Panel Discussion: “Democracy – What Does It Mean in People’s Everyday Lives?

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts is excited to share that the program titled “What Does Democracy Mean to People’s Everyday Lives?” is now available to watch on YouTube HERE. The 60-minute program is moderated by Heather Hamilton, and features panelists Dr. Rachael Cobb, Cheryl Clyburn Crawford, and Tim Matthews.  

Meet our panelists and moderator

Rachael Cobb, PHD

Dr. Rachael V. Cobb is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Suffolk University specializing in American politics, with a particular focus on voting rights and political participation. She co-chairs the university-wide Suffolk Votes committee, dedicated to non-partisan voter mobilization and education, and serves on the city of Boston’s Mayor’s Election Advisory Committee as well as the board of the nonpartisan nonprofit MassVOTE. As an expert in civic education and political engagement, Dr. Cobb founded the University Pollworkers Project in 2006 which recruits students to serve as poll workers.

Cheryl Clyburn Crawford

For the past 12 years Cheryl Clyburn Crawford has served as the Executive Director of MassVOTE, an organization founded in 2001 to fight for political, racial and economic equality. Their mission is to increase voter turnout, modernize elections laws and engage the next generation of leaders.

She is a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Council on Racial Justice and Equity and a former Vice President of the NAACP Boston Branch. Most recently she was appointed to the Citizen’s Commission on Constitutional Amendment, as well as a board member of American Promise.

Cheryl grew up in Boston; and is a graduate of Lesley College, Cambridge, MA.

Tim Matthews

Tim Matthews is an 8th-grade Civics teacher at F. A. Day Middle School. Tim has been teaching for 30 years and has long advocated for expanding civics education at the middle and high school levels. He worked with ICivics, the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition, DESE, and Generation Citizen to promote and professionalize civics teaching in Newton Public Schools. Tim majored in history at Boston College and earned a degree in National Security Studies from the Naval War College. In addition to driving his four children to sports practices, Tim is a Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve.

Heather Hamilton

Heather Hamilton is the Deputy Director for Brookline Interactive Group affectionately called BIG, the community access media station for Brookline. Prior to her joining BIG, Heather served as the Chair of the Select Board for the Town of Brookline, the largest town in the Commonwealth. Heather holds two advanced degrees in Transportation Policy from George Mason University and Public Administration from Havard Kennedy School. She is also a member of the League of Women Voters of Brookline and a proud Rotary Club Member. 

Co-Sponsors

This event is co-sponsored by LWV Amherst, LWV Boston, LWV Brookline, LWV Cape Cod Area, LWV Concord-Carlisle, LWV Dover-Sherborn, LWV Falmouth, LWV Harvard, LWV Marblehead, LWV Needham, LWV Newton, LWV Sharon-Stoughton, LWV Waltham, LWV Wayland, LWV Westford, and LWV Williamstown.