ESTELA REYES wasn't born wealthy. She was raised by working-class parents in the Dominican Republic, from whom she learned what it takes to provide for the family- and their community.She moved from city of Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic to Lawrence, Massachusetts over thirty years ago. Estela became a homeowner at the age of twenty, thanks to her financial discipline, commitment, and determination.
As a mother of two, I know firsthand how important it is to fund our children’s Education. Our children not only represent our future, but also our present — and that is why it is important we invest in them today. As Lawrence City Councilor, I voted in favor of allocating $40m from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to the revitalization of the Leahy School Project which will give about 500 Lawrence students a safe learning environment in an up-to-date, modern building. As State Representative of the 4th Essex district, I will continue to advocate and bring resources to help the growing need for equitable education.
Healthcare has always been a topic near and dear to my heart. I started my career with a growing company that offered quality health care to individuals ranging from infant to elderly. Over the past twenty years, I have worked at Home Health Care VNA as a Translator, Nurses Aid, HIV Liaison, and now as a Physicians Outreach Coordinator. It is here where I have learned the importance of providing quality health care to most vulnerable individuals, in all stages of life.
Quality healthcare is a fundamental human right which everyone should have access to including our most vulnerable populations i.e. our elderly, people of color, and individuals with disabilities and mental health disorders. Constituent services will be a priority when elected. I will encourage my constituents to reach out to me directly in order to bridge the gap between our communities’ needs and our community organizations and state agencies that can provide assistance.
Our society continues to grapple with the effects of COVID-19. The city provided multiple layers of resources and services to educate and vaccinate residents in order to combat the high infection rates.
Lawrence community leaders including Mayor Daniel Rivera, City Councilors, State Representatives, United Way, and various community organizations established The One Lawrence Fund. As part of this initiative, we distributed resources through organizations to cover the costs of rent, food, utilities, childcare, medications, and other basic necessities.
Having lost loved ones to COVID-19, I understand the devastating impact it has had on our society. It is important to build on the work that has already been done and will work with my colleagues in the local, state, and federal agencies to provide the best support possible for our communities.
The opioid epidemic continues to tear apart families. We need to continue funding and supporting services for the victims and their families, while holding the drug manufacturers more accountable. In addition to increasing current funding in next year’s budget, we need to continue to invest in more resources for individuals suffering with mental health and addiction.
Public safety includes Emergency Medical Services, Fire Services, Law Enforcement, Corrections, and WildLife Services. These are fundamental services that no community can live without. As State Representative, I will use my years of experience in office to translate policy into practice in order to strengthen public safety services for our community. I’ve been able to work with our state and federal delegation to bring resources to our community. As State Representative, I will continue to work to bring the funding needed in order to continue the positive progress made in our communities, while addressing the critical and unmet needs related to public safety.
As city councilors, we deal with constituent calls regarding parking and pothole issues, daily. As your State Representative, I will fight to allocate funding to critical infrastructure improvements, which include sidewalks, streets, bridges, sewer/water, and gas and pipelines.
As a member of the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Board, I have worked with community organizations that provide for populations such as youth, veterans, and adults seeking education services to provide them with extra funding to create a better life for their clients while enhancing our environment for our growing diverse community.
As a real estate investor, I understand the struggles and challenges of being a homeowner as well as a renter, and will work to establish guidelines that promote equitable housing for our communities.
Lastly, I will work with our local business owners to create a sustainable and accessible environment. I will work with my colleagues to acquire funding for long-term investments in Lawrence and Methuen’s economies. We must work together to encourage the redevelopment of land and buildings, not properly utilized, for business growth and the creation of 21st-century infrastructure.