A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of four (4) members to the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD)

Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities Rachel Tanenhaus, Executive Director / ADA Coordinator Kate Thurman, Deputy Director / Assistant ADA Coordinator Maya Friedrich, Administrative Assistant Phone (voice): [phone removed] • Relay via 711 • Fax: [phone removed] CCPD@CambridgeMA.Gov ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ Office location: 51 Inman St., 2nd Fl., Cambridge, MA 02139 Monday: 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. • Tuesday – Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. • Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Elevator access on Basement Floor level MEMO TO: Yi-An Huang, City Manager  FROM: Rachel H. Tanenhaus, Executive Director, CCPD  DATE: December 1, 2025 RE: Appointment of new CCPD Board Members  CC: Kate Thurman, Ellen Semonoff, Maya Friedrich, Francesca Gaines, Matthew Nelson, Lee Gianetti, Nancy Tauber, Deidre Travis Brown   My office recommends five candidates, Cecelia Cobb, Asherah Davis, Nieta Greene, Avanthi Jayasinghe, and Erum Sattar, for appointment to the advisory board of the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD).    The City Manager’s office posted a request for applications for the CCPD board on the City website and via a news release on September 9, 2025, with an initial closing date of October 7, 2025, which was later extended. During that time CCPD sent the notice out to our electronic newsletter recipients (about 1000 e-mail addresses), promoted the application process at the City’s Disability Pride event, and reached out to people who had inquired with us about board openings since the last application period. The call for applicants was also posted in several of the City’s daily email updates.    We received fifteen complete applications, two of which were removed from consideration because the applicants did not live in Cambridge. Another applicant withdrew her application due to personal issues. A fourth did not specify their interest in disability issues when asked. An interview team consisting of CCPD staff and a member of the board conducted virtual interviews with each of the remaining eleven candidates. The Committee was very impressed with several of the candidates and recommends five of them to the City Manager. They are Cecelia Cobb, Asherah Davis, Nieta Greene, Avanthi Jayasinghe, and Erum Sattar.    Of the eleven candidates interviewed, eight identified as people with disabilities, and four are people of color. Of the five recommended candidates, all are people with disabilities and three are people of color. Two of the applicants identified as parents of people with disabilities; six had relevant professional interests. The five vacancies being filled were all previously held by people with disabilities, two of whom were people of color.   Candidate Cecelia Cobb is an urban designer with a disability who incorporates universal design into her work. Asherah Davis has both personal and professional experience with multiple facets of disability. Nieta Greene is a passionate advocate with disabilities from North Cambridge who is committed to making accessibility part of equity. Avanthi Jayasinghe is a Quality Assurance tester and a person with a disability who has deep experience navigating the process of acceptance. Erum Sattar has a disability and volunteers assisting with research for the MS Society.