“It was inductive rather than deductive. I came at these ideas from different vantage points, and I see a sense of urgency in all of them,” Davis says.

BROAD EDUCATION

While studying social work, Davis learned about the process of change and used these skills in her career as an urban planner and later on the school committee.

She decided to broaden her education at Harvard Kennedy School 20 years after receiving her masters’ degree, obtaining a scholarship and taking courses that would be flexible with her home life.

Her education at the Kennedy School, culminating in a masters in public administration, gave her a new set of skills for approaching policy issues. A course titled “To Be A Politician” pushed Davis to pursue a career in politics.

Davis says her education has made her more policy focused, and she envisions improving the city through policy changes.

“I feel like I’ve been infected by HKS,” Davis says.

During her time as a City Councilor, Davis says she has had great experiences working with the University.

“The University and community egg each other, prompting higher standards,” Davis says.

YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR

After eight successful campaigns, Davis says she tries to make each of them social, fun, and useful for her community.

She publishes literature—a newsletter, useful numbers card, farmers’ market card, and a savings for seniors brochure—that not only includes her campaign message but also serves as information to Cambridge residents.

“I feel like what I do should be useful,” Davis says.

Her background in journalism also inspired her campaign literature.

After working for Cambridge as a neighborhood planner out of college, Davis decided to try something else and answered a newspaper advertisement to be a freelance writer for a police magazine.

Since that first freelancing job, she has worked for Time, Life, Money, and NPR.

“There are lots of similarities between being a journalist and an elected official. You need to research and communicate effectively,” Davis says.

Davis grew up in Newton, but moved to Cambridge immediately after completing her undergraduate degree and has lived in the same house since 1969, developing close relationships with her neighborhood from the beginning.

“Cambridge is a wonderful small city full of opportunities beyond measure. Everyone else wants to live here—why wouldn’t I?” Davis says.

—Staff writer Kerry M. Flynn can be reached at kflynn@college.harvard.edu.