East Boston High Student Picked for the Umana Fellowship

East Boston High School student David Pacheco, who is heading into his senior year in the fall, has been picked to serve in this year’s Mario Umana Fellowship in Public Service.

Pacheco, whose family immigrated from El Salvador last year, is currently participating in the prestigious public service fellowships this summer. Pacheco has been dealing with constituent services in City Councilor Lydia Edward’s District 1 office.

The Fellowship, co-founded by Rep. Adrian Madaro and East Boston Neighborhood Health Center’s Ernani DeAraujo, seeks to give Eastie students opportunities similar to the Boston Latin School based Ward Fellowship Program that both Madaro and DeAraujo participated in while students there.

“Right now I’m doing research for Councilor Edward’s office for the East Boston Master Plan,” said Pacheco . “I’ve been researching the problems in the neighborhood and what is necessary for a neighborhood to be successful.”

Pacheco said he got interested in the Umana Fellowship because there was an opportunity to work for Councilor Edwards.

“She seems to be a very interesting person,” said Pacheco. “I wanted to spend my summer working with and for people and Councilor Edwards seems to be very good at working for people.”

Pacheco, who plays guitar and is an artist, said back home politics is a very complicated situation.

“Sometimes there are not the right people in the government and those people are not interested in helping people,” said Pacheco. “So I’ve always been interested in how you improve helping people.”

Aside from doing research for the East Boston Master Plan, Pacheco is also attending hearings and council meetings at City Hall and helping Councilor Edwards and her staff prepare for hearings.

“Wednesdays are probably the busiest days with the City Council hearings,” said Pacheco. “But it’s exciting. I really enjoy the work a lot because it’s all about helping people.”

Councilor Edwards said she’s been nothing put pleased with Pacheco’s work in her office.

“My office is thrilled to host David Pacheco, a recipient of the Mario Umana Fellowship in Public Service, this summer,” said Councilor Edwards. “David is conducting research on issues ranging from housing and quality of life to immigration, and we are grateful for his contributions.”

The late Judge Mario Umana, a liberal Democrat who as a senator and judge inspired his family and constituents in Eastie with the philosophy that we all have an obligation and duty to contribute to the subtotal of humanity. Since 2010 his legacy has been honored in a very special way through the Mario Umana Fellowship in Public Service.

““Ernani (DeAraujo) and I started the Umana Fellowship after participating in a similar program at Boston Latin School” said Rep. Madaro. “This experience exposed us to the inner-workings of government and policy by pairing us with public officials and leaders across the city. We believe that East Boston students should have this mentorship opportunity, as well. The Umana Fellowship gives our local youth the tools they need to explore a career in public service and help them develop into the community leaders of tomorrow.”

DeAraujo added, “Now in its eighth year of operation, the Umana Fellowship has had an impact on so many students and we’re especially grateful to our sponsors including City Councilor Lydia Edwards this year.”

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