Teddy Waszakzak
26 | Advocacy Manager, Hunger Free Vermont
Residence: Washington
Career highlights you are most proud of.
In my electoral campaign work, I will always be proud to have been the Vermont state director for Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign in 2020. In my City Council work, I’m most proud of leading the advocacy for the creation of our Police Advisory Committee, and later, for the implementation of body cameras in the Barre City Police Department. In the nonprofit realm, I’m most proud of working with an amazing team at Hunger Free Vermont when we successfully advocated for Vermont becoming the seventh state in the nation to adopt a permanent universal school meals program, so that no child ever learns what hunger feels like in schools.
Community involvement.
I currently serve on the Barre City Council, representing Ward 2. I was the youngest councilor ever elected in Barre City in 2019 and have been re-elected in both 2021 and 2023. I also serve as the secretary of the Aldrich Library Board of Trustees, as treasurer of the Barre City Democrats and as City Council liaison to the Police Advisory Committee.
Motivation for living and working in Vermont.
The mountains, the people and the community. I was born and raised in Massachusetts, just outside Boston, and then in a small town (by Massachusetts standards!) in central Massachusetts. I wanted to find a place where I could be involved, know my neighbors and be surrounded by natural beauty. I settled in Barre because it was the first place I could find affordable housing, and I love it more with each year that passes.
Three words that best describe you.
Funny, passionate and grumpy.
Favorite Vermont escape.
My friends and I spend a weekend at Smugglers Notch every year, and it’s something I always look forward to.
Favorite Vermont season.
Fall! The foliage, cider donuts, perfect weather, football season, corn mazes and hayrides — what’s not to love?
Favorite social media.
Twitter, before Elon Musk ruined it.
Causes you would support if you had unlimited access to funds.
Universal health care, including substance use disorder treatment, mental health care and dental health care. Until we ensure that being healthy is economically feasible, a lot of the root causes of poverty and distress aren’t going anywhere.
