DEI subcommittee urges MA 250 to boost access and resources ahead of 2026 anniversary

Dr. Shenton, co-chair of the DEI subcommittee of the Special Commission on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, said the group was “tasked as the DEI subcommittee, to think about the opportunities for inclusion and diversity within the 250th” and opened a discussion on what the committee should recommend to the full commission.

The subcommittee focused on three recurring problems: limited funding reaching local and historically underserved groups, barriers to participation beyond cash (such as expertise and promotional support), and transportation access to key anniversary events. The group agreed to prepare a set of recommendations for the full commission, aiming for a preliminary report by the March full commission meeting.

Why it matters: Massachusetts’ statewide commemoration of the 250th anniversary relies heavily on local events and civic organizations; the subcommittee said those local groups frequently lack money, staff time and promotional channels. Ray Shepherd, a commission member, described local exhibits that highlight enslaved and Indigenous participants in Revolutionary-era events and said those efforts need concentrated resources to research and present local histories.

Subcommittee members repeatedly returned to the idea of “access” as a…