Rep. Rady Mom on transforming Lowell’s urban landscape

Printed from: https://newbostonpost.com/2016/03/14/rep-rady-mom-on-transforming-lowells-urban-landscape/

Rady Mom (D) is the first Cambodian-American in history to be elected to a state Legislature. His extraordinary personal journey mirrors the remarkable metamorphosis of his home base in Lowell. Like many industrial cities in Massachusetts, Lowell succumbed to the ravages of urban decay in the second half of the 20th century. But unlike other regional metropolises, Lowell’s political, commercial and cultural leaders decided to pool their energies to rejuvenate their city.

Lowell on the Merrimack River with Cox Bridge. (Wikipedia)

Lowell on the Merrimack River with Cox Bridge. (Wikipedia)

Lowell is home to the second largest Cambodian population in the country. As with many of his compatriots, Rep. Mom and his family were forced to flee the brutal onslaught of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. Mom was only 6 years old when his family fled to a refugee camp in Thailand. They eventually emigrated to Duluth, Minnesota before finally settling in Lowell.

“Coming to a new and entirely different country is never easy,” Mom recounted. “I can’t imagine what my parents went through to support us. Luckily, there was a large Cambodian population in Lowell that provides a lot of mutual support.”

“I’ve always sensed a tremendous amount of ‘buy-in’ amongst the people and institutions of Lowell. There is an understanding that we’re all in this together and that working together is the best way to achieve success.”

Mom’s experience with the generosity of his family and the local Cambodian community inspired him to focus on professional activities that help people. “I’ve always wanted to help my community,” he said. “When I was young I studied to become a [Buddhist] monk, and I’m a trained acupressure therapist. At the root of everything I do, I ask ‘What can I do to help? What needs to be done?’ If you start by asking yourself those questions, it’s hard to go wrong.”

Over the years, Mom witnessed the tremendous strides Lowell made in revitalizing its neighborhoods. He attributes that success to a strong community involvement among the citizens and large organizations in the city. “I’ve always sensed a tremendous amount of ‘buy-in’ amongst the people and institutions of Lowell,” Mom observed. “There is an understanding that we’re all in this together and that working together is the best way to achieve success.”

Rep. Rady Mom at work. (Courtesy of Rady Cupples)

Rep. Mom at Secretary of State Office (Photo courtesy of Rady Mom State Representative)

Mom cites several major institutions that have invested considerable energy and resources into rebuilding the city and improving its image.  “We’ve also been blessed with tremendous institutions in our city: UMass Lowell, Middlesex Community College, Lowell General Hospital, and Lowell National Park, just to name a few. I also personally believe Lowell’s history as an immigrant community is critical to our success. So many nonprofits, charities and social institutions are thriving because they find a new life and new mission with each wave of new immigrants.”

Mom also believes that strong cooperation between different ethnic groups in Lowell contributes to a harmonious urban community. “Everyone has a sense of where they or their family or ancestors came from, and they see that with others and can empathize.”

“They key to great public safety and education in Lowell is … cooperation. Lowell police do a great job reaching out to communities and neighborhoods to build relationships that ultimately lead to reduction in crime. Education is the same, a child can go directly from pre-school to Ph.D. in Lowell and that’s incredible.”

Many factors contribute to a well-managed district and city. Crucial elements include public safety, good education, strong families, community life, and reliable infrastructure. Mom elaborated on his strategies and priorities in each of these areas. “The key to great public safety and education in Lowell is, as I mentioned, cooperation. Lowell police do a great job reaching out to communities and neighborhoods to build relationships that ultimately lead to reduction in crime. Education is the same: a child can go directly from pre-school to Ph.D. in Lowell and that’s incredible. Ultimately we need to strengthen, increase, and diversify the opportunities Lowell students have, and I know everyone, from the Statehouse Delegation, school committee, school department, UML and MCC, are working on just that — to support strong families and communities.”

Mom added that accountability, accessibility, and prudent resource allocation are similarly critical components in a well-run municipal establishment. “I believe we need to strengthen and empower civic institutions and make sure they are designed to support who the actual residents of Lowell are. We need to make services and community institutions as accessible as possible.  Infrastructure is ultimately, I believe, a matter of resources. We need to invest in the infrastructure we have and work towards the infrastructure of the future.”

As he looks to Lowell’s future, Mom ponders what it will take to keep the city on its upward trajectory. “Right now I’m loving serving as State Representative for the 18th Middlesex District. The job is exhilarating and exhausting at the same time, and I’ve recently begun campaigning for my next election. I continue to be guided by my desire to help others, and determining and doing what needs to be done next.”

Above all, Mom cites the vital role education plays in helping residents throughout Massachusetts thrive in an increasingly competitive job market.  “I’ve recently become driven by the need to provide everyone in our commonwealth with a world class education, and to make sure our schools give students all the support and resources they need. We have to make sure there are multiple avenues for students to get the skills necessary to compete in the high-tech job market, and we have to make sure those resources are available to as many people as possible.”

Contact Mary McCleary at [email protected].

NBPUrban
NBPDiversity