April 5th, 2019

In The News: Bethany Serota

Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the appointment of Bethany Serota as deputy director of the Mayor’s Office of Fair Housing and Equity. In her role as deputy director, Serota is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and the administration of the office to ensure that the office effectively engages and serves residents, especially the most vulnerable, and advocates for fair housing and equity, to reach the office’s mission of addressing discrimination and ensuring fair access to housing, public services, accommodations, and participation in activities for all people of Boston.

Serota received her B.A. from Temple University and J.D. from Suffolk University Law School. As a litigator, Serota represented clients who could not afford to pay for legal counsel and were challenged by a number of systemic barriers. Serota also represented clients in real estate transactions as well as in housing, probate and family court matters. Additionally, Serota’s advocacy extended across international borders, as she worked with refugees and asylum seekers in the Middle East.   

In the spirit of the Boston Urban Youth Foundation, Serota co-founded and co-Directs G.I.R.L.S. R.U.L.E., an empowerment program for teenage girls in Roxbury. Serota is an active member of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, where she serves as an officer on the board of directors as the secretary, and as a member of the Community Service and External Affairs committees. Serota is also a member of the Citizen’s Housing and Planning Association, the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, and the Nine Streets Neighborhood Association in Roxbury.

“I am extremely thankful to Mayor Walsh for the opportunity to serve the extraordinary people of the City of Boston, and to work collaboratively with the administration and external partners in our mission to ensure that the City of Boston is an equitable city for all,” Serota said. “Born out of the Civil Rights Movement, our office has been working to eradicate housing discrimination and create equitable access to housing opportunities for everyone.”

housing, local news