ASHLAND RESIDENTS FOR EQUITY & ACTION
A.R.E.A
VOTE! Town Elections!
2023 Election & Town Meeting
Annual Town Meeting
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
7:00 PM - Ashland High School
Voter Registration Deadline - Friday, April 21, 2023
Annual Town Election
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM - Ashland High School
Voter Registration Deadline- Friday, May 5, 2023
Town Offices up for Election:
Select Board - 1 seat
Assessor - 1 seat
School Committee - 1 seat
Library Trustee - 2 seats
Board of Health - 2 seats
Planning Board - 1 seat
Vote for AREA's own
Barbra Sekesogundu for
Board of Health!
ABOUT US
Ashland Residents for Equity and Action is a group of People of Color and their allies in Ashland working together to ensure that their voices are represented in local civic organizations, government, and the schools.
We support and promote People of Color-run businesses in Metro-West as engines of economic development that benefit the community at large. Through community action we want to make Ashland a safe and inclusive community for all.
MEET THE TEAM
MARGARET MUSOKE
President
Margaret (Maggie) Musoke, has been an Ashland resident for 10 years. She has 1 son and 3 daughters.
Maggie is the Co-Founder and President of Ashland Residents for Equity and Action (AREA). In addition she is very active in the community and volunteers in other organizations. She is the Troop Leader for Ashland's Girl Scouts, a member of the Africa Exchange Project and Racial Justice Team through Plymouth Church, Onewoman, American Red Cross, Ashland Community Garden, and Ashland Sustainability Committee.
Maggie is a nurse by profession and has worked in the healthcare field for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration/Management concentration and is HR certified.
During her spare time, she enjoys walks, dancing, road trips, visiting new places, and trying new foods with her family.
BARBARA SEKESOGUNDU
Vice President
Barbara has been an Ashland resident for almost 2 years and is a proud mother of two boys.
Barbara is self employed as a nurse. Outside of work she is a member of the Ashland Board of Health, and also volunteers with the Ashland Housing Trust.
She has a strong passion and interest in healthcare management and education, and sharing her knowledge with others. In her free time she enjoys traveling, volunteering and spending valuable time with her family and friends.
CARA TIRRELL
Secretary
A true "townie,” Cara grew up and lives in Ashland.
After 13 years as the Director of Ashland Youth and Family Services, Cara decided to have a new beginning and started her own mental health counseling practice in Holliston. With a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and over 25 years of experience in providing support and counseling for all ages, Cara continues to enjoy giving back to her community. She has been an active member of a hoarding task force, spearheaded a memory café, and facilitated a caregiver's support group. Currently, she is the President/Secretary of the Ashland Dog Park Committee, Co-founder/Secretary of AREA and formerly Founder of Ashland Citizens Action Committee.
Cara also holds memberships in Breast Cancer Committee-Education and Access for Minority Women, Tourette's Syndrome Association, MetroWest Leadership Academy, and MetroWest Leadership Alumni Encore Program. She has been actively involved with Ashland Intergenerational Leadership Team by Bridges Together, Inc.
Besides being a parent of two boys, her passion is fostering dogs and cats and she has initiated her own business and created several non-profits that involve civic action. During her free time, Cara loves to travel and spend time on Cape Cod.
MOALA KITAYIMBWA
Treasurer
Moala Kitayimbwa has been an Ashland resident for 4 years and looks forward to being actively involved with the community.
Currently she works at an Investment Firm in Boston and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Management from Manchester University.
Moala is always seeking opportunities to get involved within various organizations that empower women, support the equitable rights of people of color, and early childhood development. She currently is the Treasurer of Ashland Cultural Council and also participates on the Warren Site Council.
Moala is a proud mother of two young children, Ava and Mason. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, baking insurmountable cakes and cupcakes, cooking, and planning events.
ALAN GALIWANGO
Board Member
Alan moved to Ashland in 2017 with his wife and three kids.
He graduated from Northeastern University with a Master's Degree in Computer Science. He currently works in the FinTech space for an Asset Management Firm in Boston.
Besides being an AREA board member, Alan is a board member of the Ashland Affordable Housing Trust.
He enjoys outdoor activities with his kids - camping, basketball and snowboarding. You can be sure to find him smoking ribs and brisket in his spare time.
SENTEZA KIRONDE
Board Member
Senteza Kironde (aka Sentie) is an entrepreneur, social activist and works in Finance and Accounting in Boston.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Babson College.
Sentie is always looking to make a difference within the community and joined AREA to make a difference within the Ashland community and raise awareness about social injustices.
He is also the founder of UgBuddy, a mentoring organization and Sentie's Kitchen LLC where he caters African BBQ and provides DJ services in and around the MetroWest/Boston area.
RAYMOND KITAYIMBWA
Board Member
Ray has been a resident of Ashland since 2017 with his wife and 2 children (Ava and Mason).
Ray has attended Middlesex Community College and UMass Boston studying Business Administration. He currently works for a financial company in Boston.
Ray is a strong advocate for Equity and Equality and is excited to partner with AREA to help make an impact in the community.
In his free time, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.
AREA BOARD MEETING
Winter 2022
LOCAL POC OWNED BUSINESSES
Ashland
-
Sentie’s Kitchen(African BBQ) (508) 372-5516
-
Knowledge Points Learning (508) 231-8787
-
Mama O’s (508)202-8516
Framingham
-
Dream Team Barbershop (508) 875-1570
-
GCN African Market (508) 309-4424
-
Nzuko Restaurant (508)620-1024
-
Soothing Comfort Massage (508)395-3865
-
Loyalty Barbershop (508) 620-9900
-
Prism Hair Design (508)788-3400
-
Rece’s Pieces Barbershop (508) 879-5930
-
Soothing Comfort Massage (508) 395-3895
NEWS
NEWSLETTERS
Below are links to our monthly newsletters
MONTHLY ZOOM MEETINGS
We meet on the 3rd Thursdays of the month at 6:30pm.
* Use this same zoom link for every meeting.
2023- Calendar Year at a glance:
-
June 17th-Juneteenth-9am-12pm-Farmer's Market
-
-
Sept. 9th- DragonFly Festival- Corner Spot
-
December 11, 2022
Ashland, Massachusetts
AREA donated a total of 41 winter coats to the Ashland Lions Coat drive. 17 coats were delivered in November and 24 coats were delivered in December by the AREA kids.
Christmas 2022
Coat Drive!
AREA Celebration Event!
September 17, 2022
12 noon to 5 pm
Corner Spot, Ashland
Join AREA as we celebrate 2 years of equity action in our community!
-
Music!
-
Food!
-
Fashion Show!
-
Dancing!
-
Book Raffle!
Calling on all Ashland KIDS WITH FLAIR!
Show off your fashionable cultural outfits at the
Cultural Fashion Show!
Contact area@ashlandequity.org for details
AREA would like to thank our Corporate Sponsors:
Acadian Asset Management Middlesex Savings Bank Ann Marie's Dance Center
AREA Rides with APD
Click on the image below to view the full story!
AREA Member in the News
Click on the image below to view the full story!
2021 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey
MetroWest Health Foundation released on April 5, 2022, the results from its 2021 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey (MWAHS), a biennial survey of middle and high school students in the 25-town region served by the foundation.
Rates of vaping and marijuana use have declined but mental health issues and cyberbullying have increased.
AREA IN THE NEWS
The metrowest local publication, The Patch, had a feature on AREA. Click the image below for more details.
LET’S CONNECT
By joining our mailing list, you will be automatically forwarded meeting information for the next meeting.
You can directly offer your financial support by donating to our cause. We are a grassroots organization run by volunteers and any help is greatly appreciated.
Mail a Check:
Ashland Residents for Equity & Action
205 Main Street, Unit 543 , Ashland, MA 01721
Electronic via PayPal
@ashlandequity
