Gloria Fox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gloria Lavera Fox
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Official portrait
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| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 7th Suffolk district |
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| In office 1987 – January 4, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Doris Bunte |
| Succeeded by | Chynah Tyler |
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| Born | March 18, 1942 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | November 12, 2024 (aged 82) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | Roxbury, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Boston Public Schools |
| Website | https://www.facebook.com/rep.gloriafox |
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Gloria Lavera Fox (born March 18, 1942 – died November 12, 2024) was a very important person in Massachusetts. She served as a state representative for the 7th Suffolk District. This means she was elected to speak for the people in her area and help make laws. She held this job from 1987 until she retired in 2016.
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Gloria Fox's Early Life and Community Work
Gloria Fox was born on March 18, 1942. When she was young, she grew up as a foster child, which means she was cared for by a family that was not her birth family. She went to public schools in Boston and Everett. Later, she also took part in a special program at MIT.
Gloria was a single mom and raised her two sons in a neighborhood called Roxbury. Before she became a politician, she worked as a community organizer. This meant she helped people in her neighborhood come together to solve problems. She was very active in the effort to stop a big highway project called the Southwest Expressway.
Becoming a State Representative
Gloria Fox first tried to become a state representative in 1984. She didn't win that time, but she didn't give up! She ran again in 1986 when the person holding the job, Doris Bunte, decided to retire. Gloria won the election and became the new representative.
As a state representative, Gloria Fox worked on many important issues. She was part of several committees, which are like special groups that focus on different topics. For example, she worked on the Joint Committee on Housing. This committee helps make sure people have good places to live.
Making a Difference in Massachusetts
Gloria Fox worked hard to make laws fairer for everyone. She focused on things like making changes to the justice system and improving child welfare. This included helping children in foster care. She also worked on making sure voting districts were fair and that it was easier for people to register to vote on Election Day.
Another important area she worked on was health. She tried to fix health differences in communities of color. This meant making sure everyone had access to good healthcare, no matter their background. When she retired in 2016, Gloria Fox was the woman who had served the longest in the Great and General Court, which is the name for the Massachusetts state legislature.
Gloria Fox was also a member of several groups within the legislature. These included the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators and the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. These groups helped politicians work together on issues important to their communities. She also voted against allowing casinos in Massachusetts.
Awards and Recognition
In 2011, Gloria Fox received a special award called the Lifetime Achievement Award. This award came from the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. She earned it because of all her hard work and dedication to helping her community.
See also
- List of Massachusetts General Courts (1985-2016)
