Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata

City Councilwoman Gabriela “Gigi” Coletta Zapata represents District 1 which consists of the neighborhoods of East Boston, Charlestown and the North End. Gigi’s interest in public service started at a young age when she attended protests, civic association meetings and neighborhood events with her mom in East Boston. With a degree and minor in Political Science and Human Rights from UMass Boston, Gigi landed a job as Chief of Staff to Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards. In this position she prioritized amplifying the voices of marginalized communities in policy discussions, constituent matters, and civic initiatives. Then in 2016, she was elected as the Democratic State Committeewoman for the 1st Suffolk and Middlesex district, and in 2020, she joined the Ward 1 Democratic Committee. Gabriela most recently served as the External Relations Manager at the New England Aquarium, leading efforts to create a resilient and inclusive downtown waterfront accessible to all Bostonians, particularly BIPOC and non-English speaking communities. Previously, as Associate Director of the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus, she focused on advancing women in leadership roles statewide, including through candidate training and campaign management support. Gabriela also contributes as a guest trainer for Emerge Massachusetts, mentoring women interested in pursuing political office or campaign management positions.