The Plympton Public Library hosted Josh Cutler this past Saturday as part of their weekly community coffee and conversation series. Cutler is a former State Representative from Duxbury who was recently appointed as Undersecretary in the Executive Office of Labor by Governor Maura Healey. Cutler was introduced by John Traynor and spoke about the state’s role in supporting registered apprenticeship programs to offer alternative career options.
Apprenticeships have long been a successful model in the building trades, Cutler explained, and now the state is actively working to expand and promote them in diverse fields such as health care, early education, life sciences and cybersecurity. He explained that apprenticeships can offer great earn-while-you-learn opportunities and a chance to develop new skills without racking up large amounts of student debt, which he joked he was still paying off himself. The lively audience at the library had many questions for Cutler about his new position working for the governor and the role of apprenticeships in the state workforce. Plympton’s State Rep. Kathy LaNatra was also in attendance and joined in the discussion. Cutler previously served six terms in the Legislature serving all or parts of the towns of Hanson, Halifax, Pembroke, Duxbury and Marshfield.
Cutler, is a non-fiction author, and also spoke about his two recently published books: Mobtown Massacre, and the Boston Gentlemen’s Mob. The former tells the story of how the town of Hanson came to be named after a rebellious newspaper publisher from Maryland, and the latter chronicles the early abolitionist movement in Boston. He donated signed copies of each book to the Library.
The Plympton Public Library 10-Minute Briefing series is held on the first and third Saturdays of every month.