Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale and Fitchburg Civic Days Committee are excited to announce Leona Whetzel as Grand Marshall for this year’s 4th of July Parade.
Leona Whetzel is the president of the Three Pyramids, Inc. and the North Central Mass Minority Coalition board of directors. Mrs. Whetzel is the Vice President of Community Impact/Chief Equity Officer for Making Opportunity Count, Inc. where she has been employed since 1988. Mrs. Whetzel has been a resident of the city of Fitchburg for over 40 years and currently lives and owns her home with her husband in West Fitchburg for the past 25 years. She has three beautiful daughters and one grandson.
Mrs. Whetzel embodies the parades theme of “Fitchburg, Better Together.” She has a passion for helping people and has been involved in organizing, activism and social, racial and economic justice in her community for many years serving on several local boards and coalitions.
Mrs. Whetzel is a member of the Spanish American Center board of directors; North Central Area Department of Children and Families Advisory Board; HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital Community Benefits Advisory Committee member; Heywood Hospital Patient Family Advisory Committee and Racial Justice Committee member; Shannon Tri-City Anti-Gang Partnership Steering Committee member; a member of the Worcester County Emergency Food and Shelter Program; a member of the United Way of North Central Massachusetts and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts Racial Justice Committee; member of the Beautiful Gate Church of God in Christ; 2018 Unsung Heroine Recipient of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women; 2014 recipient of the Salute to Woman of North Central Massachusetts.
Hosted by Travis Conden, Glenn Fossa and Shermin Whitman, the parade will feature, local elected officials, community organizations and sports leagues, local businesses and a variety of local and regional bands. The 4th of July Parade starts at 10:00 AM and can be viewed along Summer Street and Main Street to the Upper Common. The Parade will be broadcast live on FATV! It’s not too late to join. To register a community group to march in the parade visit us online at www.fitchburgma.gov/civicdays.
