Citizen of the Year

The Citizen of the Year has been an annual tradition since 1979.

The Citizen of the Year is honored by:

• Riding in the Bedford Day Parade
• A reception at Old Town Hall coupled with the annual Bedford Minutemen Change of Command Ceremony
• Participates in the Annual Tree Lighting each December on the Common
• Participates in the Liberty Pole Capping Day

Nominations for the Citizen of the Year are announced in the early Fall, and the Citizen of the Year is announced prior to Bedford Day.

Citizen of the Year – 2025 / 2026

Emily Mitchell

          Born and raised in western Illinois, Emily Mitchell moved to the East Coast for college in 1993 and never really left.  After a brief stint in New York, she and her husband, John, moved to Bedford in 2001.  Their daughter and son attend the University of Pittsburgh and the University of California at Berkeley, respectively.  Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Harvard, a master’s in secondary English education from Syracuse, and an MBA from Babson.  Her professional background is in children’s publishing, first as an editor and now as a literary agent.

          Emily served on the board of Patrons of Music Students (POMS) for ten years and was its president for three years.  She was also the primary parent coordinator for both the middle and high school musicals for nine years, organizing volunteers, providing support at rehearsals, and managing fundraising events and publicity.  more…