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Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Uptown and the Bronx, Janet Peguero, the Deputy Bronx Borough President, has been a translator for as long as she can remember. From a young age, she served as an interpreter for her parents—a task that many children of immigrant parents relate to, bridging the gap between their native language and the English-speaking world around them. This early experience instilled in her a unique skill set and perspective that she now leverages to advocate for her community.
“I truly feel that our adversities are our superpowers,” Peguero says. “I think that oftentimes we see it as something that’s heavy…but now that I’m in this space in my career, I truly see it as a set up for success.”
Listening to the Heartbeat of the Community
The Dominican-born, New York City-raised Deputy Borough President was appointed to office in January 2022. In her tenure thus far, she has laid the groundwork for uplifting causes personal to those in her community—from economic development to a more supportive maternal health infrastructure—all while breaking barriers to entry. With her appointment, Peguero became the first immigrant woman of Dominican descent to take on the job.
As the 2024 election cycle approaches, Peguero is once again donning the mantle of a translator, this time for her extended family—the Bronx community she serves. Her approach is simple yet powerful: listen to the people and amplify their voices.
The Decision to Focus on What Matters
The election cycle is full of individuals and organizations debating what issues are important to any given sector of the electorate, but Peguero isn’t guessing; she’s listening.
Before assuming her current role, Peguero honed her listening ear while volunteering to canvas for local candidates running for office. She quickly realized that the key to empowering the Latino community wasn’t simply registering people to vote. Instead, it is in the legwork of educating community members about what each candidate stands for in relation to the concerns and issues that directly impact Latino lives.
“Most of our communities are just drilled with the understanding of our national elections, right?” Peguero asks. “It’s just the presidential election, and it stops there—with many unaware that the hyper-local elections are really the driving force behind real change. These are the elected officials that are introducing and voting on laws that directly impact our day-to-day.”
“Most of our communities are just drilled with the understanding of our national elections, right? It’s just the presidential election and it stops there—not knowing that the hyperlocal elections are really the driving force behind real change.”
Janet Peguero
Bridging the Gap Between Government and Community
In her position as Deputy Borough President, Peguero has made it her mission to bridge the gap between the government and the community she represents. She understands that many feel disconnected from the political process and distrustful of the government, which often leads to a reluctance to share their true concerns.
“Now that I’m in these spaces, part of my work is constantly connecting with the Hispanic community and [asking], ‘If I’m unable to connect with the people that I’m representing, then am I fulfilling this mission of a public servant?’” Peguero shares. “As a public servant that grew up Uptown, I’m able to lift the veil and get a little bit deeper on what the challenges could be.”
By tapping into her ability to connect with the Hispanic community on a deeper level, Peguero has identified key issues that resonate most strongly: economic development, financial literacy, maternal health, education, housing, food, and community resources.
Advocating for Meaningful Change
Peguero’s advocacy efforts extend beyond simply identifying the issues; she actively works to ensure that any development or investment in the Bronx truly benefits the community. For instance, when developers propose new housing projects, she advocates for the inclusion of larger, family-friendly units rather than just studios or one-bedroom apartments.
“When it comes to economic development, I’ve experienced the effects of disinvestment,” Peguero says. “Now I get to be a part of the change that I wanted to see when I was younger.”
“I think that the Latino Hispanic population has yet to understand its superpower. And part of my work is to unveil that and to amplify that Latinos are the largest minority group in the country. That means that we have great influence in how elections turn out.”
Janet Peguero
Unlocking the Power of the Latino Vote
As the 2024 election cycle unfolds, Peguero hopes more community members and elected officials will zero in on the issues of consequence. With over thirty-six million eligible Latino voters, according to the Pew Research Center, the Latino electorate has the potential to wield significant influence in shaping the political landscape.
Her call to action is clear: “We should definitely unite, come together, and really make an assessment on the needs of the Hispanic community and how can we hold our candidates accountable for those needs, because we are the driving force,” Peguero says.
As Peguero explains, tapping into this collective voting power could help move the needle in positive directions on the most urgent issues in the community.
“I think that the Latino population has yet to understand its superpower. Part of my [job] is to unveil that [superpower] and to amplify that Latinos are the largest minority group in the country,” Peguero says. “That means that we have great influence in how elections turn out.”
Through her unwavering commitment to active listening and her deep understanding of the community she serves, Janet Peguero is paving the way for a more engaged and empowered Latino electorate—one that can truly shape the future of their communities and the nation as a whole.
