IN THE NEWS
Press Release–November 3, 2019
Boston, MA — Representative Ayanna Pressley, who recently announced her endorsement of Julia Mejia and has thrown her support to the campaign, today joined a gathering of campaign volunteers, elected officials, local community leaders, and other Mejia supporters to help launch this weekend’s GOTV outreach efforts for At-Large candidate Mejia. State Senator Nick Collins, State Representative Russell Holmes, former City Councilor Tito Jackson, and other local community leaders participated in this afternoon’s door-knocking canvassing activity as Mejia reaches the final stretch of her campaign.
“Julia has been unshakeable in her pursuit of social justice and equity, and has sought constantly to engage new communities and ensure that their voices are heard and that they are represented,” said Representative Pressley. “Julia’s passion and energy will be invaluable on the Council.”
“I’m honored and proud to have the endorsement and support of my sister in service,” said Mejia. “I was inspired to launch my own campaign for office when she won her race, and she continues to inspire me everyday in the work she is doing for all of us in Congress.”
“And I’m also grateful for all the support from the other elected officials who participated in today’s GOTV rally, and to all my super volunteers and other supporters who’ve been knocking on doors and reaching many of our fellow residents of Boston,” said Julia.
As an Afro-Latina, immigrant, and a community organizer, Julia Mejia wants to make City Hall open and accountable for all Boston residents to have a fair shot and a voice in the future of our City, by calling for structural changes to our city government’s policy-making processes and improve pathways for civic engagement so that more diverse voices are involved in our public schools, development of affordable housing, and accessing Boston’s economic opportunities.
Boston Globe–November 2, 2019
“I didn’t and wouldn’t ask anybody for permission,” she said in an interview. The group continued to meet in the spirit of supporting the next wave of Latinx candidates in Boston. Those who were running, or seriously considering it, were invited to talk about their agenda. By then, the group had made it clear that it wouldn’t endorse one candidate or discourage anyone from running.
It’s commendable that the effort to pick “the chosen one’’ didn’t materialize. We Latinos often complain (rightly) about how we get painted with a wide and simplistic brush that fails to account fully for a complex reality. The community is anything but monolithic, and the success of St. Guillen and Mejia in the preliminary reflect that. They each represent two distinct dimensions within the Boston Latinx world.” –Marcela García
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Dorchester Reporter–October 24, 2019
“While there were areas of agreement among the candidates, several offered different plans to address issues like housing.
Julia Mejia, a first-time candidate and education advocate from Dorchester, said she would require 50 percent of housing units in new developments to be affordable, a figure beyond the 13 percent Boston currently requires.
“We can no longer afford to push for incremental change,” Mejia said. “If we asked for a 50% percent, we might get 30. But if we are only asking for 20, we’re lucky if we get 15 or 18, so I think that we have an opportunity to negotiate.” -Simon Rios, WBUR Reporter
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Press Release–October 9, 2019
“Boston City Council At-Large candidate, Julia Mejia, today held a reporters sit-down meeting with city and state leaders of color, including former At-Large and District city council candidates who have endorsed Julia’s campaign, to discuss the challenges and barriers to
creating a more equitable city and state. Discussion focused on the systemic structural issues of poverty and how they affect many who live in Boston, especially as they relate to communities of color. Julia drew attention to the fact that low-income and working class people are being shut out of the political process and that the current pay-to-play system excludes the voices of our diverse communities from government.” -Eldin L. Villafañe/eldin.villafane@gmail.com
Boston Globe–October 4, 2019
“Political newcomer Julia Mejia, who placed fifth in the race for one of the council’s four at-large seats, said she has won the support of four of her former opponents who failed to move on to the Nov. 5 general election. The top eight candidates from the preliminary move on to the final at-large election.
Mejia said she won the support “of my fellow candidates of color that are so deeply rooted in fighting for our community.” They are: Priscilla Flint-Banks, Domingos DaRosa, Michel Denis, and William King.
“From economic justice to public safety issues and the opioid crisis, these leaders bring the issues that our communities face front and center in this race,” Mejia said. “I am committed to continuing their conversations and this is a perfect example of what I mean when I say ‘all means all.’” -Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe
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Dorchester Reporter–October 3, 2019
“Priscilla Flint-Banks, Domingos DaRosa, William King and Michel Denis endorsed Mejia since the election, her campaign announced on Thursday. Two candidates who were unsuccessful last week’s city election in district races —Cecily Graham in District 5 and Lee Nave in District 9— also backed Mejia, she said.
…“I’m endorsing Julia because she has for many years committed her advocacy work to help empower and fight for the issues that impact communities of color,” said Banks, who came in 11th in the 15-person field. “I look forward to working alongside Julia to push the agenda that is important to the Black Economic Justice Institute as we move our community forward.” -Katie Trojano, Reporter Staff
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Dorchester Reporter–October 2, 2019
“I think that there’s a perception that exam schools are the end all be all,” Mejia said,“ I think we need to challenge that perception because what it says to kids that [aren’t accepted] is that they’re not worthy. We put too much emphasis into focusing on [exam schools] and we aren’t making sure that all schools are performing to their highest ability,” Mejia said. She added that she also would support re-evaluating the ISEE exam and supports college and vocational preparation.”-Katie Trojano, Reporter Staff
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Dorchester Reporter–September 19, 2019
“Julia Mejia is among 15 candidates running for one of the four at-large seats. She paints herself as the grassroots choice among more establishment candidates. “I’m the first in my family to graduate high school and college, buy a house, and get my mom out of Section 8 [housing],” she told a neighbor while out canvassing on a recent afternoon. Mejia runs Collaborative Parent Leadership Action Network, an advocacy group dedicated to equity in the school system. Born in the Dominican Republic, she came to the US when she was five, and she was raised by a single mother who was once undocumented.” -Simon Rios, WBUR Reporter
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The Daily Free Press–September 3, 2019
“Julia Mejia, Dorchester’s Boston City Council At-Large candidate, said to the Daily Free Press that as a result of the national climate, it is necessary to have a commission in place that recognizes the value of immigrants. As an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, Mejia said she recognizes the need for these protections because was raised by a mother who was undocumented for a period of time. “This is very dear to me,” Mejia said. So on a personal level, I think it’s about time,” Mejia said “… I think having an extra layer of protection gives me a sense of comfort knowing that the Commission exists.” Mejia said that the commission should pay special attention to school enrollment documents and other documents that question families on their country of origin and may share this information with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”-Mia Cathell
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El Mundo Boston–August 29, 2019
“Si queremos abordar la epidemia de opioides de nuestra ciudad, necesitamos cambios sustanciales en nuestra política“, dijo Julia Mejía, candidata a Concejal At-Large de la ciudad de Boston luego de participar en una sesión de capacitación de NARCAN para todos los participantes. “Necesitamos priorizar un enfoque de reducción de daños y un enfoque prioritario para las personas. No podemos detenernos para salir de esta crisis. Necesitamos un plan integral con los recursos financieros asignados para promulgarlo”, enfatizó Mejía durante la sesión en la que entregó gratis NARCAN que se usa para tratar una sobredosis de narcóticos en una situación de emergencia.” -El Mundo Boston
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Bay State Banner–August 21, 2019
“Julia Mejia, originally from the Dominican Republic, explained how her mother, who was undocumented, and other mentors taught her to be the advocate she is today. “I went to Dorchester High School, and the only reason I’m standing in front of you here today is because Reverend Liz Walker shared her story at my high school. At the time I was 20 years old, I was cleaning offices and I was selling shoes, but she disrupted my entire cycle of poverty,” Mejia said to those in attendance. “Those are the issues I’m going to be fighting for.” She emphasized how her own experience has made her determined to provide students with the important resources that are needed to climb up the socioeconomic ladder. “I know there are a lot of young people out here sitting in classrooms and they don’t have the support to be able to thrive,” she said. “I know, as the first person to graduate high school, it was my ticket out of poverty.”-Anu Sawhney
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