“A Force For Respect and Equality”: Ogretta McNeil Honored For Her Impact in Worcester

Over a decade ago, when Worcester resident Sarai Rivera was considering a run for a city council seat, she turned to one person: Ogretta McNeil, Holy Cross associate professor emerita of psychology and, at the time, a member of the Worcester School Committee.

“When I decided to run for office, Ogretta was incredibly encouraging,” said Rivera, who in 2011 was elected as the first Afro-Latina on the City Council and the then-only person of color representing the city. “She was the person I went to for the truth. Ogretta always told the truth — even when you didn’t want to hear it. I could talk to her in a way that I couldn’t talk to anyone else. She had been there before me. She understood what it was like to be a woman of color serving in city government; she shared her experiences with me. She understood the struggles, and I could talk to her in a special way. She understood me completely. She made me feel less alone in my work.”

Last month, as Rivera neared the end of her sixth and final term on the city council, she found a way to honor McNeil for her impact — on Rivera and the city of Worcester. A ceremony was held at the intersection of Irving and Chatham streets, home to Worcester Public Schools headquarters, renaming it “Ogretta McNeil Way.” McNeil died in 2016 at age 84.

“As a woman and a woman of color, for me, I wanted to make sure someone like that was recognized in some way before I left,” she said. “These are the kinds of the folks we want to remember.”

Before McNeil began serving on the Worcester School Committee in her retirement, she was a trailblazer at Holy Cross since her arrival in 1969 as a visiting lecturer in Department of Psychology. She became the first Black woman to serve on the faculty and was the first woman hired in a tenure-track capacity in the psychology department. She influenced generations of students over her 28-year career on The Hill, in the classroom and as an advocate for diversity and inclusion on campus.

After retiring from Holy Cross in 1997, McNeil, a longtime volunteer and community service advocate in Worcester, entered its political arena, winning election to five consecutive terms on the school committee.

“My mother was one of the co-founders of the Worcester Education Collaborative,” said Rev. Dr. John Vaughn ’82, McNeil’s son, of the independent nonprofit dedicated to advancing excellence and equity for the city’s public school students. “She had a lifelong dedication to educational access and excellence. All the while she was teaching at Holy Cross, she was also working with various nonprofits to secure educational opportunities for the marginalized of the city. She was a force of nature, as many have noted today. She exuded confidence and commitment. And she always tried to see everyone’s humanity, even if they were at odds on various issues.

“The city’s department of education is located on the street being named after our mother,” he continued. “This is so appropriate, and it gives us an opportunity to tell the story of her deep commitment to educational access and equity for all. It is a step forward in broadening the story of Worcester and what the city can become.”

“Ogretta was a force for respect and equality,” Rivera said. “She valued everyone, no matter their circumstances. She felt everyone had a light and everyone deserved to be respected and represented. Whether it was race, or gender or special needs, Ogretta believed and fought for anyone who was disadvantaged.”

At the dedication ceremony, held in the Worcester School Administration building, an overflow crowd of family, friends, former colleagues and city officials listened to stories of McNeil’s personal history, as well as her lifelong contributions to the community and the legacy she leaves behind.

“I think the city will remember her as a force for education, respect and basic human rights and dignity,” Rivera said. “Ogretta’s story is one of love, truth and understanding. And now, every time someone sees Ogretta McNeil Way, I hope they’ll be moved to learn the story of Ogretta and her pioneering spirit in Worcester. She is an important part of Worcester history. I hope Ogretta McNeil and her work are always remembered.”