Samuel M. Gebru

For nearly 100 years, the American Civil Liberties Union has worked every day in the courts, in the legislature, and in communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, Bill Rights, and laws of the United States. The ACLU of Massachusetts—a private, nonpartisan organization with more than 82,000 supporters across the Commonwealth and over 100,000 online activists—is a state affiliate of the national ACLU. We defend the principles enshrined… Show more

For nearly 100 years, the American Civil Liberties Union has worked every day in the courts, in the legislature, and in communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, Bill Rights, and laws of the United States. The ACLU of Massachusetts—a private, nonpartisan organization with more than 82,000 supporters across the Commonwealth and over 100,000 online activists—is a state affiliate of the national ACLU. We defend the principles enshrined in the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights, as well as the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Learn more about the history of the ACLU of Massachusetts, the range of issues we cover, and the national ACLU's work and history: www.aclum.org. Show less

Member of the Harris 2024 New England Steering Committee (Harris Victory Fund), working to help raise the resources needed to elect Kamala Harris as the 47th President of the United States. Harris is running to ensure progress for the American people, building on the tremendous successes of the Biden-Harris Administration.

Member of the Board of Governors of the University of Massachusetts Club. The UMass Club is a private social club for alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the entire UMass system — Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and the Medical School. Located on the top of Boston's Beacon Hill on the 32nd floor of One Beacon Street, the UMass Club’s astounding views make it the best spot in the city to entertain, host events, work remotely, network, and dine.

Member of the Finance Committee for the Committee to Elect Ayanna Pressley. United States Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) is an activist, a legislator, a survivor, and the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Throughout her career as a public servant, Pressley has fought to ensure that those closest to the pain are closest to the power - driving and informing policymaking. Throughout her time in Congress, Pressley has been a champion for… Show more

Member of the Finance Committee for the Committee to Elect Ayanna Pressley. United States Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) is an activist, a legislator, a survivor, and the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Throughout her career as a public servant, Pressley has fought to ensure that those closest to the pain are closest to the power - driving and informing policymaking. Throughout her time in Congress, Pressley has been a champion for justice and healing: reproductive justice, justice for immigrants, consumer justice, justice for seniors, justice for workers, justice for survivors of sexual violence, justice for the formerly and currently incarcerated individuals, and healing for those who have experienced trauma. Show less

Member of the Leadership Council of the WilmerHale Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School. Founded in 1979, the Center’s mission is to fight for fairness and justice by meeting our community’s legal needs, training the next generation of lawyers, and fostering legal, economic, and social change. The Leadership Council consists of leaders from the legal profession, business, academia, human services, and other fields, working in concert and contributing their knowledge and expertise to… Show more

Member of the Leadership Council of the WilmerHale Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School. Founded in 1979, the Center’s mission is to fight for fairness and justice by meeting our community’s legal needs, training the next generation of lawyers, and fostering legal, economic, and social change. The Leadership Council consists of leaders from the legal profession, business, academia, human services, and other fields, working in concert and contributing their knowledge and expertise to provide strategic advice in support of the mission. Based in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood, the Center is a general practice law firm that provides legal counsel to over 1,200 clients from Massachusetts and nationwide annually, many of whom are deeply vulnerable people. The WilmerHale Legal Services Center is Harvard Law School’s oldest and largest clinical teaching facility. Focus areas include disability and benefits, domestic violence, taxes, LGBTQ+ advocacy, housing, consumer protection, and veterans. The students, faculty, Leadership Council, and wider community work together to tackle systemic inequities through law and policy. Show less

Founded in 2001, the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) is devoted to engaging the community in promoting civil rights, protecting civil liberties and achieving social, economic, environmental, and racial justice. JALSA asks our members, both affiliated and unaffiliated Jews, and those outside the Jewish community to take personal responsibility for improving our society by advocating with public officials on legislative proposals, using the tools of grassroots community… Show more

Founded in 2001, the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) is devoted to engaging the community in promoting civil rights, protecting civil liberties and achieving social, economic, environmental, and racial justice. JALSA asks our members, both affiliated and unaffiliated Jews, and those outside the Jewish community to take personal responsibility for improving our society by advocating with public officials on legislative proposals, using the tools of grassroots community organizing to act on issues, and filing amicus briefs in court cases. JALSA is guided by our fundamental Jewish values, and enables people to connect their Jewish identity to their ideology on public policy issues. We believe that it is our job to strive for the world as it should be, and we are optimistic enough to believe that it is possible to achieve. Show less

The Center for Virology and Vaccine Research (CVVR) at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center aims to promote research and education activities related to virology, vaccinology, and related disciplines, including basic, translational, and clinical vaccine research. The Center consists of primary and affiliate faculty and focuses on the development of vaccines against infectious, oncologic, degenerative, and other diseases.

Board Secretary (June 2021-June 2024)
Co-Chair, Capital Campaign Committee (January 2020-June 2024)
Member, Governance and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (June 2019-January 2022)
Member, Real Estate Committee (March 2018-January 2022)

Founded in 1968, JAS is a multi-service community development corporation with a wide range of programmatic activities in Cambridge and neighboring cities. Some of the work JAS does includes developing affordable housing and… Show more

Board Secretary (June 2021-June 2024)
Co-Chair, Capital Campaign Committee (January 2020-June 2024)
Member, Governance and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (June 2019-January 2022)
Member, Real Estate Committee (March 2018-January 2022)

Founded in 1968, JAS is a multi-service community development corporation with a wide range of programmatic activities in Cambridge and neighboring cities. Some of the work JAS does includes developing affordable housing and homeownership units, educational and workforce development opportunities, homelessness prevention, conflict resolution services, and JAS/YouthBuild. JAS is dedicated to building housing security and economic stability for low and moderate income people. Show less

Appointed on February 28, 2023 by City Manager Yi-An Huang to serve on the City of Cambridge Community Safety Department's Steering Committee, building on the work in 2021 of the City Manager’s Task Force to Examine the Future of Public Safety in Cambridge. The Steering Committee is a time limited assignment from March-September 2023 to support the creation of the Community Safety Department. The Steering Committee will assist the Community Safety Department's staff in the development of a… Show more

Appointed on February 28, 2023 by City Manager Yi-An Huang to serve on the City of Cambridge Community Safety Department's Steering Committee, building on the work in 2021 of the City Manager’s Task Force to Examine the Future of Public Safety in Cambridge. The Steering Committee is a time limited assignment from March-September 2023 to support the creation of the Community Safety Department. The Steering Committee will assist the Community Safety Department's staff in the development of a mission statement, logo, outreach plan, and a process for disseminating funds for community partners. Steering Committee members are community leaders and City staff with a particular expertise that will be helpful to Department staff in creating this new entity. Show less

Appointed on September 1, 2021 by City Manager Louis A. DePasquale to serve on the City of Cambridge Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Business Advisory Committee. The newly formed Committee is a sounding board for ideas on strengthening the City’s outreach efforts, information sharing, business programs and policies, and overall relationship with local BIPOC-owned businesses. The Committee works closest with the City's Community Development Department and consists of people who… Show more

Appointed on September 1, 2021 by City Manager Louis A. DePasquale to serve on the City of Cambridge Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Business Advisory Committee. The newly formed Committee is a sounding board for ideas on strengthening the City’s outreach efforts, information sharing, business programs and policies, and overall relationship with local BIPOC-owned businesses. The Committee works closest with the City's Community Development Department and consists of people who identify as BIPOC that work, live, or own a business in Cambridge. Show less

Appointed on January 1, 2020 by City Manager Louis A. DePasquale to serve on the City of Cambridge City Manager's Advisory Committee. The Committee is an official city board consisting of business, civic, religious, and nonprofit leaders who provide guidance to the City Manager and his staff on a broad range of issues facing Cambridge, Massachusetts. Committee members use this opportunity to address policy topics, build community, and develop meaningful relationships between city officials and… Show more

Appointed on January 1, 2020 by City Manager Louis A. DePasquale to serve on the City of Cambridge City Manager's Advisory Committee. The Committee is an official city board consisting of business, civic, religious, and nonprofit leaders who provide guidance to the City Manager and his staff on a broad range of issues facing Cambridge, Massachusetts. Committee members use this opportunity to address policy topics, build community, and develop meaningful relationships between city officials and various neighborhoods and sectors in the city. Show less

Appointed on December 12, 2018 by City Manager Louis A. DePasquale to serve on the City of Cambridge River Street Infrastructure and Streetscape Design Project Working Group. The members of the Working Group represent a cross-section of resident, business, and institutional interests and will advise the City of Cambridge on design issues associated with the reconstruction of River Street and Central Square's Carl Barron Plaza. The Working Group will participate in meetings, review materials… Show more

Appointed on December 12, 2018 by City Manager Louis A. DePasquale to serve on the City of Cambridge River Street Infrastructure and Streetscape Design Project Working Group. The members of the Working Group represent a cross-section of resident, business, and institutional interests and will advise the City of Cambridge on design issues associated with the reconstruction of River Street and Central Square's Carl Barron Plaza. The Working Group will participate in meetings, review materials, and explore the future of multi-modal usage, surface materials, lighting, and plantings/green space. Show less

Appointed on April 29, 2021 to serve on the Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Solvency Study Commission, representing the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA). The Commission, co-chaired by Senator Patricia D. Jehlen and Representative Josh S. Cutler, will study the Trust Fund’s long-term solvency, evaluate whether changes are necessary to the experience rating system that would promote solvency and reduce the tax impact on small businesses, examine increasing or… Show more

Appointed on April 29, 2021 to serve on the Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Solvency Study Commission, representing the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA). The Commission, co-chaired by Senator Patricia D. Jehlen and Representative Josh S. Cutler, will study the Trust Fund’s long-term solvency, evaluate whether changes are necessary to the experience rating system that would promote solvency and reduce the tax impact on small businesses, examine increasing or indexing the taxable wage base, examine the industry specific impacts of changes to the unemployment tax rate, review solvency efforts in other state unemployment tax systems, and determine what changes are necessary to benefit from federal tax credits and federal interest-free borrowing under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act. The Commission will submit its recommendations by October 1, 2021 to the clerks of the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives and their Committees on Ways and Means. Show less

Appointed on January 7, 2021 by City Manager Louis A. DePasquale to serve on the City Manager’s Task Force to Examine the Future of Public Safety in Cambridge. The Task Force consists of 14 members who live and/or work in the City. The group will examine ways to reform community safety in Cambridge by mitigating police response to select calls for service, while enhancing community cohesion to include restorative processes.

Board Member of Generation Citizen Massachusetts (GCMA) since January 2019. Generation Citizen (GC) is a national organization that works to ensure that every student in the United States receives an effective action civics education, which provides them with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in our democracy as active citizens. Democracy depends on political participation, but young people are turning away from politics. GC believes every student has the right to learn how to… Show more

Board Member of Generation Citizen Massachusetts (GCMA) since January 2019. Generation Citizen (GC) is a national organization that works to ensure that every student in the United States receives an effective action civics education, which provides them with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in our democracy as active citizens. Democracy depends on political participation, but young people are turning away from politics. GC believes every student has the right to learn how to effectively participate as citizens. We inspire civic participation through a proven state standards-aligned action civics class that gives students the opportunity to experience real-world democracy. Show less

Secretary (April 2018-May 2019)
Member (March 2018-May 2019)

Unanimously elected on March 20, 2018 to become a member of the City of Cambridge Ward 5 Democratic Committee. A Ward Committee is the lowest level of Democratic Party organizational structure. Its members are responsible for organizing Democrats and voters in general in their particular area. Ward 5 in Cambridge consists of the Cambridgeport neighborhood. These organizations are critical to local grassroots organizing and… Show more

Secretary (April 2018-May 2019)
Member (March 2018-May 2019)

Unanimously elected on March 20, 2018 to become a member of the City of Cambridge Ward 5 Democratic Committee. A Ward Committee is the lowest level of Democratic Party organizational structure. Its members are responsible for organizing Democrats and voters in general in their particular area. Ward 5 in Cambridge consists of the Cambridgeport neighborhood. These organizations are critical to local grassroots organizing and for spreading news and messages from and about the Democratic Party. Show less

Chair, Governance and Board Development Committee (September 2016-May 2018)
Member, Budget and Personnel Committee (June 2015-June 2017)

Located between Central Square and Memorial Drive, the Cambridge Community Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been serving the Coast community in Cambridge since 1929. Today our mission is to promote community cooperation and unity and empower youth, individuals, and families. We do this by offering social, cultural, educational, and… Show more

Chair, Governance and Board Development Committee (September 2016-May 2018)
Member, Budget and Personnel Committee (June 2015-June 2017)

Located between Central Square and Memorial Drive, the Cambridge Community Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been serving the Coast community in Cambridge since 1929. Today our mission is to promote community cooperation and unity and empower youth, individuals, and families. We do this by offering social, cultural, educational, and recreational activities. Show less

The Young Democrats of Massachusetts is the official youth outreach wing of the Massachusetts Democratic Party and is chartered with the Young Democrats of America. The goal of YDMA is to advocate for and engage young people under the age of 36 living in Massachusetts. We mobilize young people to participate in the electoral process, influence the ideals of the Democratic Party, advance policies and legislation at the local, state, and national level that support our platform, and develop the… Show more

The Young Democrats of Massachusetts is the official youth outreach wing of the Massachusetts Democratic Party and is chartered with the Young Democrats of America. The goal of YDMA is to advocate for and engage young people under the age of 36 living in Massachusetts. We mobilize young people to participate in the electoral process, influence the ideals of the Democratic Party, advance policies and legislation at the local, state, and national level that support our platform, and develop the skills to serve as leaders at all levels of government. Show less

Member of the transition team for Kenneth Salim, hired as Superintendent of the Cambridge Public School District on July 1, 2016.

Secretary for the Interim Board of Directors of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School Alumni Association.

Africans in Boston Inc. is an organization that fosters the socio-economic and educational development of its members by offering a platform that connects the African Diaspora in the greater Boston area and in the state of Massachusetts. Founded in 2010, the organization provides various resources by enriching community members lives through: programs, services, and events that educate, entertain, foster business relationships and good citizenship.

A decade-long effort to convene young change makers and social entrepreneurs from Ethiopia and beyond committed to supporting the growth and development of Ethiopia. The Initiative was founded to serve as a connecting platform to leverage the social, intellectual, and/or financial capital of individuals. The Initiative organized online meetings as well as social and professional conferences and gatherings in the United States and Ethiopia, raised funds for charitable efforts, and operated a… Show more

A decade-long effort to convene young change makers and social entrepreneurs from Ethiopia and beyond committed to supporting the growth and development of Ethiopia. The Initiative was founded to serve as a connecting platform to leverage the social, intellectual, and/or financial capital of individuals. The Initiative organized online meetings as well as social and professional conferences and gatherings in the United States and Ethiopia, raised funds for charitable efforts, and operated a service-learning program in Ethiopia that brought together Ethiopian college and high school students with American college students to identify neighborhood problems and develop grassroots community service projects. Show less

Full indoor winter farmers market housed at the Cambridge Community Center. The market operates on Saturdays from January-April.

Served as head of the Sunday School Department. Oversaw choir practices and taught Sunday School classes on the history, practices, and beliefs of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church to parishioners roughly ages 5-21 every week.

Amateur soccer league for Ethiopian American youth in Greater Boston.

Appointed by Mayor E. Denise Simmons to serve on the Prince Hall Memorial’s Artist Selection Committee. The Memorial, honoring the founder of Black freemasonry, is located at the historic Cambridge Common, a public park in Harvard Square founded in 1630.