CHICOPEE — Of the 24 seats on Chicopee’s City Council and School Committee, one is held by a person of color. In West Springfield, all elected officials are white.

That’s a stark contrast to what Springfield and Holyoke saw in the last municipal election. The majority of elected officials are either Black, Latino or both.

While those two Hampden County cities are showing the political might of traditionally underrepresented groups, what is holding back similar gains in the region’s other communities?

Women determined to embolden people of color and bring their voices to public decision-making say representation is important.

“I really think we need diversity in the council, because what I’m seeing here, everything is for the same people,” said Elisa Olivo, a Puerto Rican woman who ra

See Full Page