Daisy Monsalve has been a member of Mass Senior Action for over a year now. Originally born in Cuba, she came to the states in 1958. She moved to Somerville upon her arrival in the country, and has lived in the same building ever since. A bit of a jack of all trades, she has had jobs ranging from a florist at Star Market to a paraprofessional for an immigration lawyer to assistant accountant at a bank. One of her longest careers was at Stone & Webster, where she began as a data processor and over 40 years worked her way up to record control in the nuclear section.
Throughout her many careers, she has always worked in public schools in some capacity. She began volunteering in Boston schools, helping out in a classroom of 15 year olds. After she retired, her summer volunteer work at the Kennedy school resulted in her going back to a full time position, which she served at for nine years.
Daisy is an involved member of many communities beyond professional spaces. She was involved with the Somerville senior center for many years before joining MSAC. She has served on the Somerville Council on Aging board for over 10 years. She makes lots of connections wherever she goes; you can’t walk around with her without stopping multiple times to say hi to friends from the senior center, former students, or other acquaintances.
Since joining Mass Senior Action, Daisy has attended multiple lobby days, Somerville Committee meetings, and countless chapter meetings. She likes MSAC because she can use her life experience to talk to elected officials: “I can raise my voice.” She is particularly interested in issues concerning homeless seniors and enjoys work the chapter does surrounding elections. Part of the reason she keeps coming back to MSAC is the power of the larger group. She sees advocating with Mass Senior Action as “a way to be taken seriously.” Daisy wants to share all the wonderful policies MSAC has won over the years, “I want all seniors to know what we have won and how it can make their lives better. So many seniors do not know they do not have to take things the way they are, they do not have to suffer in silence. They can add their voice and change things.”
Follow in Daisy’s footsteps and become a member of the Mass Senior Action Community Today!