BOSTON, MA – Today, the Josh Kraft for Boston campaign announced the addition of four advisors who collectively bring a range of diverse skills, relationships and knowledge of the city to the campaign team.

“Assembling a diverse and talented team is going to be critical to the success of our campaign, so I’m thrilled that Chanda, Jacquetta, Ann, and Michael have agreed to join the campaign,” said Josh Kraft. “We are assembling a team that have deep and meaningful connections in the communities throughout the city, and are as good at listening as they are at talking.”

Chanda Smart – Senior Community Advisor

Chanda Smart is the co-founder of The OnyxGroup Development LLC, a Boston based, black woman-owned-&-operated brokerage, planning & development business which focuses on providing quality workforce housing through public and private partnerships.

Chanda has more than 20 years of corporate consulting experience, and serves on numerous local boards serving residents and families of Boston, including the MBTA, Madison Park Development Corporation, and the Children’s Advocacy Center. She also served on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s Rent Stabilization Advisory Board.

Chanda studied communications and pre-law at the University of Massachusetts and served as an Executive Administrator to Lani Guinier and Yochai Benkler at Harvard Law School. She is a long-time resident of Roxbury with deep connections in the Boston community, and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

Jacquetta Van Zandt – Senior Communications Advisor

Jacquetta Van Zandt is a seasoned strategist with deep experience on Capitol Hill and in state and federal campaigns. She has been a driving force behind public policy and diversity initiatives, advocating tirelessly for equal opportunities for women of color. Her work spans critical issues like pay equity, financial literacy, socio-economic advancement, and women’s empowerment. As a co-host of the widely acclaimed podcast Politics and Prosecco, Jacquetta continues to amplify voices for change. A proud Boston native, she resides in Roxbury, where her passion for equity and community thrives.

Ann Chinchilla DeGeorge – Campaign Advisor

A passionate parent dedicated to education, justice and community, Ann Chinchilla DeGeorge is a consummate advocate and was most recently the Executive Director of the Boston Education Advisory Council and Director of Education and Constituent Services for At-Large Boston City Councilor, Julia Mejia. Ann has been an active member in the Boston Coalition for Education Equity, fighting for fair representation of families on the Boston School Committee. 

Ann’s background in political work includes running Rachael Rollins’ campaign for Suffolk County District Attorney in 2018, where she focused on the grave disparities among racial and ethnic groups and the urgent need for criminal justice reform. She has also worked on other progressive political campaigns and continues to do so.

Ann currently serves on the Advisory Board to the Boston Building Resources, a local non profit in Roxbury, and co-founded Healthy Food for Boston Schools Action Network to improve quality and increase nutritional value of Boston Public School food, while serving as Co-chair of Food and Nutritional Services subcommittee of the BPS Citywide Parent Council. Ann is an active member of JP Progressives, and an alumni of Emerge Massachusetts. 

Ann is a Latino-American and lives in the Fort Hill neighborhood of Roxbury with her husband, two school-age boys and her elderly mother. 

Michael Kineavy – Senior Campaign Advisor 

An exceptional strategist and experienced executive, Michael served the City of Boston and advised Mayor Thomas M. Menino for over twenty years. As the City of Boston’s Chief of Policy & Planning, he successfully drove positive change across every aspect of Boston city government and is best known for his intensive involvement with a multitude of constituency groups from community, governmental and private organizations. For the past decade, he has served as the Chief Operating Officer at the Cronin Group.

Michael earned his Undergraduate degree in English and Political Science, as well as a Master of Public Affairs degree, and an Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling Certification, all from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Michael resides in South Boston.

Michael will be working full-time on the Josh Kraft for Boston campaign.

Click here to learn more about Josh Kraft and his campaign for Mayor of Boston.

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Media Contact:
Eileen O’Connor
eileen@joshforboston.com
617-806-6999