January 27-28, 2005, and February 14, 2007

Background

The mission of the John Joseph Moakley Institute at Suffolk University is to preserve and teach about the public service and leadership legacy of Congressman Joe Moakley.  Suffolk University is the Congressman’s alma mater (JD ’56, HD MPA ’72).  The university held a brainstorming session in the spring of 2004 with Moakley’s family, classmates and staff to define and focus the Institute’s programming.  Congressman Jim McGovern and others felt strongly that the training of state legislators and their staffs would be an important contribution that the Moakley Institute and Suffolk University’s Center for Public Management could make to the public service profession.

About this program

Congressman Joe Moakley was known as a "bread and butter" politician who cared deeply for his constituents, their problems and his district’s issues and projects.  Moakley served as a Massachusetts state representative from 1952 to 1960, a Massachusetts state senator from 1964 to 1970, a Boston city councilor from 1971 to 1972, and a United States congressman from 1974 to 2001.  Throughout his career, Moakley’s staff was known for their ability to resolve issues among constituents and with their colleagues.  The Massachusetts State Legislature Staff Training Program will focus on state legislative staff.  The program’s goal is to give staffers the background information and tools to effectively carry out their responsibilities in the General Court.  Faculty from the Center for Public Management and experts from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will present new legislative staff with the information and resources they need to work successfully for their member of the General Court and his or her district.

This program was held in January of 2005(.pdf) and February of 2007(.pdf).