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BOSTON – Today, April 14, the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus (MBLLC) held its annual Black Excellence on the Hill event.
The Caucus works to commemorate and award Black leaders that improve their communities across the Commonwealth.
Ashland resident Margaret Musoke Kironde (Maggie), nominated by Representative Jack Patrick Lewis (Framingham-D), was honored for her achievements with the Black Excellence Award.
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“I am humbled and it is such an honor to be among the members selected to receive this phenomenal award,” said Maggie Musoke Kironde. ‘Through my volunteering work for over fifteen years in different settings in MetroWest, I have met many individuals that are well deserving of this recognition. Representative Lewis, thanks so much for nominating me and for the work you do for Ashland, Framingham, and Massachusetts as a whole.”
“Maggie is an exceptional individual, who has devoted her life to helping those around her,” said Rep. Lewis. “Her commitment to improving our community is strong and profound. Her leadership has aided so many in the Ashland area, and I know that she will continue to inspire and bolster those around her.”
“I want to thank the MBLLC for their work and for hosting this great event,” she said. “AREA (Ashland Residents for Equity and Action), members and friends, thanks for the great work you are doing in our beautiful town of Ashland. I thank my family. I want to thank those that have done this work before me and others that individually or as a group continue to work hard to ensure that the lives of others matter and work towards achieving the goal of inclusive and welcoming communities.”
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Kironde is the co-founder and president of Ashland Residents for Equity and Action (AREA). AREA is a nonprofit organization, founded in June 2020, that focuses on promoting diversity, and ensuring that minority voices are represented in the community.
“Most frequent question I get from my friends is where I find the time and energy to do what I do,” she remarked. “My response is that if you make something important and a priority, you will get time, resources, or both to do it. I believe that each one of us has five minutes to spare at some point in our lives to give back and make a positive impact in their community in one or more ways. For example, I danced in the hallways for our patients and residents during the COVID pandemic lockdown, and other times I sat down with our AREA team and our local Police department to discuss how we can work together to improve relationships and interactions within our communities. With this award I call on everyone in their communities and work spaces, if you have not already begun, to make your initiatives and decisions through a DEI lens.”
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In addition, she is a mother to four children, as well as a Registered Nurse with a Bachelors in Business. She has worked in the healthcare industry for 25 years.
She has volunteered with her church, Plymouth Church, in Framingham, to distribute necessary items to Voices of Violence and shelters in her community.
She was also a Girl Scouts troop leader for several years in Ashland, working with Ashland moms to lead the girls to earn their Silver award in April 2021.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maggie reached out to the MetroWest community to protect those around her from the personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage. She collected over 400 masks, and distributed them to fellow healthcare workers and families in need.
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In full transparency, the press release & photo were submitted to SOURCE media for publication
MassBay Community College 
MetroWest Medical Center 
MetroWest Chamber of Commerce