We are three student journalists from the Newton Chinese Language School, and we had the opportunity to speak with Mayor Laredo after his inauguration. During our conversation, we were pleased to hear him share several points that revealed his commitment to the community.
First, Laredo highlighted the importance of local organizations, citing Newton Chinese Language School as an example. “The work that you do is wonderful. It’s really important to the city that we promote all the organizations that are working together.” When asked whether he would continue former Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s tradition of attending our school’s New Year performances, Laredo responded, “I’d love to do that. One of our goals is to be all over the city at events like these … It’s fun and shows support for the community.
Laredo also emphasized academics, saying, “I’m a huge believer in strong academics … you should have challenging coursework.” At the same time, he advocated for involvement outside the classroom: “It makes no difference to me what you do, but you’ve got to do something in high school to be involved with the school because then you’re happier. You have more fun.” Reflecting on his own experiences, Laredo added, “When you look back on your education, the classroom’s important, but what you really remember are the friendships… the time you hung out with your friends after track practice or after band practice.”
Additionally, Laredo spoke about his plans for high-quality education: “As a member of the School Committee … I want to ensure funding for the schools.” He stressed that every student must feel welcome, safe, and supported. “If you don’t have that, kids can’t learn. If you do, they learn very well.”
Mayor Laredo’s commitment to culture, education, and community was inspiring, and it motivated us to stay involved.
Jiarong, Jiayi, and Brian
Newton Chinese Language School
