Personal
Larry Ward is a long-time resident of Cambridge, (20+ years), with a history of leadership in the public school system, the small business community, the nurturing and development of youth, and the fight for equity in all spheres of city life.
Larry was born in Alexandria, Virginia on July 7th, 1958. He is a 1976 graduate of T.C. Williams High School and played football for Coach Boone ("Remember the Titans"). He is the proud father of three wonderful daughters: Nina, a graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) and Bowdoin College; Vanessa, a graduate of CRLS and Sophomore attending UMass Boston; and Angela, an eighth grader at Shady Hill. Larry is also caring for his 93 year-old father who lives with him in Cambridge.
Education
He holds a Doctorate in Rehabilitation Counseling from Boston University, a Master's degree in Education from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor's degree from Boston University in Rehabilitation Services.
Professional
Larry is a Massachusetts Licensed Guidance Counselor. His professional career began as a Vocational Counselor, helping individuals with psychiatric disabilities obtain employment. He has taught at Boston University in the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation. In addition, he has worked for several non-profit organizations in various counseling capacities.
Larry has owned and operated a computer business in Cambridge for years, focused on setting up computer labs in affordable housing complexes and providing computer training to individuals as well as businesses and non-profit organizations. He worked as a contractor with the Cambridge Housing Authority to set up the first 808 Memorial Drive community computer lab in honor of long time activist, Juanita Saunders. The center still stands and is enjoyed by hundreds of residents.
Larry founded and published the Human Services Connection (HSC) magazine, the only New England magazine focused solely on the human services community. One major accomplishment was the organizing of a forum sponsored by HSC and the City of Cambridge, hosted by former Governor Michael Dukakis, during the 2006 Democratic National Convention.
Involvement in Schools and Testing Issues
Over the past two decades, Larry has been deeply involved in the city's public schools as a teacher, coach, counselor, and concerned parent. As statewide coordinator of MassCARE (the Massachusetts Coalition for Authentic Reform in Education), he helped organize thousands of parents, teachers, and students in the effort to reform the MCAS testing system and alleviate its most damaging effects, especially on low-income students and students of color. He also served as national staffperson for the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, bringing together dozens of education and civil rights groups to address inequities in the No Child Left Behind Act. Larry is also a frequent substitute teacher in Cambridge public schools.
Volunteerism
Always interested in recreation, Larry has served for years as the Cambridge Youth Soccer BAYS Referee Coordinator and a member of the CYS Board of Directors. In this capacity, he has helped dozens of Cambridge youth grow as soccer referees.
Larry also serves on the Cambridge Peace Commission, and coaches youth basketball.
Passions
I love basketball! Playing, watching, and coaching, every level from kids to professional. I once scored a free throw without the ball going in. The ball grazed the bottom of the net and the ref thought it went in, the opposing team went crazy, and the ref could not be convinced the ball did not go in, despite all efforts. My other passions are reading, running, and my kids! I love to read, and I will read just about anything, my favorites are magazines and newspapers. I love running because I get a chance to think while also staying in shape. And as for my kids, well, they are my kids.
