STATE REPRESENTATIVE MANNY CRUZ
Massachusetts’ 7th Essex District
Service: Community Leader
Manny Cruz is a public servant, entrepreneur, and community leader in the city of Salem and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Upon graduating from the Salem Public Schools, he attended Salem State University where he studied political science and later transferred to Northeastern University where completed his studies and graduated cum laude. Manny previously served as the legislative aide for former State Representative Juana Matias (D, Lawrence) where he specialized in education and immigration policy. Throughout his service in Representative Matias office, he also worked on constituent service related to housing, mass health, legal services, and provided emergency response to Merrimack Valley Columbia Gas Leaks.
In 2017 Manny became an elected member of the Salem School Committee where he now serves the students and families of the Salem Public School District. Manny is the first Afro-Latino of Dominican descent to serve on the Salem School Committee. He has been appointed to the Personnel, Policy, and Building and Grounds subcommittees, and also serves as the school committee’s liaison on student voice. His previous government and non-profit experience
include serving as the Chair of the Governor’s Statewide Youth Council, a National Park Service Park Ranger at Salem Maritime National Historic Park, and co-ops at the Attorney General’s Office and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.. In 2019 Manny joined the Office of State Representative Paul F. Tucker (Vice-Chair, Salem), where he continued to build his policy expertise in the areas of Education and Immigration, and advanced key strategic initiatives in the city of Salem. In addition, to his public service, Manny is also a partner and president of business development at Brothers Taverna. Beginning in August of 2020 he will serve as the new Advocacy Director for Latinos for Education.
In his personal time, Manny has been deeply involved in the Salem community. Manny is a mentor for youth and is highly involved with youth-serving organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem and LEAP for Education. Manny currently serves on the boards of LEAP for Education, Plummer Youth Promise, and the Massachusetts Alliance for Early College. He previously served on the board of Northshore Community Action programs.