The Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance (MEJA), the statewide coalition of parents, students, educators, and community activists that most recently led the campaign to pass the state’s landmark Student Opportunity Act, announced the hiring of the coalition’s new executive director, Vatsady Sivongxay. She will succeed Charlotte Kelly, who stepped down from the role of MEJA Executive Director at the end of 2020 after leading the coalition since 2018.
Sivongxay most recently served as the director of organizing and census manager for the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), where she directed statewide organizing, coalition building, and training for civic engagement and immigrant rights, including managing and implementing the Statewide Complete Count Committee outreach strategies for the 2020 Census. Her background as an attorney, advocate, public policy director, and entrepreneur as well as her experience as a refugee immigrant collectively inform her strong commitment to democratic engagement and advancing equity, diversity, inclusion and racial equity.
Prior to joining MIRA, Sivongxay managed, collaborated on, and led community outreach and public policy initiatives, and even ran for elected office. As director of public policy for Boston’s District 7 with Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson, she developed and directed public policy and strategic initiatives aimed at supporting and amplifying the voices of those living in the shadows and struggling every day.
Prior to her work for District 7, Sivongxay served as a community legal service pro-bono attorney and opened a law practice to help entrepreneurs realize their small business dreams and guide immigrants through the complex immigration system.
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