Healey and Driscoll praise Black Empowerment Council as it marks first year

Governor Maura Healy and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll attended a Black History Month ceremony at the State House where they joined the Black Empowerment Advisory Council in honoring community leaders and underlining the council's role advising the administration.

Tanisha Sullivan, chair of the council, said the advisory body was created by an executive order about a year ago and has spent the last year traveling across the Commonwealth to gather community input. "We have spent now a year, moving across the Commonwealth in community, meeting with residents," Sullivan said, describing the council's mission to present recommendations to the governor and lieutenant governor.

Driscoll, the lieutenant governor, called the council "a group of doers" and described the administration's focus on turning recommendations into action year-round. She cited partnerships with entities such as MassHousing and cultural institutions, and highlighted art and youth engagement in the governor's office as part of efforts to lift up Black voices.

Governor Healy framed the moment in historical context, noting the State House's links to abolition-era organizing and urging the public to hold leaders accountable to measurable outcomes. "Black history is American history," she said, and emphasized the administration's responsibility to pursue housing, education and health-equity measures that produce results.

Speakers identified several priorities the council's forthcoming recommendations will address, including homeownership and educational equity, climate and environmental justice, maternal health disparities and contracting opportunities for Black- and Latino-owned businesses. Sullivan said the council expects to present its first set of recommendations to the governor and lieutenant governor before the end of the month.

The event also showcased artwork loaned to the governor's office and highlighted partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts. Attendees joined in singing the Black national anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," and the program concluded with a benediction and a group photo of council members, honorees and state leaders.

The ceremony was ceremonial rather than deliberative: no formal votes or policy adoptions occurred; the council continues to collect input and prepare recommendations for administrative consideration.