Julissa Ferreras
Council Member – Queens, NY District 21 – Democrat
Biography
Council Member Julissa Ferreras proudly serves Corona, East Elmhurst and parts of Jackson Heights—an area of Queens that is one of the most diversely populated areas in the country, if not the world. The only child of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Julissa is committed to the rights of New York’s large and growing immigrant community. A native New Yorker, Julissa grew up in Jackson Heights and currently resides in Corona.
Julissa was tapped early in her life as a natural community leader – by Helen Marshall, the last woman of color to represent Queens in the City Council. Marshall appointed 14-year-old Julissa to serve on the Corona Youth Council, where she started a youth employment program. From there, she became president of the Corona-East Elmhurst NAACP Youth Council, a position she held for three years, and started her lifelong work of bridging the gaps among our communities.
She entered the workforce as Assistant Director of the Community Conciliation Network in Corona, and shortly thereafter became the Beacon Director at P.S. 19, the nation’s most overcrowded school. As Beacon Director, she gave hope to at-risk youth with mentoring, after-school programs and homework help – creating quality programs that served many children.
Her involvement in the Beacon Program brought Julissa to the forefront of many community issues. When someone was needed to represent the community, it was Julissa who was called upon by Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette and Congressman Joseph Crowley to serve as a New York State delegate to the 2000 Democratic National Convention.
Elected to the City Council in 2009, Julissa currently serves as Chair of the Women’s Issues Committee. She is passionately dedicated to improving the status of women in New York City, in particular of immigrant women. Julissa is a vigorous defender of the rights of victims of sexual and domestic violence, and an impassioned fighter for the working people of her district.
Links:
http://council.nyc.gov/d21/html/members/home.shtml