for BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR AT-LARGE
JULIA MEJIA
Nothing about us, without us, is for us.
MEET MEJIA
Julia is an independent voice on the Council who is unafraid to be bold and speak truth to power. She leads with purpose, presence, and passion, and understands the urgency of the issues at hand. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Boston by a single mother who was undocumented throughout her childhood, she learned to advocate for her community starting at a young age and continues to do so.
As a longtime community organizer and former nonprofit director, Mejia has dedicated her life to dismantling systems of oppression and amplifying voices too often sidelined by special interests. She has never strayed away from her grassroots principles, demonstrated by her effective co-governance approach to policymaking, giving rise to the passing of over 20 pieces of legislation, the establishment of dozens of new City departments and roles, and the allocation of millions of dollars for critical community development.
What We've Achieved
As your Boston City Councilor At-Large, Julia has:
Codified Language Access for Boston's Top 11 Languages
One of our first legislative wins included passing an Ordinance that requires the City to release all official information in languages spoken by at least 5% of the population at the same time as English documents.
Secured Millions of Dollars for New Offices in City Hall
Our office spearheaded the creation of three new offices in City Hall: The Office of Black Male Advancement, The Office of LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement, and The Office of Cultural Affairs. We also led the codification of The Office of Immigrant Advancement and The Office of LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement. Each of these have budgets that exceed $1 million as a result of our advocacy
Guaranteed Diversity in All City Agenices
Our office passed the Fair Chance Act, which formally codified a Chief Diversity Officer position who will work with all City agencies to develop a detailed plan for the hiring of minority, women, LGBTQ+ employees, and employees with disabilities. It also ensures the creation of a detailed plan for the promotion of said employees, and a detailed plan for improving workplace culture, preventing harassment, intimidation, and bullying.
Promoted Small Business Development
Our office sponsored an ordinance to create permits allowing residents to cook and sell certain foods. Doing so eliminated barriers to access for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners. It also ensures that all members of our community have greater access to culturally competent foods right in their own neighborhood.
What We Stand For
A community organizer at heart, Julia is committed to challenging herself and others every day with these essential questions:
How is the city council being inclusive to all communities during policy making?
How are we holding ourselves accountable to the people we serve?
How can we make government resource policy making more accessible to all communities?
