NE-MURCS 2026 · Keynote Speaker

A Voice for Community.
A Vision for Change.

Meet Boston City Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia, a community advocate whose work centers equity, civic participation, and the power of people to shape the decisions that affect their lives.

Boston City Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia
Boston City Councilor At-Large
Our 2026 Keynote

Julia Mejia

Boston City Councilor At-Large

Julia Mejia is a community advocate, former nonprofit leader, and trailblazing public servant dedicated to making civic life more accessible and representative of the people it serves. In 2019, she made history by becoming the first Afro-Latina elected to the Boston City Council, winning her first term by a single vote.

Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Boston by a single mother who was undocumented for much of her childhood, Mejia learned early to advocate for her family and community. Her lived experience helped shape a career rooted in justice, equity, and amplifying voices too often excluded from decision-making.

“Nothing about us, without us, is for us.”

Before entering public office, Mejia worked as a community organizer and founded a nonprofit education network. As a councilor, she has championed language access, government accountability, and policies intended to expand opportunity and strengthen Boston's communities.

Her approach to leadership emphasizes participation, transparency, and the belief that people should have a meaningful role in shaping the policies and institutions that affect their lives.

Explore Councilor Mejia's official biography →

A Career Rooted in Community

Making History

In 2019, Mejia became the first Afro-Latina elected to the Boston City Council, winning her first term by a single vote.

Amplifying Voices

Her community organizing and public service focus on helping residents participate in civic life and influence decisions that shape their neighborhoods.

Advancing Accountability

Her policy work has included language access, government transparency, and efforts to make public institutions more responsive to the people they serve.

Join Us in Boston

Meet Us at NE-MURCS 2026

The New England McNair Undergraduate Research & Creative Scholarship Conference brings together scholars, educators, mentors, and higher education leaders to celebrate research, creativity, and new possibilities.

Conference Dates November 5–7, 2026
Location Suffolk University · Sargent Hall
Address 120 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108
Keynote Julia Mejia, Boston City Councilor At-Large