Lunchtime with Lesser

In Massachusetts you become a Red Sox Fan as a right of birth. The Boston Red Sox are one of the most iconic sports franchises in all of the world, and while most of us are familiar with the players on the field leading us to our next title run, few know the people responsible for the day to day operations of what is also a business and major community force. Dave Friedman is Senior Vice President of Red Sox Legal & Government Affairs. 2020 has changed much about our lives but it changed how the Red Sox did business from top to bottom — Eric askes Dave about how the Sox have adapted to the pandemic on and off the field as well as what the road ahead looks like for them. He also gets a chance to talk about Dave’s past life in government — this is that conversation.

Congressman Jim McGovern is one of the most powerful people in Congress. As Chairman of the legendary Rules Committee, he is a close ally of Speaker Pelosi and has used that perch to promote an often overlooked issue - hunger. He and Eric chatted just before Monte’s March, a 43 mile, 2 day trek from Springfield to Greenfield that he leads alongside local radio host Monte Belmonte to raise funds for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. Eric spoke with Chairman McGovern about food insecurity, COVID19, and what we can expect from the Biden Administration and the new Congress in January -- this is that conversation

As Mayor of Worcester and then as Lieutenant Governor, Tim Murray championed commuter rail access between Worcester and Boston. Those new trains, combined with investments at UMass Medical School and coordination with local schools, has led to a period of revitalization and growth for our Commonwealth’s second largest city. Tim now leads the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, where he has been a leader on workforce training and advanced manufacturing. Eric spoke with Tim about the path ahead for transportation and economic development as we pick up the pieces from COVID19 -- this is that conversation.

In January we will swear in the 192nd session of the Massachusetts General Court - in all those years, there have been many men and women who have served their communities at the State House, but for the first time in our Commonwealth’s history -- we will have a State Senator of Puerto Rican heritage. Eric sat down with my new colleague from Western Mass, State Senator-Elect Adam Gomez, to talk about his journey in politics and the promise of our current political moment -- this is that conversation.

Our healthcare heroes have been on the front lines of the pandemic, providing care to our loved ones and providing public health advice to keep all of us safe during these troubling times. Dr. Robert Roose is the Chief Medical Officer at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield. He and his colleagues have been fighting COVID-19 every day and he has been a public face for providing updates to the public in Western Mass. As we head into the late fall and winter months Eric wanted to talk with him about the current trends of the virus and what we can expect over the next few months -- this is that conversation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way a lot of things work – restaurants, social gatherings, even the way we go to school. The Children’s Study Home partners with families by providing innovative and educational programs for children. Eric sat down with their Director & CEO Dr. William Dávila, to talk about how they have navigated the challenges of the pandemic while still delivering services to kids – this is that conversation.

Climate change is the existential crisis of our time -- many people know this but have struggled about what they can do locally and in their everyday lives to fight for change. Michele Marantz is the leader of an organization called the Longmeadow Pipeline Awareness Group. They are proof that a dedicated group of people can come together and make a difference for their community. Eric sat down to talk with her about their efforts and the path ahead -- this is that conversion.

Since the pandemic started, we’ve seen organizations of all sizes step up to do what they can to help out. Ronn Johnson is the head of one of those organizations, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services. MLK is an important resource for an underserved part of our community, but like every part of our lives since March, much of how they deliver their services is different. Eric spoke with Ronn about what they are doing now and how things have changed – this is that conversation.

The first week of October Eric spoke with Holyoke Community College President Christina Royal about how the college has adjusted to educating in the middle of a pandemic and about higher ed more generally --- this is that conversation.

In September Eric spoke with Jenn Aldworth, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs to talk about how Boys and Girls Clubs across the state are dealing with COVID-19 and the essential role they play in providing childcare for families -- this is that conversation.