Guest John Barros journeyed to college from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston and tried to become the best version of himself by participating in numerous activities and leadership roles. He went into the business world at an insurance company right after graduation, thinking that law school could help him further hone his worldview and the best way to be of service. Service came looking for him, though, in the form of a call from home.

The Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, a community development organization for which John had volunteered since before school, was in need of an interim executive director and he was asked to apply. They asked him to stay and, in his thirteen years at the helm, organization built affordable housing and small business space, designed new schools to reengage the community around them, and ended up creating the largest urban land trust in America. When the city’s mayor decided not to run again, he heard another call: this time to run. Though that campaign did not lead to the position he sought, he was asked to be the city’s chief of economic development and now seeks the mayoral position once more.

In this episode, find out from John how returning to what you know and being comfortable with playing the long game can set you up to make true impact, just when home seems ready for you…on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

John Barros, a lifelong resident of Boston’s Roxbury and Dorchester neighborhoods, previously served as the Executive Director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative for more than a dozen years and the Chief of Economic Development for the city until recently when he made the announcement that he is running to be the next mayor of Boston in November 2021.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Hometown Candidate: John Barros on coming home and playing the long game

Roads Taken