BOSTON - State Sen. Robyn Kennedy, D-Worcester, spent years working in state and local government, including roles in former Governor Deval Patrick’s campaigns, to a position in the lieutenant governor’s office. Late last year she made a big move - being elected to represent Worcester’s 1st District in the state Senate.

“I say all the time like all first-year legislators I had a lot of questions, but I knew where to find the answers, so I feel like I really had a leg up in being able to hit the ground running, working with members of my community to identifying where the needs are," Kennedy said. "It was the rookie season, but I was fortunate to have a whole lot of practice leading up to it.”

Kennedy said her early highlights include traveling to hear perspectives from people all over the Commonwealth and building a great team in her office, but what she said could improve in the new year is bringing the news from Beacon Hill back to her district. Kennedy said she wants to focus on transparency so her constituents know how she voted and why.

Looking ahead to 2024, there is some legislation focused on families and refugees who are experiencing homelessness that Kennedy is looking forward to passing as she chairs the Senate Committee of Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

“I have a phenomenal chair in the House, Chair James Livingstone from Boston, and I look forward to working with him to get things out of our committee and on to the floor and hopefully signed by the governor,” she said.

Kennedy has been an advocate for those in the state’s shelter system, and it's an issue that will remain prominent in the new year.