

Once again, inspired young people show us how to make government work. Hadley Third Graders, many from farming families, have prompted a bill to make asparagus — known locally as Hadley Grass — the official state vegetable.

Joyous, love-filled Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage as thousands flocked to Northampton to support its work with courageous survivors and its mission for a world free of violence and relationship abuse.

🎙️🎶: 2025 Wrapped (Jo's Version) - Are you ready for it? Grateful for every partner, every community conversation, + every leap forward we took together. Take a look at what + who I listened to the most this year. (H/t to Katelyn Billings on my team for helping me try to be much cooler than I am!)

This fall, my team + I worked with a superstar team of interns and fellows. From L to R, starting at the top: Kainoa Chesmore Walling (Mount Holyoke), Miles DeRiggi (UMass Amherst), Depre Carr (UMass Amherst), + Janine Nanez (Northeastern University School of Law). Grateful for their stellar work.

Our team's latest newsletter is live, filled with updates, highlights, and ways to engage. Here: conta.cc/3XymNpX

A fabulous visit yesterday w/ @massago.bsky.social @ Northampton High School. Grateful that the AG took the time to speak so passionately and candidly about her personal journey and her work to students, staff, and faculty. H/t Northampton Youth Commission

Grateful for this big beautiful team.

Join me for the People’s Town Hall via Zoom on December 10 from 6:00–7:30 p.m. Register for this free event: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi... Accessibility information is available through the registration link. Any questions? Email [email protected]

Sunrise with Monte, Jim, and a record number of good folks who are walking to raise funds for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts — in the leg between Northampton and Greenfield.

Today is World Pancreatic Cancer Day, part of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Join us in raising awareness today to help shine a light on this disease. #PancreaticCancerAwareness #WorldPancreaticCancerDay #mahealthcare #cancerawareness #LegislativeAction

In recognizing #TransDayOfRemembrance, we recommit to ensuring that Massachusetts is a place where everyone can live, work, and love safely and with dignity.

Today at Prospect Place in Northampton was magical as a crowd gathered to support 60 new units of affordable housing for families and individuals in a reclaimed former nursing home. Pictured: A breathtaking mural and its artists and a playground that screams, "Come live and play here."

The Gov's Anti-Hunger Task Force is holding a listening session. Grateful to serve among this coalition of advocates, providers, state agencies, + community leaders working to ensure everyone in MA has access to nutritious, affordable food. More: www.mass.gov/governors-an...

I joined Rep. Natalie Blais @ the @mascschoolcomm.bsky.social conference. The topic of our panel was RURAL and LOW/DECLINING ENROLLMENT SCHOOLS — and the actions the *state must take* to ensure equitable opportunity to students in schools across our region.

Thrilled to see $10.23 million coming to the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district in economic development and housing infrastructure grants. Grateful to @massgovernor.bsky.social, @kimdriscollma.bsky.social, + their administration for investing in western and north central Massachusetts.

"What happens to the letters I write when Clean Water canvassers knock on my door?" We deliver them directly to your elected leaders! We're fighting for legislation to clean up air pollution. Shout out to Sen Mark's and @jocomerford.bsky.social's enthusiastic staff! Keep the letters coming!

On Friday, officials from the MDAR, MassHealth, and DPH joined farmers and producers @ Just Roots in Greenfield to learn about the health and economic benefits of locally-grown, nutritions food - delivered like medicine.

Thank you @massago.bsky.social for always answering the call for and leading us to justice. Donald Trump must release all available funds for the November SNAP payment to states.

How can parents protect their kids from cauldrons of unknown toxic threats? Good news! There is legislation pending in MA that requires the disclosure of toxic chemicals in children's products! Take action to support the Toxic Free Kids Act: cleanwater.org/ma-toxic-fre... @jocomerford.bsky.social

Delighted to nominate Naomi Bledsoe, Youth Engagement Coordinator for the Communities that Care Coalition, + Nate Woodard, Co-Chair of the Greenfield Human Rights Commission, to represent the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district @ the Senate's 90th Citizen's Legislative Seminar.

I was deeply honored to be recognized at the Disability Policy Consortium's annual John Winske Memorial Awards last week — receiving the Thomas Menino Award for Public Service alongside the wonderful Rep. Christine Barber. (Pictured with DPC's great ED Harry Weissman.)