b'State Senator Karen E SpilkaDoctor of Humane Letters, honoris causaSenate President, Karen Spilka, who represents the MetroWest communities of the 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk district, has shown dedication to the advancement of progressive social causes. During her tenure in public service, Spilka, a former social worker, has championed issues such as mental health, juvenile justice, and services for the elderly and disabled communities. She was one of the first legislators in the nation to vote in favor of marriage equality and transgender protections, and her leadership during the COVID-19 eliminated barriers to care for patients, provided support for community hospitals, testing sites, medical staff, and telehealth services, and ensured expanded support for housing stability, food security, unemployment benefits and relief for the hospitality and restaurant industries at a time when other states were cutting funding for social safety nets.Senator Spilka has been an advocate for student rights, womens rights, police reform, and climate change. She has also championed efforts to decrease the barriers to accessing quality mental health care, including advancing workforce development initiatives, and she introduced the concept of Intergenerational Care Centers to address the caregiving crisis in Massachusetts, provide support for women in the workforce, and encourage high quality caregiving for all residents, from infants to elders.7'