Town of Reading, MA
Pooja Mandon Parsons possesses extensive experience in various leadership and educational roles. Currently serving on the Board of Directors at Reading Scholarship Foundation Inc. and as a Lead Cashier at The TJX Companies, Inc., Pooja also actively participates in multiple school councils and as a substitute teacher within the Reading Public Schools. Additional engagements include serving as a USA Swim Official with USA Swimming and participating in election staff committees in the Town of Reading, MA. Pooja demonstrates commitment to community and education through involvement in organizations such as the Burbank Community YMCA and the Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield Inc. Educationally, Pooja holds multiple degrees, including a Master of Arts in Management Communication and Visual and Media Arts from Emerson College, and a Bachelor's degree in English Literature from Delhi University.
Town of Reading, MA
Town north of Boston, MA Reading's original settlers came from England in the 1630's to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Many arrived through the ports of Lynn and Salem. In 1639 some citizens of Lynn petitioned the government of the Massachusetts Bay Colony for "place for an inland plantation." The General Court granted them six square miles, then an additional four. The first settlement called Lynn Village was on the south shore of the Great Pond, what is now known as Lake Quannapowitt. On June 10th, 1644 the settlement was incorporated by the House of Deputies as the Town of Reading, taking its name from Reading, England. The first church was organized soon after the settlement, and the first parish, later known as South Reading, became Wakefield in 1868. A special grant in 1651 added land north of the Ipswich River to the Town of Reading. This area in 1853 became the separate Town of North Reading. During its early years, the area which is currently the Town of Reading, was known as Wood End, or Third Parish.