VOLUNTEER WORK HERE IN SALEM
The Salem Pantry
Mack Park Food Farm
Salem Education Foundation - Board Member
Woman's Friend Society - Board Member
Community Life Center (events for older adults, veterans)
Neighborhood Clean Ups - several different organizations/groups
Historic Salem Inc - House Tours
Salem Main Streets, various events
El Punto Community Mural Project Committee, North Shore CDC
Salem Backpack Program (pre-Covid)
Salem Together Program (calls to seniors, pre-Covid)
AWARDS
Three times nominated for the Salem Chamber of Commerce's 2023 and 2024 Annual Celebrate Salem Awards in the Community Service category
Citation from the MA House of Representatives for my volunteer efforts here in Salem supporting our community members 1/21/21
ADVOCACY/EDUCATION - SALEM
Affordable Housing (various city ordinances, support for the North Shore CDC, Lifebridge, WFS, other organizations)
Food Insecurity,(volunteer work and advocacy for our most vulnerable community members)
Participate annually in the Walk for HAWC
Participate in events for Mental Makeover, fighting stigma around mental health and empowering youth
Participate in events and support for NAGLY, serving our LGBTQ+ Youth
Participate in and volunteer for Salem United's Black Celebration Day annually at the Salem Willows
Participate in student education events on civic engagement and the role of local government
Hosted seminar for UMass Boston Masters of Public Admin on municipal government and civic engagement 11/2022
Hosted presentation for the Girl Scouts at Bates Elementary School on "Finding Common Ground" 11/16/22
Participated in Resiliency and Identity Project at Salem High School 3/15-29/19
Salem State University SSW Program - gave presentation on Community Involvement and Activism 4/16/19
Volunteered for Salem's Yes on One Campaign - to protect our immigrant community members (2017)
ADVOCACY - STATE LEVEL
MA Yes on 3 Campaign - volunteer/speaker, campaign to uphold protections for our transgender community (2018), including hosting forum at SSU and speaking at several city/town Democratic committees
MA State House - advocate for MA Commission on the Status of Women
MA State House - advocate for Healthy Youth Act, Sexual Harassment bill
MA State House - Safe Communities Act
Common Cause MA - working for integrity in elections and transparency in government
CITY COUNCIL WORK - Chair of the Administration and Finance Committee last year and this year. Addressing the climate crisis (ordinances; green buildings, urban agriculture, etc), Safety (weapons ban in public buildings), Health (Ordinance ensuring safe access to legally-protected health care), Equity (Wage Theft ordinance), Affordable Housing (supported tax break for Leefort Terrace affordable housing, working on Condo Conversion ordinance, enhancement of ADU's, and implementation of the Housing Production Plan). Council liaison for last two years for Destination Salem, supporting the marketing efforts of our small business and creative community. Submitted a Resolution pressuring the state to reinstate the Healthy Incentives Program which provides SNAP recipients with increased healthy, local fruits and vegetables. Submitted a Resolution supporting and protecting our Transgender and Non-binary community which passed unanimously! I was the only councillor to attend the 2025 MA Municipal Assoc Annual Conference/Expo in Boston to continue my City Council training with various workshops over the two-day event. Please reach out to me if you would like more information or to have a conversation about my work on the City Council. alicemerkl@gmail.com 978-621-9693
