The Ackermann Room Project
A stately wood-paneled public meeting space in Cambridge’s City Hall, the Ackermann Room was renamed in 1982 to honor Barbara Ackermann, the first woman to serve as mayor or Cambridge (1972-73). In the words of then-mayor Alfred Vellucci, this renaming was meant to “signify to the women of the world that the City of Cambridge, for the first time since its beginnings in 1620, has recognized the work of women.” However, of the thirteen portraits of civic leaders that have hung on the walls all these years, only one has been that of a woman.
In the summer of 2021 Mayor E Denise Simmons, then a City Councilor, began the Ackermann Room Project, working with a group of Cambridge students to reconsider the imagery in the space. After careful consideration of candidates, the portraits that now hang in the Ackermann Room showcase a group of individuals who have lived lives of notable public service to the city of Cambridge.
It is our honor to highlight these women's contributions to shaping the Cambridge of today.
Scroll down to view the virtual exhibition — and be sure to click on each image to learn more!
More About Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program
The team of 11 Cambridge students were hired through The Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program as civic designers who, at the end of the summer, presented their work to the City Council. The Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program is “a six-week summer jobs program for Cambridge residents, managed by the Office of Workforce Development. Applicants must be at least 14 by the start date of the program, and remain eligible through the summer after they leave high school. MSYEP offers quality work experiences for Cambridge teens, with priority given to youth from low income families and communities historically excluded from economic opportunity. We are committed to anti-racist work and expect our partners to share that commitment. MSYEP will pay teens for 20 hours of work at your worksite each week.” (The City of Cambridge Office of Workforce Development)
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