Councilman John Goncalves, Providence City Council – Ward 1
Read Councilman John Goncalves’s Providence City Council bio here.
Councilman John Goncalves has been a resident of Ward 1 as a Fox Point and East Side community member for over 25 years. He attended Vartan Gregorian, and he frequented The Fox Point Boys and Girls Club & the Providence Public Library as a child. Despite growing up in a single-parent household, John’s unwavering resilience and passion for learning eventually led him to graduate with a B.A. from Brown University and also a master’s degree from Brown University.
Long Version – Campaign Video – John Goncalves For Ward 1
Goncalves is a passionate educator at the Wheeler School in Providence and a community advocate who has worked to advance issues on education, environmental justice, and neighborhood quality of life. John formerly served as a board member of the Fox Point Neighborhood Association and currently serves on the Brown Alumni Association Board of Governors. Previously, he helped spearhead the Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations, an organization that includes representation from over 19 neighborhood associations across the city, including the Fox Point Neighborhood Association, The Wayland Square Neighborhood Association, The College Hill Neighborhood Association, and The Mile of History Neighborhood Association in Ward 1. He has been a proponent for bringing neighborhoods across the city together in order to work collaboratively to tackle common neighborhood challenges and city-wide issues. He was named Providence Monthly’s Who To Watch 2020 for his work in spearheading the coalition.
Previously, John served as an educator for several years in Minnesota, where he was a faculty leader serving on the school’s diversity and inclusion committees and as Faculty Council Chair and Annual Fund Chair.
POLICY/POLITICAL EXPERIENCE:
Outside of being an educator, Councilman John Goncalveshas done work for several politicians and has been involved in many political campaigns including roles as Chair of the Minnesota Senate District 60 Committee, Administrative Director, Strategy Director, and Policy Aide/Advisor in key city council, mayoral, attorney general, and senatorial races.
John previously served as an elected board member of the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association, the oldest and largest neighborhood association in Minneapolis. Furthermore, John has served as a mentor for the Big Brother Big Sister of the Greater Twin Cities organization.
Additionally, Councilman John Goncalves is the author of the children’s book It’s Important: Teaching The Importance of Kindness, Empathy, Inclusivity, Difference and Compassion. His books are designed to embrace multiculturalism and diversity and to promote social-emotional development and character growth.
Shortened Version – Campaign Video – John Goncalves For Ward 1
“John Goncalves has been a part of my life since he was 5 years old. I have always found him to be honest, dedicated, and hardworking. He truly cares about the community he grew up in. I can’t think of a better person to help Ward 1 become a stronger and a more vibrant community.”
John Goncalves is a Democrat who champions neighborhood quality of life issues that put people and community first. John fight earnestly for Ward 1 taxpayers and resident services, Providence public education, affordable housing, environmental justice, social justice, women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights, smart development, and issues that will improve the quality of life of children, families, and senior citizens in Ward 1 and Providence.
John currently lives with his partner on the East Side of Providence.
