Our community supports Naima:
“Naima is exactly the type of leader we need on the Council - she’s deeply grounded in our community, and knows how to listen and to lead. Her years teaching at Somerville High have given her a deep understanding of the issues in our community, and her experiences as an immigrant, the parent of a young child, and an engaged community member will make her an outstanding City Councilor.”
Ben Ewen-Campen,
Somerville City Council
“Naima has the experience in and commitment to Somerville, the progressive values, the passion to help people who need help, and the smarts and life experience to do this job well. She has already contributed so much to our schools and community. She advocated successfully to get more money for the schools, better pay for paraprofessionals, and to establish climate change education. Naima would do a terrific job of representing us.”
Mark Niedergang,
Former Somerville City Council, Ward 5
“Naima's dedication to addressing crucial issues and her blend of lived experiences as a first-generation immigrant, educator, mother, and community member uniquely qualify her to serve our city with passion and purpose. Naima's tireless efforts in organizing for a 10% school budget increase and living wage for teachers' aides, as well as her leadership in advancing climate change education, showcase her commitment to the well-being of our community.”
Erika Uyterhoeven,
State Representative, 27th Middlesex
“I have seen the dedication and persistence that Naima will bring to the City Council in the years we have worked together advocating for better funding for our schools and better climate policies for our city. Her constituents will benefit from her experience learning and teaching languages, which has made her an excellent listener. We share the experience of immigrating to this country and to this city and making our homes here, and we share a deep commitment to making housing more affordable so that other families of all means can come here and join our community. I am very happy to endorse Naima for City Councilor!”
Will Mbah,
Former City Councilor, At Large
“I am proud to endorse Naima Sait as the candidate most prepared to serve Ward 5 on the Somerville City Council. Naima understands that housing affordability is the number one issue facing our community, and she supports a set of progressive policies to keep Somerville affordable, from rent stabilization and the transfer fee to zoning reforms and funding changes.”
Mike Connolly,
State Representative, 26th Middlesex
“As Vice-Chair of Somerville's School Committee, I am excited to endorse Naima Sait for Ward 5 City Council. Naima’s years of successful organizing with the Somerville Educators Union helped win a historic increase in the school department's budget, the salary of our paraprofessionals, and establish a climate change curriculum. She is the ideal candidate to help secure desperately needed funding for new school buildings. Her commitment to our community and forthright honesty will help improve transparency and accountability citywide.”
Sarah Phillips,
Somerville School Committee, Ward 3
"Naima's lived experience and vision for leadership are crucial at a time where housing is the top challenge faced by Somerville residents, especially low-income renters and immigrants. Her commitments to increasing municipal tools for truly affordable housing and tenant protections are what we need to slow the displacement crisis.
Naima has also taken action for language justice by leveraging her multilingual network, connecting volunteers with community-based organizations who need interpreters and translators. Her policy aim to increase access to language services across the city will ensure that every resident feels welcome and empowered in our city, regardless of their linguistic or cultural background."
Nicole E.,
Somerville Renter and Community Organizer
“On behalf of the 100,000+ union members and families in our region, the Greater Boston Labor Council is proud to announce our endorsement for Naima Sait for Somerville City Councilor Ward 5! Our labor champions on City Councils, School Committees, and in Mayors’ offices across the region are essential to creating communities where working people can live and thrive. With strong partnerships, we can continue to make Greater Boston a region for all of us.”
Greater Boston Labor Council
Somerville Educators Union
SEIU Local 888
UAW Region 9A
SEIU 32BJ
“I whole-heartedly support Naima for Ward 5 City Council. I first met Naima as part of advocacy around making a renovated/new Winter Hill school building high performance, healthy and environmentally positive. Naima has been a climate champion at Somerville High and as part of the Somerville Educators Union. She has led the effort that resulted in Somerville being the first and only school district that now will require a climate curriculum in every grade! In my advocacy with Naima I have found her to be a wonderful listener and proactive leader. She is also passionate about other issues I care about including affordable housing, mental health and language justice. I believe that her perspective as an immigrant and parent will be assets and positively impact the contributions she will make as a member of the City Council.”
Courtney Koslow,
Ward 5 resident, Winter Hill parent
“I support Naima Sait for Ward 5 Somerville City Council. As an immigrant, educator, wife and mother, I share the same concerns as Naima about the future of our city and also wish Somerville to be a welcoming city to all. Naima is a committed, reliable, insightful and caring individual who has done a lot for our schools and for the city. I believe she truly cares about all people, and I believe the same dedication she showed toward her students as an educator, she’ll show toward Somerville residents. She has my full support!”
Adda Santos,
Ward 5 resident, Somerville High School Social Studies educator
“Ms. Sait’s survey responses were thoughtful and detailed, and we know from her work in the Somerville Public Schools that she is dedicated and deeply informed about the needs of the community. She’s got a number of very achievable ideas for ways that Somerville could increase the availability of housing near transit. Affordable, stable housing is a top priority for her.
5 out of 5 🏠”