Joseph Bonilla is a community organizer and policy advocate dedicated to the Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) mission of reclaiming our democracy and putting power back into the hands of the people. His work is rooted in the belief that the systems dictating our lives—from higher education to labor rights—must be community-driven and held accountable to the “New Majority”.
Joseph brings a wealth of experience in bridging grassroots organizing with institutional oversight. He served as a Commissioner on the Massachusetts Commission on Higher Education Quality and Affordability, where he fought to ensure that the “total cost of attendance” for public colleges includes the real-life barriers our neighbors face: housing, food, and mental health. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on race-conscious admissions, Joseph served on the Advisory Council for the Advancement of Representation in Education (ACARE), advocating for lawful, bold strategies to protect access for historically marginalized and underrepresented students across the Commonwealth.
A first-generation college student and cum laude graduate of Westfield State University, Joseph’s leadership began on the ground. As President of the Student Government Association, he managed a $400,000 budget and oversaw more than 50 student organizations with a relentless focus on equity-driven reform. His previous work as Vice President of Student Equity led to vital institutional changes, ensuring university systems honored the lived names and dignity of transgender and gender-nonconforming community members.
At Neighbor to Neighbor, Joseph leverages his disciplined approach to policy analysis and organizing strategy to translate community priorities into durable, systems-level change. Whether he is emceeing a “Working People Against ICE” rally or advising on statewide education reform, Joseph is committed to building the “shield” of credibility and the “sword” of collective action that our movement requires to win.