Erin Murphy is a dedicated and hardworking public servant who brings her personal experiences and a lifetime of advocacy to the Boston City Council. A proud Dorchester native, Erin grew up with a strong tradition of activism. Her grandfather, Richard Murphy, organized the Dorchester United Neighborhood Association to turn a former landfill into a thriving park and community hub, the Richard J. Murphy School. Her mother and Auntie Kay were pioneers in establishing the first Teen Center in Boston, providing support and resources for youth in the neighborhood.
Erin's story is one of resilience and determination. As a teenager, Erin became a mother at 19, balancing the challenges of raising a family with the pursuit of higher education. Despite the hardships, she graduated from UMass-Boston with degrees in Business, History, and Elementary Education, later earning her M.A.Ed. from Fitchburg State University. Erin knows the struggle of paying off student loans and has been a tireless advocate for education reform and economic justice throughout her career.
As a teacher for 22 years in the Boston Public Schools, Erin witnessed firsthand the challenges families face — from educational disparities and economic instability to substance use disorder and recovery. Motivated by these experiences, she ran marathons to raise awareness and funds for substance use disorder and mental health recovery, raising over $50,000 for the Gavin Foundation.
Now, in her fourth year as a City Councilor At-Large, Erin has made it her mission to bring transparency, accountability, and accessibility to City Hall. From day one, she has been deeply committed to being present in every neighborhood, listening to the concerns of residents, and working tirelessly to improve city services. She is a fierce advocate for public health, education, and affordable housing, and has pushed for more accountability in city government, ensuring that the administration is transparent in its actions and decisions.
Erin's work on the Council is rooted in her belief that all Boston residents deserve a government that is responsive, accountable, and committed to improving their lives. Whether it’s helping a constituent navigate city services or championing policies that ensure equitable access to healthcare and education, Erin is always focused on delivering real results for the people of Boston.
With a deep understanding of the challenges that many families face, Erin is dedicated to making City Hall a place where every voice is heard and every neighborhood is represented. She remains committed to working with the people of Boston to create a city that works for everyone, with a particular focus on supporting our youth, expanding mental health services, and ensuring that public health and education are top priorities in every decision made.
Whether it’s through advocating for stronger resources for those struggling with substance use, pushing for better educational opportunities for our children, or ensuring that our city government is transparent and accountable, Erin is working every day to make Boston a better place for everyone.
Erin Murphy was born and raised in Dorchester where she is the devoted mom of Brian, Maisie, and Michael (and Murphy Dog). She is a veteran Boston Public School teacher and special education coordinator who has spent decades dedicated to her students, families, and neighbors in Boston. Erin is a proud alum of UMass Boston and Fitchburg State University (M.A.Ed.). In her free time, Erin runs marathons to raise awareness and much needed money for addiction and mental health recovery services in Boston. She has raised over $60,000 for the Gavin Foundation. She is an avid photographer and hiker, dragging her (more than willing) dog around to share photos of our beautiful city. She understands the struggles and challenges facing every day Bostonians because she lives them too. Navigating our public school system, paying the rent or the mortgage, caring for aging parents, and recovering our lives and livelihoods in the wake of the Covid pandemic. Now more than ever, Boston needs leaders like Erin to keep our City moving in the right direction.
Since 1979, Erin has been working to improve our City in all ways, large and small. From picketing to save Adams Street Library as a pre-teen, to helping the Mayor's Office of Recovery Services bring life-saving services to those in need, to representing neighbors as a Ward 16 delegate, Erin shows up and works hard.
As a daughter and granddaughter of Local 223 Laborers, a Boston Teacher Union member for decades, and an unwavering believer that union jobs bring prosperity and stability, Erin will fight for Unions.