Jo Comerford

Jo worked regionally and nationally to serve the people of western Massachusetts long before entering public office in January 2019.

After earning a Masters of Social Work from New York City’s Hunter College School of Social Work, Jo moved to western Massachusetts to continue organizing around prison reform and housing and shelter policy. Focused on increasing equity and opportunity for people in western Massachusetts, Jo contributed to the work of the Center for Human Development, American Friends Service Committee, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, National Priorities Project (NPP), and MoveOn. During her seventh year as NPP’s executive director, the organization received a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.

Jo was elected to the State Senate to represent the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district in 2018 as a write-in candidate. She is the first woman to hold the seat.