News & Events
Virtual Talk with CWPPP Distinguished Public Service Fellow Julia Mejia
Tuesday, March 10, 6:00 - 7:30 pm ET
Boston City Councilor At-Large, Councilor Julia Mejia, the first Afro-Latina to hold a seat on the Boston City Council, chairs the Government Accountability, Transparency, and Accessibility Committee. Her journey from the Dominican Republic to Dorchester at age 5, raised by a single, undocumented mother, instilled in her a commitment to advocacy. As a graduate of Boston Public Schools and college, she became a community organizer, empowering individuals across diverse spectrums to engage in political processes. Winning her first term by a single vote, she has since led the passage of 15 pieces of legislation and secured millions for Boston's communities. Notably, she established the Government Accountability Committee to address issues in education, housing, and transportation. Now in her third term, Mejia remains dedicated to informing, influencing and inspiring political participation for #allmeansall inclusive representation. Connect with Team Mejia on social media @Juliaforboston (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) for ongoing updates.
Learn more about CWPPP's Fellows program and the current cohort.
Next Upcoming Fellows Talk
- Nina Liang, Quincy City Councilor at Large & Director, Govt. Relations, Wentworth Institute of Technology - Wed. April 15, 6:00 - 7:30 pm ET
Gender, Leadership & Public Policy Graduate Certificate & MPA track: Online Information Sessions
Drive social change and advance or pivot your career in the unique ONLINE Gender, Leadership, and Public Policy (GLPP) graduate certificate program (or MPA track) at UMass Boston where you will:
- Gain knowledge and tools to be an effective advocate and policy leader.
- Analyze current issues through an intersectional lens of race/ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, gender, and other identities.
- Learn about and apply political change theories.
- Explore critical approaches to policy research.
- Gain experience in a policy setting through a personally tailored graduate level internship with flexible options for all work schedules.
- Be mentored by a CWPPP Distinguished Public Service Fellow (see above).
REGISTER FOR AN ONLINE GLPP INFORMATION SESSION:
CWPPP Spring 2026 Convening
In This Moment: Women of Color Driving Change for Equity
Community Convening*: Monday, March 23 (*By invitation only)
Public Convening: Tuesday March 24 (8:00 am - 5:00 pm ET, reception to follow, UMass Club, Boston)
Across Massachusetts and throughout the nation, women—especially Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latinx, Middle Eastern, multiracial, and other women of color—are driving change. We are shaping civic and political life through public service, organizing, advocacy, movement building, scholarship, cultural work, and transformative leadership. And in this moment, when women of color—especially Black and brown women—are carrying the disproportionate weight of toxic federal policies, DEIA rollbacks, anti-immigration actions, and chronic divestment in our communities, our leadership has never been more essential.
Yet even with our power and impact, we remain too often under-recognized, under-resourced, and undervalued. CWPPP is excited to lead the work in creating these upcoming robust convening to connect Women and gender expansive leaders of color, and their allies in a critical moment in US history.
CWPPP’s In This Moment: Women of Color Driving Change for Equity Community and Public Convenings are intentionally designed for women and gender-expansive leaders of color and the allies who stand together, to breathe, restore, strategize, and build collective power.
This is not “just another conference.” It is a call to action. A space to be seen. A space to be heard. A space to lead.
Please see this link for details about participation and sponsorships. For questions, please email glpp@umb.edu .