Biography
Kay Khan is the State Representative for the 11th Middlesex District, which includes Newton Lower Falls, Auburndale, Waban, West Newton, Newtonville, Newton Corner and parts of Newton Centre. The district includes 14 of Newton’s 31 precincts.
Kay is serving her seventh term in office and is the longest-serving current state legislator from Newton. During the 2006 election Kay ran unopposed, however, in 2004 she was in a contested race, and won with 73.3% of the vote.
Throughout her career in the legislature, she has been a leading voice on providing affordable and compassionate health care, public education, affordable housing and human services. She has a record of strong support for improved transportation and a healthier environment and has been the legislature’s leading advocate for progressive policies for incarcerated individuals including women and their children.
Legislative Committees & Caucuses
In January 2007, Kay was appointed Vice Chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and became a member of the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance and the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight for the current legislative session. Previously she served for ten years on the Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee, and spent time on the joint committees on Housing and Urban Development, Public Health, Public Service and Judiciary.
Kay was the Co-Chair of the Caucus of Women Legislators in 1998 and remains an active member of the Caucus' Board of Directors and is the Chair of its task force on Women in the Criminal Justice System. Through this task force, she also established a working group which meets regularly and includes legislators, advocates, academics and community leaders who share an interest in helping women who enter the criminal justice system and the affect on the children of these women.
In January 2005 Kay was invited to join the Female Offender Review Panel, a subgroup of the Governor's Commission on Correction Reform chaired by former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger. The Female Offender Review Panel was charged with evaluating the Massachusetts Department of Correction female offender management programs, identifying barriers to adequate treatment and making recommendations for reforms.
In 1998 Kay also founded and continues as Co-Chair of the Legislative Mental Health Caucus. This Caucus, which now includes over 80 other Legislators, has spurred greater attention to the need for improved mental health services and no doubt laid the groundwork for the creation of the new legislative Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee. Kay is a member of the Hospital Caucus, the Rails to Trails Caucus, the Parks Caucus, the Elder Caucus, the Charles River Caucus, Municipal Caucus, Suburban Legislators Coalition, BioTech Caucus, Cancer Awareness Caucus, Olmstead Working Group and the Women in Poverty Task Force.
In 2007 Kay was appointed by the Speaker of the House to the Commission on Ending Homelessness. This commission was established through legislative action in the 2005-2006 legislative session (ch. 2 of the Resolves of 2006), and is responsible for devising a statewide strategy to end homelessness in the Commonwealth.
Community Organizations
Kay serves in many community organizations. She is a volunteer advisor to the Young Parents Program at the Newton Community Services Center and a member of the Newton Housing Partnership. Kay is a member of MSNRN, the Massachusetts School Nurse Research Network Advisory Board, a board member of the West Suburban YMCA, Newton’s New Philharmonia Orchestra, an Honorary Board Member of the Newton Boys and Girls Club and was recently invited to join the Advisory Board of the Newton-Tanzania Collaborative.
An Active member of the Newton Democratic City Committee for over twenty years, Kay serves on the Public Policy Committee of the Democratic State Committee and is a member of the League of Women Voters. She is also a State Director for the Women Legislators' Lobby of Will/Wand, a national organization of women advocating to reduce the national military budget. Kay is a member of the Advisory Board to the New England Region of the American Society of the University of Haifa, MIIS (Massachusetts Institute of International Studies and JALSA (Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action).
Awards & Honors
Kay has been recognized by many local and statewide advocacy organizations for her work. Some of her awards:
- "Legislator of the Year Award" in 2008 by the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society
- "Soaring to Success Award" in 2008 by the Parent-Child Home Program
- Recognized in February of 2008 by SPAN, INC., for her work advocating for prison reform on Beacon Hill
- Recognized in October of 2007 by the American College of Nurse mid-wives for her support and vital contribution to the profession of midwifery
- "Pacesetter Award" in 2007 by WiLL/WAND (The Women Legislators' Lobby /Women's Action for New Directions)
- "Legislator of the Year Award" in 2006 by the Massachusetts Psychological Association
- "Global Warming Hero Award" in 2006 by MassPIRG
- "Leadership Award" in 2006 by the Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Coalition
- "Legislative Leadership Award" in 2005 from the Friends: Voices of Rehabilitation and Recovery
- "Star Award" in 2005 from the Newton Community Service Center
- "Community Advocate of the Year" in 2004 from Work, Community, Independence (WPI) for her "Advocacy and Support of People with Developmental Disabilities"
- “Positive Impact Award” in 2004 by the Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PAL)
- “Legislative Leader” in 2004 by the Massachusetts Public Health Association
- “Legislator of the Month” in September 2004 by the Massachusetts Medical Society
- “Legislator of the Year” in 2004 by the Massachusetts Women’s Bar Association
- "Pillar of Justice Award" in 2003 by the Boston Bar Association and Greater Boston Legal Services for her role in saving legal aid services for low-income Massachusetts residents
- Recognized in 2003 by the Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services for her work in the area of criminal justice
- "Charles Johnson Maynard Award" in 2002 from the Newton Conservators for her efforts to protect natural resources
- "Legislator of the Year" in 2001 from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Massachusetts Chapter.
Education & Professional Background
Kay is a practicing psychiatric nurse clinical specialist certified in psychiatric mental health nursing by the American Nurses Association and is licensed to practice in the expanded role by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Kay received her bachelors and masters degrees in nursing from Boston University School of Nursing where she was named to Sigma Theta Tau, the Nursing Honor Society.
Personal Background
Kay was born in Iowa and her family moved to Massachusetts when she was three. Throughout her public life she has been inspired by the memory of her father, Stefan Kraus, who left Nazi Germany in 1937 to begin a new life in America. Through his experience with discrimination and his deep love for his adopted country he developed a passion for democracy, equal rights and social justice.
Kay has lived in Newton Lower Falls for 37 years with her husband Nasir Khan, M.D. They have three married children: Tahira, Zafar and Alexander, who attended Newton public schools. Two of her children and their spouses live in Newton, along with Kay’s seven precious grandchildren: Sasha, 9, Alana, 7, Viveca 4, and Chace, 7 and Ava Grace, 2. Ginger, 2 and Jett, 4 months live in Los Angeles, CA with their parents.
Kay Khan with her husband, children and grandchildren.