Teacher, former union organizer, and former nonprofit executive director Emily Hardt has announced her candidacy for Somerville City Council to represent Ward 7. An over 20 years Somerville resident, Emily is a long-time local climate justice advocate and parent leader in the Somerville Public Schools.

Hardt says she is running to ensure that Somerville is a place where anyone who wants to live, work, and raise a family can do so. “I have seen many friends and neighbors priced out of Somerville, whether as renters or homeowners. As city councilor, I will work to expand existing initiatives and find new creative solutions that allow people to stay in their homes and neighborhoods.”

For Hardt, that means every Somerville resident.  Hardt will lead on addressing issues stemming from the attacks by the Trump administration, including climate resilience, immigrant rights, helping local businesses weather the uncertainty of this moment, and supporting schools under attack from federal authorities. “As a long-time Somerville resident and parent in this community, I know the importance of strong and effective leadership to counter the horrible policies, massive budget cuts, and hate-filled attacks coming from the federal administration.”

An effective leader with years of experience in the Somerville area, Hardt has helped the Somerville Chapter of Mothers Out Front hold utilities accountable for gas leaks, resulting in improved air quality and replacing damaged green space. In her role as Executive Director of the Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD), promoting women’s leadership in the Massachusetts labor movement, she doubled the organization’s budget, expanded multilingual programming, and built strong partnerships with unions and community groups. As a union organizer with UFCW, Emily organized frontline workers, helping hundreds gain union representation and workplace protections. “As a community activist, former union organizer, former nonprofit director and now teacher of public policy, I’ve spent the past 25+ years bringing people together to develop solutions to big problems,” Hardt says. “I can’t wait to put my leadership experience to work on behalf on my own community right here in Somerville.”

— Committee to Elect Emily Hardt