Winthrop’s Meredith Hurley Nominated as a Commonwealth Heroine

Last week, Sen. Joseph Boncore announced he nominated Winthrop’s Director of Public Health and Clinical Services Meredith Hurley for the 2021 Commonwealth Heroine Award for her commitment to improving the quality of life in the Town and beyond.

As the Director of Public Health, Hurley has played an essential role managing the public health crisis in Winthrop during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic Hurley collaborated  with state and local leaders to ensure the safety of the community and has helped the town address the local spread of COVID-19.

“Meredith Hurley is a leader dedicated to the health and well-being of the Winthrop community,” said Boncore, “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Meredith has literally been a life saver. During unpredictable and difficult times, her leadership has led our community to recovery. Meredith’s work over the past several days to ensure access to mental health resources is just another example of the reasons she is a Commonwealth Heroine.”

Additionally, Hurley is a member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), which she helps provide information on  specific emergency preparedness topics.

“It is an honor for us to identify extraordinary women from across the Commonwealth,” said the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women in a statement. “We would like to thank our many legislative partners who have recommended and recognized women within their district who perform unheralded acts daily that make our homes, neighborhoods, cities and towns better places to live. These acts of public  leadership and volunteerism help advance the status of women and girls in Massachusetts in ways big and small, and the collective effort is meaningful.”

Each year the Commission partners with state legislators to identify women who make outstanding contributions to their organizations and communities. Each legislator is encouraged to submit one woman from their constituency as a means of recognizing their invaluable community contributions.

The Commonwealth Heroines are women who don’t always make the news, but truly make the difference. They are the women who use their time, talent, and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others and make a difference in their neighborhoods, cities, and towns. They are mentors, volunteers, and innovators who do what needs to be done, without expectations of recognition or gratitude. These women are the glue that keeps a community together and every community has them.

The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women is an independent state agency that was legislatively created in 1998 to advance women of the Commonwealth to full equality in all areas of life and to promote their rights and opportunities. The Commission provides a voice for Massachusetts women and has 19 members who are appointed by the Governor, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Caucus of Women Legislators.