Presente!, where we speak with leaders who are showing up for our community by actively fostering grassroots solutions to challenging social problems.
Reporter/Editor Belén Dumont speaks with Boston City Councilor Enrique J. Pepén on his responsibilities as city councilor, civically engaging residents, and school transportation safety.
Serving his first term as an elected official, Pepén joined the Boston City Council this past January. His passion for civics emerged at an early age and was fostered through his participation in student council, model united nations, and formative internships.
“As a Latino…[and] the youngest city councilor right now, there’s a lot of things to learn here, there’s a lot of perspectives to bring to the city council,” said Pepén.
Pepén said his first internship, which was with former Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson, taught him the importance of constituent services—which includes connecting residents to city services, helping them navigate city hall, and sharing about any passed legislation or grant opportunities with the public.
As a first-generation Dominican American, Pepén shared how his cultural identity and personal experiences have shaped his career—leading him to serve such diverse communities. With a wide range of duties, Pepén said he has been focused on listening to his community’s needs and is passionate about making city hall easier to navigate for residents.
“I was able to really live with that upbringing of being proudly Latino/Hispano here in the city of Boston where, luckily, it is a very diverse city but still with a lot of obstacles,” said Pepén. “[I’m] just happy to serve and represent our community here in the Boston City Council, where I’m now one of three Latinos. So, we’re making progress here in the city of Boston in terms of representation.”
Pepén emphasized the importance of Latino representation when it comes to building trust and engaging Boston’s Hispanic/Latino communities.
“It’s an honor to have this position, pero when you are Latino—in a community where 20% of the population is identified as Latino or Latina—it doesn’t matter if I only represent Hyde Park, Roslindale, or Mattapan,” said Pepén. “I have Latinos reaching out to me from Charlestown, East Boston, South Boston…Because they see that I’m a Latino, [they think] ‘Oh, he understands me.’”
SUGGESTION: OPINION: Revamping Boston’s School Transportation: Strategies for Enhanced Safety and Efficiency
