Laurie Loisel has lived and worked in Northampton for more than 40 years. She grew up in rural Maine, went to college in New York City, but it’s Northampton that feels like home. It is where she  settled in 1983, pursued a career in journalism and, with her spouse of 35 years, raised their two children. 

For much of her adult life, Laurie engaged in civic life through her work as a journalist — reporting the news, gathering information, asking questions and interacting with community residents to tell their stories, all in an effort to inform, educate, provoke thought and spark conversations about the issues facing the community. 

She would approach a role on the city council in much the same way: gathering information, asking questions and engaging with city residents to hear their stories, and working with other elected representatives to make decisions about challenges and opportunities facing the city.

Laurie served on the Human Rights Commission for five years and is an active member of the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence. 

She loves hiking, especially in the many trail systems of preserved land in Northampton, reading, biking and paddling on the Connecticut River on a stand-up paddleboard.