E. Denise Simmons

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E. Denise Simmons is the current mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts and is the first African-American lesbian mayor in the United States.^[1] The previous mayor, Kenneth Reeves, was the first openly gay African-American mayor in the United States.

1 Personal
2 Politics
3 External links
4 References

[edit] Personal

Simmons grew up in Cambridge's industrial neighborhood and attended Cambridge schools. She received a B.S. in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and received a Masters degree in Psychotherapy from Antioch College. Simmons owns Cambridgeport Insurance Agency which she established in 1982. A photo archivist and family historian, she has facilitated workshops for public and private organizations both nationally and locally including the Cambridge Public Schools. Simmons has received numerous awards and commendations for her work in the community.

[edit] Politics

Prior to attaining public office. Denise served for 12 years as Executive Director of the Civic Unity Committee, the first citizen rights organization funded by the city of Cambridge.

She is a Justice of the Peace and a Notary Public.

On Monday, January 14, 2008 Simmons was elected mayor of Cambridge by the Cambridge city councilors, in a unanimous vote. Prior to her election as mayor, Simmons had served as a member of the city council since 2001.^[2]