Leveraging brotherly love and a good working relationship, 5th Suffolk District state Rep. Chris Worrell and District 4 City Councillor Brian Worrell opened their resource office at 5 Erie St. last Saturday afternoon.

The office is sandwiched between a hair braiding salon and a botanica just steps away from their childhood home on Hewins Street.

“Our bus stop was in Four Corners, so we walked this path every day,” said Chris. “Waking up and seeing this as two Black men in the city of Boston, this doesn’t even feel real to us. Bringing the resources to this community, my community, where we walked from kindergarten to 12th grade, it means so much to me.”

Mayor Wu, seen here with, from left, state Rep. Russell Holmes and Chris and Brian Worrell, said it would be very critical to hear the needs of residents at the new community office. Seth Daniel photos

For his part, Brian said the office will be about not getting lost in the shuffle of constituent service at City Hall and the State House.

“We have to make sure our elected officials are seeing and hearing from our communities so when we’re on the floor creating policy,
we can speak to it and create policy that really works for the people,” he said. “This office is going to make sure we’re connecting to our residents and hearing them out and bringing them in to help create policy that will forever change this community.”

The brothers stressed that the office is not a campaign office, but a district office where resources will be showcased, and problems will be solved without having to go downtown. It will be open weekdays from noon to 6 p.m.

The opening event drew several dignitaries, including Mayor Michelle Wu, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, state Rep. Russell Holmes, state Sen. Liz Miranda, City Council President Ed Flynn, and Councillors Ruthzee Louijeune and Kenzie Bok.

“Some people might say, ‘Oh, wow, two brothers serving in office,’ but there are no coincidences,” said Wu. “This is the result of love, dedication and family that has passed onto them for decades and generations…So many issues aren’t city issues or state issues, but issues that take all of us in the community.”

Added Miranda: “Putting this office in the community is incredibly important. We want to make sure people…in the communities we represent have a place to go near them when they need help.”

Both Worrells said their offices would produce a schedule of leaders and guests who will be at the office at certain times, and they also indicated that walk-ins are welcome during business hours.

The ceremonial ribbon cutting for the new community resource office opened by Councillor Brian Worrell and State Rep. Chris Worrell on Erie Street. Pictured (L-R) Councillor Ruthzee Louijeune, Mayor Michelle Wu, Rev. Courtney Bennett, State Rep. Chris Worrell, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Councillor Brian Worrell, Beulah Providence, State Rep. Russell Holmes, and Marilyn Forman.

State Rep. Chris Worrell and Councillor Brian Worrell meeting with youth football leaders Michael Lesley, Amy Cohen, and Damean Mims. The group is part of the newly formed Metropolitan Pop Warner league.

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley signed the community basketball that was part of the ceremony.

State Sen. Liz Miranda puts her signature on the community basketball used as part of the office opening.

Yousif Abdallah, Councillor Brian Worrell, District 3 Council candidate Joel Richards, and State Rep. Chris Worrell.

James Walsh of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office greets Councillor Brian Worrell and State Rep. Chris Worrell.

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll visits with constituents at the event.