Julia Mejia

Julia Mejia
Name	Julia Mejia
Office	Member of the Boston City Council At-Large
Term start	January 2020
Birth place	Dominican Republic
Party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Massachusetts Boston

Julia Mejia is a Dominican-American politician and community organizer serving as an at-large member of the Boston City Council. First elected in 2019, she made history as the first Latina and first Afro-Latina elected to the council, following a recount that confirmed her victory by a single vote. Her career prior to elected office was defined by advocacy in nonprofit and media spaces, focusing on educational equity, immigrant rights, and civic engagement.

Early life and education

Born in the Dominican Republic, she immigrated to the United States as a child, settling in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. She attended Boston Public Schools, including the former Timilty Middle School, and later graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston with a degree in American studies. Her early experiences as an ESL student and navigating the public education system deeply informed her later advocacy work.

Career

Before entering electoral politics, she built a career focused on community empowerment and media. She worked for the Hyams Foundation, a philanthropic organization supporting economic and racial justice in Greater Boston. She later founded and led Hijas de la Lucha, a nonprofit supporting Latina leadership, and co-founded the Parents Union, an organization advocating for families within Boston Public Schools. She also served as a communications strategist and hosted a public affairs show on WUMB-FM, a radio station owned by the University of Massachusetts.

Boston City Council

Elected in the 2019 Boston City Council election, she assumed office in January 2020. On the Boston City Council, she has served as the chair of the Committee on Civil Rights and the Committee on Education. She has been a prominent voice on issues including police reform, rent control, and language access, notably championing an ordinance to expand translation services across city departments. Her tenure has included oversight hearings on the Boston Police Department's budget and practices, as well as advocacy for increased funding for Boston Public Schools.

Political positions and advocacy

Her policy work is centered on racial and economic justice. She is a vocal proponent of the Green New Deal for Boston, supports implementing a real estate transfer fee to fund affordable housing, and has advocated for removing exam school admissions tests. She has organized and participated in numerous protests, including demonstrations for Black Lives Matter and against ICE detentions. Her advocacy extends to supporting small businesses, tenant rights, and expanding vote-by-mail and early voting access in municipal elections.

Electoral history

In the preliminary election for the 2019 Boston City Council election, she finished fifth among a field of candidates, advancing to the general election. In the November general election, the initial count showed her trailing by eight votes, triggering an automatic recount. The recount, overseen by the Boston Election Department, concluded with her winning by a single vote, securing the fourth and final at-large seat on the Boston City Council. She was re-elected in the 2021 Boston City Council election and again in the 2023 Boston City Council election, each time finishing among the top four at-large candidates.

Personal life

She resides in Dorchester. Her identity as an immigrant, a woman of color, and a product of Boston Public Schools is central to her public narrative. She is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Category:21st-century American politicians Category:Boston City Council members Category:American people of Dominican Republic descent Category:University of Massachusetts Boston alumni Category:Living people