Brooke Mohr Receives "Commonwealth Heroine" Award At State House

Select Board member Brooke Mohr has been recognized as a Commonwealth Heroine by the Massachusetts State House for her contributions to Nantucket.

“It’s really nice to be honored in that way,” Mohr told the Current. “These are women doing incredible stuff across the Commonwealth, and I’m honored to be considered among them. It’s a really cool thing.”

The Commonwealth Heroines program, organized annually by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, honors women who make a meaningful difference in the lives of others through service, leadership, and dedication.

“I was shocked, actually,” Mohr said. “It’s humbling, and it’s a little embarrassing, but it was just really cool to be in that group of esteemed women.”

Mohr, a member of the Affordable Housing Trust, has been a leading advocate for affordable, attainable, and year-round workforce housing on Nantucket. During her time on the Affordable Housing Trust and the Select Board, she has pushed the town to devote more of its energy and resources to the island’s housing crisis, and the number of income-restricted housing units on-island has increased dramatically during her service.

Mohr, who publicly announced earlier this month that she would not be seeking reelection to the Select Board when her term expires, has also been a strong voice for food security on Nantucket and currently serves on the board of food security non-profit Nourish Nantucket. She is also a member of the finance board at the First Congregational Church.

“Brooke Mohr reflects the very best of Nantucket —collaborative, steady, and deeply committed to her neighbors,” said Senator Julian Cyr, Nantucket’s representative to the state Senate, in a statement. “Whether expanding access to food or serving in local government, Brooke confronts the Island’s most pressing challenges with clarity, compassion, and determination. Nantucket is far better off because of Brooke’s tireless work, and that’s why she’s truly a Commonwealth Heroine.”

Mohr joins a group of women from across the state who received the honor this Wednesday. She was nominated by Cyr and Representative Thomas Moakley, Nantucket’s representative to the state House.

“Brooke [Mohr] has successfully taken on so many challenges in her roles as a community and civic leader on Nantucket,” Moakley said in a statement. “I am glad to have this opportunity to say thank you for her service to the island."