Complete Streets are streets for everyone.
It is an approach to planning, designing, building, operating, and maintaining streets that enables safe access for all people who need to use them, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities.
At T4MA, we believe that designing shared spaces and the policies that underpin it must center the local community experience. Local electeds play a huge role in supporting community change and identifying actions and activities that help shape inclusive spaces that cater to everyone. Big changes across the Commonwealth start with local champions.
Meet the 2024 Champions
Alex Jarret
Council President, Ward 5
Alex is a Ward 5 City Councilor and City Council President in Northampton, Mass. He is also the co-founder and a worker-owner at the Pedal People Cooperative, a worker-owned human-powered hauling business. Before moving to Northampton in 1998, Alex grew up in Somerville and Gardner, Mass., and rural Maine, where he got to experience many different types of streets and neighborhoods. He is passionate about walking, cycling, and public transit, and the intersection of safe and complete streets, zoning, and housing for everyone.
Bill Courchesne
City Councilor, Ward 7
Bill has been on the Chicopee City Council for 10 years. As an advocate for Complete Streets he is looking forward to gaining the additional knowledge and skills to advance equitable transportation solutions within the City of Chicopee.
Enrique J. Pepén
Boston District 5 City Councilor
Enrique J. Pepén is a proud first-generation Dominican-American, Boston Public School alumnus, and life-long Bostonian. Pepén attributes his call to public service to his upbringing in the Charlestown Public Housing community. There he witnessed his neighbors working together with former Mayor Thomas Menino to build community and bring safety after a tragedy at the nearby high school. Since then, Pepén strives to be a part of the solution to the obstacles facing his many communities.
Eager to learn and be active, Pepén started his career interning for former City Councilor Tito Jackson while attending undergraduate courses at Suffolk University. Upon graduating, he went on to serve as a district coordinator for former Congressman Joe Kennedy III. Pepén was appointed by former Mayor Marty Walsh as the Jamaica Plain Liaison in the Office of Neighborhood Services in 2019. During this time, he also served as the President of the Young Democrats of Massachusetts Latino Caucus. In the fall of 2020, Pepén joined Transportation for Massachusetts as their Community Engagement Coordinator where he was the Co-Chair of the Regional Transit Authority Advocates Coalition (RTAAC), advocating for funding and policies that strengthen transit services statewide. Most recently, Pepén served as the Executive Director for the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services. Now, he proudly serves the neighborhoods of Hyde Park, Mattapan, and Roslindale in the Boston City Council.
Pepén lives in Roslindale with his wife and two kids. He is honored to serve the district he has called home for his adult life and raising his family in.
Etel Haxhiaj
Worcester District 5 City Councilor
Etel was re-elected to a second term in the Worcester City Council to represent District 5 in Worcester. She is the first Albanian-born immigrant in Massachusetts and Worcester to be elected. She has been a strong advocate for Complete Streets, Vision Zero, a livable climate, and road and traffic safety. Most recently, she worked alongside WalkBike Worcester, the MassBike Worcester chapter, and other advocates, advocating for the Worcester City Council to adopt lowering speed limits and establish Safety Zones. Etel has called Worcester home since 2001, arriving as a young adult with her parents after fleeing Albania’s political upheaval in 1997. As a new American with the opportunity to complete her undergraduate and graduate studies in Community Development and Planning at Clark University, she has chosen a life of service, investing back in the City she calls home and where she is raising her two boys.
For the past 24 years, she has served the Worcester community as a youth mentor, served residents in the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, supported families in public housing and family emergency homeless shelters, organized mothers to fight for a livable climate, and advocated for homelessness prevention policies. Most recently, as Policy Manager for the National Health Care for the Homeless Council and Director of Public Education and Advocacy for Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, she has advocated for national, state, and local affordable housing and homelessness prevention policies.
Israel Rivera
At-Large City Councilor; Chair of the Ordinance Committee; Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee, Holyoke
Israel Rivera is dedicated to serving the residents of Holyoke and working towards a safer and more inclusive community. With his educational background, community involvement, and commitment to public safety, he is well-equipped to continue making a positive impact as an at-large city councilor.
He is currently vice chair of the Public Safety Committee and is an avid advocate for public safety. Israel has filed a string of orders around the creation of an Office of Returning Citizens, focusing on individuals re-entering society. The goal of this department is to see real-time results in mitigating homelessness, substance abuse, and mental health issues as well as addressing the various barriers many face upon returning to society.
Throughout his years of working and organizing within the city, Israel has worked closely with local non-profits such as the Holyoke Safe neighborhood Initiative, Holyoke Youth Girls Softball League, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke, Holyoke YMCA, and OneHolyoke Community Development Corporation, where he has served in a mentorship role coaching baseball, basketball, softball, community dinners, and community clean-ups.
Israel is a recent 40 under 40 alum and a recipient of the Latino Excellence on the Hill award given out by the Black and Latino Caucus. He has a strong commitment to his community.
Kelly Garcia
City Councilor, Chelsea
I grew up in Chelsea, MA, a vibrant and diverse urban city outside of Boston. In my household, I lived with my four siblings, working-class parents, niece, and our dog, Beamer. My mother, a factory worker and community organizer, and my father, a mechanic, each worked over 80 hours a week to make ends meet. Their resilience, courage, and work ethic instilled in me the strength to face adversity and a commitment to public service.
As a proud Latina and first-generation college graduate, I am driven to make a difference in public education. At twenty-one, just after graduating from Holy Cross in 2015, I ran a write-in campaign within seventy-two hours of Election Day and won, becoming the youngest School Board member and the first teacher to serve in twenty-six years. This experience ignited my dedication to leading with conviction, educating with equity, and advocating fiercely, inspired by my Puerto Rican ancestors. Today, I continue this work as a Chelsea City Councilor at Large.
I am actively addressing the critical issues facing Chelsea to create a more equitable, just, and prosperous community. I am tackling the housing crisis by advocating for affordable housing and fighting against displacement. To combat food insecurities, I push for comprehensive food assistance programs and support local food banks. Environmental justice is a priority; I champion initiatives that reduce pollution and promote sustainable practices. Additionally, I drive economic development by supporting local businesses, advocating for fair wages, and creating job opportunities. By confronting these interconnected challenges head-on, I am committed to fostering access, equity, and inclusion for every resident of Chelsea.
Kocayne S. Givner
Ward 4 City Councilor;
Chair of D&GR Committee, Vice Chair of the Finance Committee
As a first-generation college grad and citizen, Kocayne has a unique appreciation for the struggles experienced by immigrants, people of color, and low-income households. She has lived in Holyoke on and off since the mid 90s. With struggle, a bit of luck, and the first-time homeowner program, she bought her home in 2003. Kocayne has been what she calls a repeat offender when it comes to requests for traffic studies, needs for crosswalks, speed traps, bike lanes, pedestrian safety and signage, and for parking enforcement.
Now, having been in office, she understands why Holyoke has had a hard time taking care of these basics. As difficult as many initiatives are to implement, she has not stopped pushing for more public trash receptacles, clean parks, and a Traffic department at HPD to hold speeding commuters accountable. Kocayne continues to support the actions of the Board of Health and Flex Squad which have been working to improve the quality of life of resident health and safety issues.
Lisa Santagate
City Councilor, Chelsea
Lisa Santagate is a City Councilor in Chelsea. She is a retired educator and print and radio journalist who lived and worked in the US and overseas for over 40 years. Lisa holds degrees in Media Studies, Applied Linguistics, Education and School Administration; she is also a trained Mediator. Lisa is the founder of the Chelsea Micro Food Pantry program and is active in her community surrounding issues of food, environmental, transit and disability justice as well as public safety; she is also a huge supporter of the visual and performing arts.
Mark Rambacher
Select Board Chair, Littleton
Mark joined the Select Board in 2022, where he is currently Chair and serves as liaison to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, Transportation Advisory Committee, and Planning Board. He was a Library Trustee for 16 years and helped bring the new library to Littleton. Mark has also served on the School Committee and the Council on Aging and is currently an active member on the Littleton Lyceum Committee and the Littleton Track Organization. Professionally, he recently retired after many years in the software industry. In Mark’s spare time he enjoys doing outside activities, such as running, biking, hiking, making maple syrup, and volunteering at local farms and trail work.
Mayor Patrick M. Keefe, JR
Mayor of Revere
Patrick Keefe is a lifelong Massachusetts resident who started his life in Everett and has lived in Revere for more than two decades. Over his 25 year career, Keefe worked in some of Boston’s finest hotels, and, most recently, for legendary Massachusetts company Legal Sea Foods as its Culinary Director. Patrick and his wife, Jennifer Keefe moved to Revere in 2004 and, from the beginning, they loved the Revere community. Patrick brought his love of sports to Revere’s youth sports leagues as a volunteer coach for St. Mary’s Youth Baseball and Softball League, then for Revere Pop Warner and Revere Recreation’s Basketball League. Patrick continues to serve the community as President of Revere Pop Warner, Eastern Massachusetts Representative for Pop Warner, and Baseball Director for Revere Youth Baseball.
Working with kids and families in Revere through sports inspired Patrick to further serve his community as a Revere City Councilman. In 2015 Patrick won the Ward 4 City Council seat, a position he has held continuously until this year, when he was unanimously voted Interim Mayor by his colleagues. Prior to his time as Mayor, Patrick served two terms as City Council President and a partial term as City Council Vice President after the untimely loss of a fellow Council member.
In addition to his official work in Revere, Patrick joined the Tufts Marathon team in 2011 and raised thousands of dollars for children’s nutritional research. He is a founding member of a local running club and the annual Revere 5k, and co-manages a yearly coat drive to provide warm outerwear to local students. Patrick is also a living donor, having donated his kidney to his mother in 1999.
Norieliz DeJesus
City Council President, District 3 Councilor
Rachel Gordon
City Councilor, Greenfield
Rachel Gordon is Special Deputy to the Executive Director at Movement Voter Project, in addition to serving as a city councilor in Greenfield, MA. Her professional experience spans a number of fields, including nonprofit management and operations, social science research, international education and humanitarian action, risk and crisis management, and political campaigns. Rachel holds dual MA degrees in urban and environmental policy and planning and international affairs from Tufts University and its Fletcher School, and a BA from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. Originally from central Illinois, she now lives in Greenfield with her pit bull mix, Lionel Richie.
Roberto Jiminez Rivera
City Councilor, Chelsea
Roberto Jiménez-Rivera is a dad, an advocate, and a proud Chelsea resident. Since January 2024, he has served as an At-Large member of the Chelsea City Council. Roberto began to get involved in community organizing as part of Ayanna Pressley’s first Congressional campaign. Motivated by the grassroots organizing that propelled Congresswoman Pressley to victory and his own vision for education justice, Roberto ran for School Committee in 2019, knocking hundreds of doors to engage with residents directly about the issues they face. Throughout his professional career and his service as an elected official, Roberto has fought for increased state education funding, protections for workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and investments in our crumbling transportation infrastructure. After many years working in higher education, Roberto joined the Boston Teachers Union staff as an Organizer and in 2023 became the Director of Development at the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget).
Ryan Williams
City Councilor, Melrose
Ryan Williams is a Melrose City Councilor, a member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Vision Zero task force, and a member of the Melrose Pedestrian and Bicyclist Advisory Committee. He works as a fundraiser for environmental advocacy nonprofits. Ryan is originally from the Midwest, and moved to Melrose in 2016. Along with many friends and neighbors, Ryan helped to build Melrose’s parklets, roll out it’s quick-build Slow Streets project, and, as a councilor, funded and launched the city’s first-ever neighborhood traffic calming program. One of his top goals as a councilor is to make Melrose and the entire region safer and more comfortable for everyone to enjoy walking, rolling, and biking.
Sarah L. Raposa
Director of Planning & Development, Mansfield
Sarah L. Raposa, AICP, currently holds the position of Director of Planning & Development for the Town of Mansfield, MA, a role she has served in since March 2023. She brings with her a wealth of experience, holding a master’s degree in Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a certificate in Local Government Leadership & Management from the Massachusetts Municipal Association and Suffolk University. In her current capacity, she is tasked with providing professional and technical expertise in the assessment of land use, demographic trends, economic analysis, and other data relevant to the built and natural environment, supporting the efforts of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.
Sarah’s journey in the field of planning commenced in 2005 at the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program in Wareham, MA, and she has since held the position of Town Planner in Medfield, MA, Westport, MA, and Eastham, MA. Beyond her professional responsibilities, she dedicates her time to civic engagement, serving as an elected planning board member in Medway and volunteering on both the community preservation committee and capital improvements planning committee.