Joe O’Brien is a driven advocate for social change who has spent four decades working in the government, community organizing and non-profit sectors to advance the public interest. Joe has been an adjunct faculty member at Clark University for more than a decade and has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses on public policy and public administration. Joe was the first director of Clarks Senior Leadership MPA program and continues to serve as instructor and as an advisor to the program. 

Joe currently works as the Political and Legislative Director of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, working to advance pro-worker policies and programs for the union’s 34,000 members and for all working families in New England and New York. Prior to his coming to the Carpenters, Joe was the founding Executive Director of the Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund where he worked to advance renewable energy and sustainability policies. He also served for three years as a District Director for Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern.  

Joe has extensive experience in politics and has advised, assisted or led more than 40 local, state, and federal campaigns. Highlights of this work including be part of the campaign teams of President Obama, former Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Tim Murray and California Congressman Juan Congressman. He is also a former elected leader and served as a member of the Worcester School Committee, the Worcester City Council and as the city’s Mayor.  Through the early part of his career, he also spent 20 years working part-time as an EMS Paramedic and writer. 

Joe earned his B.A. in Urban Studies from Fordham University and an M.P.A. from the JFK School of Government at Harvard University. Joe and his wife, Political Asylum Attorney Lisa Weinberg, and their two children Wondimu and Bethany live in the great city of Worcester and are active in the cities political and community life.