November 22, 2005

Senator Dianne Wilkerson Visits ESA

Because she is the state’s highest ranking Black elected official and the first Black woman to be a partner in a major Boston law firm, ESA’s Public Speaking/Debate class invited Senator Dianne Wilkerson to speak on the life and times of being a Massachusetts State Senator. She described her career and where it has taken her over the years. She explained that her passion for helping others is rooted in her modest beginnings in the Deep South where she saw Blacks being denied hospital access and living without electricity even into the 1970s. When she moved to Massachusetts, grew up and went to college, she learned that a person certainly doesn’t need to know exactly what one career to pursue and should expect to try a number of different jobs before settling on one (which was a tremendous relief for the seniors applying to colleges to hear!). Senator Wilkerson originally intended to be a math teacher, then a writer and finally decided a degree in law would make the most sense economically. Because of this experience and education, she was prepared when opportunities in the judicial system were offered to her and so she emphasized to the students the necessity of preparation, education and experience.

The students had a chance to ask questions of the Senator and wanted to know if it was hard to be heard in “the man’s world” on the senate floor and if she were President of the USA, where she would focus her energy. To the former, she replied that, again, preparation and education are key—if you present your piece of legislature clearly and fully and are prepared to answer questions concerning it, you earn the respect of the other Senators despite your gender. To the latter question, she responded that while most of her energy would be focused on educational reform, one of the biggest things she has learned as a public servant is that nothing exists in a vacuum. Education is closely linked with affordable housing and environmental concerns, all of which she has worked to improve for her constituents.

It was pleasure and an honor to have such an accomplished and accessible role model come to speak at ESA.

For more information on who Senator Wilkerson is, please follow this link.