Pakistani-American Sumbul Siddiqui elected mayor of Cambridge

Pakistani-American Sumbul Siddiqui, a legal aid attorney, has been elected as mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, winning confidence of her fellow city councilors.

Siddiqui’s election marks another high-profile example of American inclusiveness in these times of polarizing politics. And she was conscious of the importance of inclusivity in her remarks after being sworn in as mayor of the city.

“I’m committed to equity, inclusivity. and putting others first. That is exactly what I will strive to do for the next two years as your mayor,” she said, while noting that her office will open to all.

American Muslims including a sizable community of Pakistani-Americans cheered the news and several congratulated Siddiqui on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. Siddiqui’s  elevation to the leadership position as mayor of the important city comes amid an ongoing heated debate over immigration. According to Boston Globe, Sumbul Siddiqui is the first ever Muslim woman elected as mayor of Cambridge.

Another Pakistani-American Sadaf Jaffer earned accolades by becoming mayor of Montgomery township in New Jersey last year.

Siddiqui, who moved to the United States in her infancy, expressed her resolve to addressing some of the key issues facing public institutions.

“As mayor, I am committed to leading this council as we look ahead to a new decade. We will rise to meet the challenges facing our community — from creating more affordable housing and economic opportunity to closing the achievement gap and improving our response to instances of racism and bias in our public institutions,” she said.

“At the same time, we will remain engaged with regional issues like climate resilience and investment.”

Sumbul is a long time Cambridge resident, and brings her expertise as a legal aid attorney to the Council. She holds a BA in Public Policy from Brown University and a law degree from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

According to her biography on the City Council website, Sumbul moved to the United States at the age of 2 with her parents and twin brother from Karachi.

Her family won a lottery to enter Cambridge’s affordable housing system, which placed them in Rindge Towers in North Cambridge and then in Roosevelt Towers in East Cambridge, the biography says.

Sumbul has been an active student and as a Cambridge Rindge and Latin student, Sumbul co-founded the Cambridge Youth Involvement Subcommittee, now the Cambridge Youth Council, currently in its 15th year.

She also won the Cambridge Peace and Justice Award in recognition of her activism.

Sumbul served as an AmeriCorps fellow at New Profit, a Boston nonprofit organization dedicated to improving social mobility for children, families, and their communities.