HeyJaredThe 351
Leading Massachusetts into the future will take the talent, dedication, and hard work of leaders from all of our 351 cities and towns. Our mission at the Massachusetts Municipal Association is to help those leaders deal with some of the toughest issues in the state.
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 6
- Latest publication
- Sep 15, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 7, 2026
Latest episodes
Building a Culture of Wellness in the Municipal Workforce (opens the original)
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Employee wellness programs can improve morale and productivity, and lower absenteeism. They also make people feel better, and more connected, so they’re becoming an increasingly important part of how municipalities recruit, retain, and support their workforces. But what does effective workplace wellness actually look like, and how can communities make programs accessible and relevant to employees with very different jobs, schedules, and needs?
Building the Next Generation of Local Government Leaders (opens the original)
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One challenge that is shared across the Commonwealth is preparing the next generation of municipal leaders. And one part of the solution is the partnership between the MMA and Suffolk University. In this episode, we hear from three members of the MMA-Suffolk Fellowship class about their experiences in local government and why they’re investing in their leadership skills: Robert Craig, special projects and grants manager in Rockport; Chad Hunter, harbormaster in Plymouth; and Thomas Dalton, commu
A Review of a Busy Override Season, and the Story Behind the Numbers (opens the original)
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This spring, 54 Massachusetts communities put Proposition 2 1⁄2 override questions before voters, making FY27 one of the most active years in history. But what do the numbers actually tell us? The MMA’s Adam Chapdelaine and John Ouellette dig into the data behind this year's override results, including why the number of questions has spiked recently, what communities are facing when costs outpace revenue growth, and how the results relate to the MMA's “Perfect Storm” report. They explore the dif
The Shifting Local Media Landscape: What It Means for Public Trust and Local Government (opens the original)
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Local journalism has long been one of the pillars of healthy communities — informing residents, holding public officials accountable, and helping people understand the decisions that shape their daily lives. But as local newspapers continue to shrink or disappear, what does that mean for municipalities, and for democracy itself? In this episode, Dan Kennedy, journalism professor at Northeastern University and media commentator, and Karen Bordeleau, executive editor of The New Bedford Light, expl
Why Municipal HR Is More Strategic Than Ever (opens the original)
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Across Massachusetts, cities and towns are facing one of their biggest workforce challenges in decades. Recruiting qualified employees is harder than ever, experienced staff are retiring, and employees' expectations around flexibility, career growth, and workplace culture continue to evolve. Massachusetts Municipal Human Resources association Chair Jen Breaker and Vice Chair Michael Taylor join the show to explore how municipal HR has become a strategic partner in helping communities navigate th
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