About Sonia Chang-Díaz
Sonia Chang-Díaz is the first Latina elected to the Massachusetts State Senate. She is serving her fifth term on behalf of the Second Suffolk District, which is comprised of all or part of the Boston neighborhoods of Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Mission Hill, Roslindale, Roxbury, and the South End.
Senator Chang-Díaz is a thoughtful, honest, and tenacious champion for the voiceless. Since being sworn into office in 2009, Sen. Chang-Díaz has helped pass reforms to the state's CORI system, curtailed the misuse of special education dollars, been instrumental in the passage of civil rights protections for transgender Bay Staters, re-written our state laws on school discipline, and successfully defended millions of dollars in funding for youth development. Additionally, she has been a voice for those affected by housing displacement, hate crimes and youth violence. She has also been a strong voice for sound fiscal reform and good stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Senator Chang-Díaz serves as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities and the Joint Committee on Marijuana Policy. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, and as a member of the Joint Committees on Elections Laws, Financial Services, and Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Prior to attaining elected office, Senator Chang-Díaz served as a public school teacher in the Lynn and Boston school systems, where she learned first-hand the challenges facing our public school students, teachers, and parents and the role our state government can play in improving our educational system. Senator Chang-Díaz has also worked in public service as a Senior Legislative Aide to former state Senator Cheryl Jacques, as a key political adviser at the Barbara Lee Family Office, and as the Director of Outreach at the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, a non-partisan fiscal policy think tank.
Senator Chang-Díaz was raised on the idea that leadership, at its heart, is about service. It is a value deeply rooted in her family’s long tradition of public service. Chang-Díaz's mother raised her and her sister while dedicating her career to those most forgotten in our society: from adults with mental illness, to at-risk toddlers and infants in Dorchester. Her father, an immigrant to the United States from Costa Rica, was our country’s first Latin American astronaut. Her sister is a teacher. And her grandfather has been recognized as one of the country’s most committed rural doctors. Senator Chang-Díaz lives in Jamaica Plain with her husband and two children, and is a parishioner at St. Mary of the Angels church in Roxbury.
Meet the Staff
Eduardo Moreno Mendez
Legislative Aide
As a Legislative Aide, Eduardo is the neighborhood liaison for South End, Hyde Park, Mattapan, and Roslindale. He is responsible for legislative and constituent work in various issue areas.
Lena Shapiro
Communications Director
As Communications Director, Lena oversees the office's outreach to the public and press. She is also the Senator's liaison to Mission Hill.
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Escarolyn Garcia
Senior Bilingual Assistant
As Bilingual Senior Assistant, Escarolyn works closely with the Senator and Chief of Staff to ensure that the office is organized.
Maia
Legislative Director
As Legislative Director, Maia works on various policy areas and constituent services. She is also the Senator's liaison to Roxbury and Dorchester.
Ethan Smith
Senior Policy Advisor
As Senior Policy Advisor, Ethan works on various policy areas and constituent services. He is also the Senator's liaison to Jamaica Plain.
Nathanael Shea
Chief of Staff
As Chief of Staff, Nathanael works on education policy and constituent services for the Senator and supports the other staff members.
Second Suffolk District
The Second Suffolk District is comprised of all or part of the Boston neighborhoods of Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Mission Hill, Roslindale, Roxbury, and the South End. Feel free to use the map to explore our district and neighborhoods of interest.
Our office makes it a priority to serve all constituents of the Second Suffolk District. If you are one of Sonia's constituents, please feel free to reach out to our office.