GREENFIELD — City officials emphasized a message of unity over division Tuesday morning at the John Zon Community Center, where the community gathered for the inauguration of Mayor Virginia “Ginny” Desorgher and the swearing-in of 17 other recently elected officials.

The ceremony on Pleasant Street, which had standing room only, began with an honor guard presentation, followed by an invocation given by the Rev. Michael Pierz of Blessed Trinity Parish. Outgoing City Council President Dan Guin was the emcee.

“A community is only stronger when you bring everyone together,” Guin said. “We have a great pool of people who want to bring the city forward.”

Desorgher, who defeated incumbent Roxann Wedegartner for a four-year term in the Nov. 2 election, spent 30 years as a nurse, including managing the Emergency Department at MetroWest Medical Center in Natick. She was a member of the Planning Board for seven years and has been involved with various local boards, including the Commission on Disability Access, the Affordable Housing Committee and the Greenfield Democratic Town Committee. She was also previously part of the YMCA board of directors and Baystate Franklin Auxiliary, and served as a Planning Board representative for the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG).

Others who took their oath of office Tuesday morning included At-Large Councilors John Garrett and Wahab Minhas, Precinct 1 Councilor Katherine Golub, Precinct 2 Councilor Rachel Gordon, Precinct 3 Councilor Michael Mastrototaro and Precinct 4 Councilor John Bottomley. Ann Childs, Stacey Sexton and Amy Proietti, meanwhile, were sworn in to serve four-year terms on the School Committee; Jon Magee to serve as the Elector Under the Will of Oliver Smith; Maria Burge, Ann Mayo and Deborah Richards to serve as trustees of the Jennie L. Bascom Education Fund; and Sally Ahern, Martha Maloney and Barry McColgan to serve as trustees of the A.K. Warner Trust Fund. Lastly, Charles “Chuck” Green was sworn in to serve a four-year term on the Board of Assessors.

Guin encouraged each of the sworn-in city officials to “reach across, work together [and] compromise.”

“You don’t have to agree to be friends,” he said. “Respect goes a long way. … Listen, make your agenda Greenfield. Ginny and all that are here today, you have my support and my admiration.”

After thanking past and recently elected officials, as well as city employees, Desorgher emphasized her appreciation for the “people of Greenfield.”

“You are the strong heartbeat of this city and the pulse [that] brings life to this community,” she said. “As your mayor, I pledge always to listen, learn, collaborate and ensure that all voices are heard, valued and appreciated.”

Like Guin, Desorgher emphasized a message of unity rather than division.

“We are not just a city; we are a vibrant community that is bound together by far more than what may divide us,” she said. “With a common vision and bold dreams and our shared lived experience, let us work to continue to build a future we can all be proud of, a future full of strong community, improvements to quality of life for all residents, filled with rampant hope.”

Speaking to a room full of family members, friends, city and state officials, residents and members of her campaign team, Desorgher said Tuesday marked the start of a new chapter in Greenfield.

“Each one of us has an important job, including the folks with the most important title: resident and citizen,” she said. “So thank you, and now let our journey begin.”

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter (X): @MaryEByrne.