About the Department of Racial and Social Justice
The Department of Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) leads the City of Somerville’s equity efforts and collaborates with city departments, constituents, and stakeholders to eliminate the institutional and structural systems that create racial inequities, social disparities, and injustices.
Contact Information
Amanda Nagim-Williams
Director
617-625-6600 x2063
anagimwilliams@somervillema.gov
Catherine Nakato
Deputy Director
617-625-6600 x2060
cnakato@somervillema.gov
Haakon Brooks
Public Information Officer
Office: 617-625-6600 ext 2066
hbrooks@somervillema.gov
Beth Beaverson
RSJ Investigator
(617) 625-6600 x2067
bbeaverson@somervillema.gov
Adrienne Pomeroy
ADA Coordinator
(617) 625-6600 x2059
apomeroy@somervillema.gov
Elijah Booker
Project Specialist
(617) 625-6600 x2064
ebooker@somervillema.gov
Leonor Galindo
Community Engagement Specialist
(617) 625-6600 x2061
lgalindo@somervillema.gov
Hours
Monday - Wednesday
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Friday
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
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We're celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King's life and legacy together at the City's annual MLK Day event on January 17! Organized in collaboration with Somerville Parks and Recreation, the Somerville Public Schools Office of Equity and Excellence, Teen Empowerment, and The Dojo @ Somernova, the event is designed for all ages and will include youth and adult speakers, artistic performances, community tabling, and more.
MLK Day Event Details
- Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Time: 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- Location: Somerville High School (SHS), 81 Highland Ave
- Rain date: Sunday, January 18, 2026 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Somerville High School
The event will take place at SHS. Attendees will be invited to enjoy arts and crafts for all ages, youth performances including speeches, poetry, and music, and a keynote address delivered by Dr. James “Jimmy” McCarty focused on the life and legacy of Dr. King. There will be food and refreshments during the event. Community members are encouraged to RSVP at bit.ly/MLK_2026.
Sponsored by the Human Rights Commission (HRC), high school youth from the City are being invited to participate in the MLK Youth Essay Contest. Students will have the opportunity to write a 250-word essay about the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They will be asked to respond to one of the pre-selected prompts. Two winners will be selected by the HRC and announced at the City of Somerville’s MLK Day Event. Winners will receive free tuition for an online human rights course that will offer professional development opportunities for future opportunities, such as college applications, jobs, etc.
More information about the essay contest is available online.
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The deadline to submit essays is Monday, January 12th at 5 p.m.
The City of Somerville is committed to eliminating institutional and structural racism and its intersections with other forms of oppression. The work of the RSJ Department has prioritized five key areas:
- Public Safety for All
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Commissions (SCPD, SCW, HRC)
- Hate-Bias Incidents Complaint Process
- Creating Structures for Equity
Accessibility Services & ADA Compliance
The City's ADA Division, which leads and manages the City in policy-setting, coordination, and training for ADA compliance, and proactively ensures the City's programs and services are compliant with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable state and local disability rights laws. This division also acts as the City staff liaison to the Commission for Persons with Disabilities and key City staff.
The RSJ Department oversees and supports the work of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), the Somerville Commission for Women (SCW), and the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) through staff attendance and participation in monthly meetings, activities, and events.
1) Contact us: Text the RSJ Department at 781-808-7502 or email rsj@somervillema.gov.
2) Sign up for the Somerville Justice Journal — RSJ's monthly newsletter that highlights updates and announcements from our department, ongoing work from the commissions, and events happening around Somerville.
Programs & Initiatives
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