Page 56 - BusinessWest October 27, 2021

Tracye Whitfield stands outside Town Hall
in West Springfield, where she now serves
as the community’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer.
Congratulations
to this year’s Women of Impact for inspiring all women to discover their purpose!
Congratulations to Elms College Trustee, Elizabeth Dineen ‘77
From your friends at
291 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 elms.edu
56 OCTOBER 27, 2021
Women of IMPACT IMPACT A PROGRAM OF BUSINESSWEST
A PROGRAM OF BUSINESSWEST
of work, and different kinds of education.
Whitfield
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funding because they were simply not aware of them. Later, as she talked within
the community about the need for better communication and a voice for all residents, friends and relatives encouraged her to become that voice by running for City Council.
Neither she nor most of the members of her team had any experience with election campaigns, but she ran hard, knocked on more doors than she could count, and would up finishing a strong sixth, just out of the running, in the 2017 election. But she was later placed in an at-large seat when Tom Ashe became chief of staff for Mayor Domenic Sarno. Today, she is vice president of the Council and running for a third term.
Yes, it’s a compelling story, and one that forms the basis of what she considers the advice she passes on to the many young people she mentors.
“There are no real barriers other than the ones we place on ourselves — we can do whatever we want to do,” she said. “And I also tell them
to give back; whatever you learn, bring it forward to the next person so they can learn it, too. That’s how we’ll maintain a culture of togetherness and just helping one another. And we’re all far better off when we can do that.”
Those sentiments, and, yes, those business cards and all they stand for, explain why Tracye Whitfield is a Woman of Impact for 2021.
Running Story
As noted, Whitfield is running for re-election this fall. That means an already-hectic daily schedule becomes even more so.
Indeed, in addition to her day job in West Springfield, her duties as city councilor — which include countless meetings (many now thankfully conducted via Zoom) and events — and her work handling clients who asked for extensions on filing their tax returns, she must now campaign.
CONGRATULATIONS
TRACYE WHITFIELD
on receiving the
2021 Women of Impact Award!
Your leadership and many contributions in serving our community are valued and appreciated.
On behalf of all the lives you have touched,
thank you!
With appreciation,
Baystate Medical Center
Community Benefits Advisory Council (CBAC)
Women of BaystateHealth.org
CS13320
WSuomch work ies anlittle different in a pandemic, she explained, adding that there will be less knocking on doors (at least for her). But there are still the events and the stand-outs with supporters at busy intersections.
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Wilbraham Road and Parker Street and at the X by the CVS.
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IMPACT Whitfield, who long juggled work, school, and parenting duties, and still does to some extent, although now it’s her first grandchild, different kinds
A PROGRAM OF BUSINESSWEST
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urs available in a day is nothing new to
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