History was made last month when the Boston City Council selected its first Haitian American president.
Ruthzee Louijeune won the post with unanimous support from the council.
“I really care about responsive government because I know as a young girl who grew up in Mattapan what it looked like when your government isn’t always responsive, or you when you feel like you’re being neglected and ignored.”
Louijeune grew up on Cedar Street in Mattapan.
Her parents came to Boston from Haiti and worked around the clock at McDonalds and 7-11 to provide for their family.
“Looking back, it was hard for my parents financially. They had four daughters. We were in that Mattapan house, in one bedroom, two to a twin bed.”
Her neighborhood school and local library fostered a love of learning that propelled her to Columbia University and Harvard Law School.
Now her sights are on public service.
This is Louijeune’s second term on the council.
“I am just so grateful for the people who have invested in me, and the institutions that invested in me,” said Louijeune. “That’s what we need to do when we talk about bringing out the potential in each of our students so that my story is not an anomaly.”