Leading Locally: Making Change in Your Community

Join the Frederick E. Berry Institute of Politics and the City of Salem for an event about leading locally and making change in your community. At this event, you will learn about the functions of local government and its role in making change in your community – from potholes and parks to safety and sustainability. Salem's Mayor Dominick Pangallo will provide an overview of municipal government and then we will hear from some of Salem State’s very own local leaders. 

Speakers Include:

• Dominick Pangallo, Mayor of Salem
• John Hayes, Chair of Salem’s Sustainability, Energy, and Resiliency Committee (SERC)
• Sara Moore, Member of Salem’s Board of Health and Food Policy Council

Dominick Pangallo, Mayor of Salem

Dominick Pangallo, a Salem native, returned to his hometown after earning multiple degrees and gaining experience in political and cultural institutions. He served as Chief of Staff for the Mayor of Salem for a decade, focusing on improving city operations, addressing community issues, and leading the city's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. His leadership roles included chairing the Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Council, Salem Retirement Board, and Salem for All Ages initiative. Dominick was elected as Salem's Mayor, advocating for inclusive and professional leadership. As Mayor, he also chairs the Salem School Committee, Salem Public Library Board of Trustees, and participates in various boards and councils related to housing, ports, and climate action.

John Hayes, Chair of Salem’s Sustainability, Energy, and Resiliency Committee (SERC)

Dr. John Hayes is a professor in the Geography and Sustainability Department at Salem State University.  His areas of expertise for both teaching and research are physical geography, climate change science and policy, sustainable management of natural resources, EIA, and environmental applications of GIS.  Hayes is in his sixth year as Chair of the City of Salem’s Sustainability, Energy, and Resiliency Committee (SERC). He is also an original member of the precursor to SERC, the city’s Renewable Energy Task Force. Prof. Hayes was a contributing member of the city’s Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Working Group from 2012-2014 to develop a climate vulnerability assessment and climate change adaptation plan, and in 2020-2021 to develop a joint Salem-Beverly climate action plan, Resilient Together. Hayes is also an original (and continuing) member of the Association of American Geographers Climate Action Task Force for which he has organized sessions at annual AAG conferences.  John’s outside interests include following politics, gardening, music, and seeking solutions to tackle the climate crisis. Learn more about John Hayes here.

Sara Moore, Member of Salem’s Board of Health and Food Policy Council

Sara Moore is Chair and Associate Professor of Sociology at Salem State University. With a background in public sociology, Moore encourages her students to collaborate with community partners beyond the university to identify and examine social inequalities and create meaningful social change. In valuing multiple forms of local and expert knowledge, Moore’s approach builds bridges between universities, community organizations, and community members. Moore has worked with students and communities on issues like civic engagement, health equity, education, and food justice. Moore is a member of several councils and committees in Salem, including the Food Policy Council and the Board of Health. She also serves on the Board of Directors for both the Salem Education Foundation and Voices Against Injustice. In 2020, she was named to Diverse magazine's list of 35 Outstanding Women in Higher Education. In 2022, she was inducted into Salem State's Civic Engagement Hall of Fame. Moore earned a B.S. in sociology from Shepherd University, an M.A. in sociology from The New School, and a Ph.D. in sociology from George Mason University. Learn more about Sara Moore here.

This event will be in-person in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Room on the second floor of the Ellison Campus Center. Registration is not required, please just show up and join us!