Stacey Luster, the first Black woman ever elected to Worcester City Council, works to support anti-racism and equal opportunity, and she has co-founded two advocacy groups designed to help those efforts: Black Families Together, which focuses on addressing institutional racism in Worcester; and the Black Excellence Academy, which helps students of color who are struggling in school.
Although Luster has been fighting racism for years, the importance of this work was made clearer to a larger portion of the population in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer last year. At Worcester State University, she oversees the Office of Equal Opportunity, on top of her role as one of the top lieutenants in President Barry Maloney’s leadership team.
Luster has been so impressive that Maloney recommended she attend a development program for aspiring college presidents, so she could eventually reach that level.
What do you think the future holds for Central Mass.? “The future for Central Massachusetts will include economic growth, fueled by the growth in diverse markets and the migration of young professionals from Boston.”
Chef Luster: She loves to cook and, as a child, pretended to be Julia Childs.
