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My name is Emily Shield. I have lived in Precinct 8 in Winchester since 2012. I have worked for state and local government in Massachusetts for over 20 years in a variety of legislative, budget, and advocacy roles. My experience includes policy work, fiscal management, and social and economic program development.
Currently, I am the Program Manager at the Cambridge Women’s Commission, a department of the City of Cambridge. I oversee advocacy, programming, and event planning on a variety of issues that affect women and girls. My work touches on women’s health, violence prevention, growing sports opportunities for girls, creating historical narratives and walking tours, and increasing leadership and engagement opportunities for girls from elementary through high school.
I have served on Town Meeting since 2015. For 10 years, I have been an active member of the Lynch Community – as a room parent, lunch monitor, recess helper, and helping with Lynch Drama Club and other school events. I am also a member of Shir Tikvah and have served on the Family Engagement Committee for 4 years. Our family is also part of the Winchester Swim and Tennis Club where I am on the Nominating Committee for Board Members.
I communicate with constituents through email, social media, and in-person discussions. I welcome connection and discussion about current Town Meeting topics and my votes. I value meeting and debating with neighbors in my precinct, including those whose position differs from mine. Some of the most engaging conversations are from this spirited dialogue.
My three main areas of focus are schools, housing and zoning. It’s imperative that we maintain (and continue to improve) the quality, inclusiveness, and academic strength of Winchester Public Schools. We also must continue the discussion of the downtown area and the Main Street corridor. We also need more discussions around housing – especially policies that affect the whole town equally and not put undue burden on certain areas.
