While Tuesday’s election results gave many of us reason to be concerned about the future of important social justice causes in our country, here in Massachusetts we will have a new advocate on our side on Beacon Hill. Jack Lewis, OUT MetroWest’s inaugural executive director, has been elected as State Representative from the 7th Middlesex District, serving Ashland and South Framingham. Jack has determined that he cannot hold this important political position and also serve as OUT MetroWest’s executive director, so I must sadly announce that he will be leaving the organization in late December.
Jack’s new role will give him an even bigger platform for championing issues important to the LGBTQ community, to which he has dedicated so much of his life. His efforts over the last five years have been pivotal to OUT MetroWest’s success. From our modest beginnings at the Unitarian Universalist church in Wellesley—where he launched and led the weekly WAGLY meetings—to the creation of two additional youth programs and the pursuit of our organization’s independent non-profit status, Jack has been at the forefront of OUT MetroWest’s services and operations. Along the way, he has cultivated valuable relationships with partner organizations, schools, congregations, funders, community leaders and, of course, generous donors. And he has been an in-demand educator and spokesperson and a role model for our youth.
We are truly grateful for his dedication to our program participants, their needs, and the greater community. And we appreciate his careful planning to ensure as seamless a transition as possible. While we search for a new executive director, our wonderful staff will continue to run our three dynamic programs, while supporting outreach to constituents, donors, and funders. The Board will remain in close and regular communication with the team throughout the search and transition process.
Please join the Board in congratulating Jack on this great accomplishment. We will be having a celebration on Tuesday, December 6th, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Wellesley (309 Washington Street). We hope you can stop by, have some dessert, and wish Jack well. Please let us know if you will attend–email rsvp@outmetrowest.org by December 3rd.
Thank you for your continued support of and commitment to OUT MetroWest.
Best,
Donna Tambascio
Chair, Board of Directors