Senator Rausch Celebrates Local Women for Women’s History Month

In honor of Women's History Month, Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham) has launched a series of Local Leadership Lunches, a Facebook Live series highlighting incredible role models and women in leadership in and around the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District. Throughout the month of March, Senator Rausch will stream Facebook Live conversations with scientists, authors, student advocates, business leaders, and community volunteers from the district for these lunchtime virtual events.

Join Senator Rausch on her Facebook page the following days to learn about and celebrate local leaders' contributions to the community:

Friday, March 12 @ 1 PM - Lisa Graves, North Attleborough: Lisa Graves is a freelance author, illustrator and creative director. Born and raised in Millis, MA, at an early age, Lisa found herself drawn to both artistic craftsmanship and Norfolk County's rich regional history. Lisa graduated from Bishop Feehan high school and spent 10 years as a creative director in Manhattan before her personal blog “History Witches” caught the eye of publishers who asked her to turn the historical illustrations into children’s books, resulting in her 21st book, Simple Stories of Strong Women: An A to Z Guide to Girl Power.

Tuesday, March 16 @ 1 PM - Gretchen Cook-Anderson, Needham: Gretchen Cook-Anderson is the award-winning Director of Diversity Recruiting & Advising at IES Abroad. She is a marketing and PR professional with 13 years of experience in international education marketing and 25 years in the marketing field. In November 2020, Gretchen was honored among the 50 Most Influential Business People of Color in the Boston MetroWest area. In February 2021, Gretchen was a Black Excellence on the Hill honoree, recognized by the legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She also regularly leads community and workplace training workshops for organizations, schools and companies on various themes of diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism.

Friday, March 19 @ 1 PM - Dr. Regina LaRocque, Wellesley: Regina LaRocque has an MD from Duke University School of Medicine and a Master’s in Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health. She is on staff at the Massachusetts General Hospital Division of Infectious Diseases and is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She has performed laboratory and clinical research for 15 years in the fields of travel medicine and enteric infections and has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Dr. LaRocque was elected to the Natural Resources Commission in Wellesley, Massachusetts in 2017. She is concerned about the impact of climate change on human health and the spread of infectious diseases. More recently, Dr. LaRocque has been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic advocating for robust public health protections and equitable COVID-19 care.

Monday, March 22 @ 1 PM - Ndoumbe Ndoye, Franklin: A Franklin High School Senior, Ndoumbe Ndoye is heavily involved in the community in combatting social injustice. She is well known for her Kneel for Nine speech on the Franklin Town Common in June 2020, after the death of George Floyd, where she shared her personal experience with the town of Franklin. Ndoumbe is president of the Diversity Awareness Club, a mentor for children of color, and actively strives to create a better environment for marginalized groups in predominantly white spaces, including her hometown.

Senator Rausch's office will announce additional Local Leadership Lunches on the Senator's Facebook and Twitter pages.

Senator Becca Rausch represents the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District, comprised of Attleboro, Franklin, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Sherborn, Wayland, Wellesley, and Wrentham. Currently in her second term, Senator Rausch serves as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture and the Senate Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.