Felix D. Arroyo

Felix D. Arroyo (born 1948) was a city councilor (at-large) in Boston, Massachusetts, United States from January 2003 to January 2008.

Personal Life and Background

Felix D. Arroyo was raised in a public housing project in Puerto Rico by his late father, Felicito Arroyo, a World War II Veteran and police detective, and his late mother, Elisa Arroyo, a garment seamstress and an ILGWU member. Arroyo completed his undergraduate studies and received a Masters in Secondary Education at the University of Puerto Rico.Councillor Arroyo was the first member of his family to earn a college degree. Councilor Arroyo continued with his graduate studies at Harvard University, MIT, and the University of Puerto Rico.

Professional Accomplishments

A long-time resident of Boston, he taught at Springfield College, UMass Boston, Roxbury Community College, Boston University, and Emmanuel College. Arroyo ran for the Boston School Committee in 1981 and 1983, becoming the first Latino to ever run citywide and the first Latino to ever pass a primary. In 1984 Arroyo founded the Latino Democratic Committee, the first statewide Latino political organization in Massachusetts. In 1984 Arroyo served as the Latin American Affairs Director for United States Senator John Kerry. Served in Mayor Raymond L. Flynn's cabinet from 1985 until 1992. In 1992, he resigned his salaried position as the Director of Personnel for the City of Boston to take an unpaid position as a member of the Boston School Committee. Arroyo would later serve as Vice President and President of the Boston School Committee.