Somerville Community Coordinator Aman Enters City Council Race

SOMERVILLE, MA — Somerville City Hall Community Coordinator Stephenson Aman is running for city councilor in Ward 2.

Aman is also a youth sports coach and advocate for the youth and disabled.

"I have lived in this community and benefited in ways most people cannot imagine from the kindness of those around me. I have felt the need to give back to this city in any way I can," Aman said. "Working for the city as an outreach coordinator, I spend my time trying to help those who are unaware of most of the services the city has to offer that can make a real difference in people’s lives. I want to serve on the City Council, so these same people are represented in the governing of the city."

A son of Haitian immigrants, Aman grew up in a single-parent household and later in the foster care system. A principal at Charlestown High School recognized Aman's potential, and he was elected student body president and accepted into college.

Tragedy struck during Aman's first year at the University of Massachusetts, when a traffic accident left him wheelchair-bound. During his recovery, he learned to walk with a cane and finished his bachelor's degree in political science.

"Stephenson's voice and lived experience are exactly what the City Council is missing and needs in these times," Diane Asadorian Masters, former chair of the Somerville Democratic City Committee, said in a statement. "His triumphs over extreme hardship and his service to this community are extraordinary. His mentorship of young people and dedication to being a voice for those invisible in the community are just some of the reasons I wholeheartedly endorse him. I can't wait to see the good he will do."

Aman was elected president of the Mystic Apartments Tenants Association in 2015, starting a lifelong commitment to food security, adult education and youth athletics. He continues his community advocacy by working for the city as a community liaison, helping underserved residents participate in the census and get vaccinated.

Aman has also served on the Somerville Education Foundation and co-chairs the SomerVision 2040 Committee. His priorities include increasing funding for schools and youth programs, expanding affordable housing efforts and focusing on environmental justice in the most vulnerable communities.

"I am excited to support Stephenson Aman in his bid for City Council in Ward 2," School Committee member Ilana Krepchin, who represents Ward 2, said. "Through his past experiences on the board of the Somerville Education Foundation and coaching youth sports, he has shown his commitment to our youngest residents. As a renter and former President of the Mystic Apartments Tenants Association, he understands what our most vulnerable residents need. Join me in supporting this new voice for the City Council."