Western Mass Advocate goes State-wide
The Coalition for an Equitable Economy (CEE) is excited to announce the hiring of Tracye Whitfield as their new Executive Director. In this new role, Tracye will lead the Coalition’s efforts to ensure equitable access to capital and resources for BIPOC small business owners across Massachusetts. Tracye will continue the Coalition’s efforts in coordinating access to programs across the small business ecosystem and advocating for equitable investments and policies that support the growth and sustainability of these businesses. "I am thrilled to be joining CEE at this important moment in the coalition’s history," said Whitfield. "There is a lot of energy and momentum around efforts to create a more equitable economy, and I look forward to working with CEE members and partners to make real progress on this critical issue." Prior to joining CEE, Whitfield was appointed as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer by Mayor Reichelt for West Springfield. Her work in this role included promoting a diverse environment free from discrimination among employees as well as residents of their town - with an emphasis on racial equity when recruiting new people or hiring existing ones!
"There is a lot of energy and momentum around efforts to create a more equitable economy, and I look forward to working with CEE members and partners to make real progress on this critical issue."
In her 25-year career, Tracye has served as a finance analyst for the City of Springfield and data analyst at Springfield Technical Community College. She also worked in various positions including one with MassMutual Financial Group and youth advocacy at Martin Luther King Family Services. Ms. Whitfield served as the Director of Business Development for Training and Workforce Options (TWO), a collaboration between STCC and HCC where she assisted employers in developing customized trainings to strengthen their workforces. Furthermore, she's the owner of T&J Tax and Credit Savers, focusing on individual and small business tax preparation, credit repair, and assisting clients on their journey to home ownership.
In 2018, Tracye became an elected official in her community as a Springfield City Councilor at Large. She is now the first African American woman vice president of this position. She is extremely passionate about community involvement and engagement, public safety, workforce development and most importantly the wellbeing of individuals throughout all aspects of society. For the past seven years, she's served as Co-Chair of Mason Square C-3 Initiative. This position has allowed her to work closely with residents and local organizations and police officers to promote public safety while also improving the quality of life throughout the community!
In 2020, Tracye spearheaded the creation of Black Lives Matter Mural in front of Springfield City Hall. Ms. Whitfield says, “the mural is symbolic of the fight for racial justice, and it stands up to the powers that be that deny black people their humanity”. In 2021, as City Councilor at Large Tracye co-sponsored the ordinance that mandates Juneteenth be honored as a paid time off holiday in the City of Springfield. The ordinance went into effect in June of 2021. She also founded the Gun Violence Elimination Alliance (G.V.E.A.) that aims to eradicate gun violence in the City of Springfield and Western Mass communities.
Tracye earned her BA with a concentration in Finance (Magna Cum Laude), as well as MS in Accounting and Taxation from American International College. Last but not least, Tracye is driven by her passion to be the best example for her family where she is mother of her two adult children and proudly wearing her best title of Grandma to Journee Peyton.
The Coalition for an Equitable Economy convenes and partners with a broad cross-sector coalition of stakeholders from across Massachusetts aligned around a shared commitment to building an equitable small business ecosystem and to the values of racial equity, collaboration, and shared leadership.
If you would like more information about this topic, please call:
CEE Executive Committee Member(s):
Boston, MA: Springfield, MA:
Glynn Lloyd Jeff Hamilton
Executive Director Vice President/CFO
(617) 828-4228 (413) 739-4737 Ext.106
