OUR DISTRICT FACES CHALLENGES
Systemic and generational unfairness have limited the potential of hardworking families in District 7. There is so much housing shortage, economic injustice, and underinvestment in community centers, parks, playgrounds, public health, and education.
However, we have the power to change these injustices. District 7 is the heart of Boston, rich in culture, history, and resilience. We are stronger as a community if we tap our full potential. That potential is why I rolled my sleeves to be your District 7 councilor. I deeply care about empowering the hardworking people of our district to help us realize our potential and so much more.
We deserve someone with independent leadership and lived experience who is community-driven and willing to meet the moment and address the challenges we face as a community.
Meet Said Abdikarim
Thirty years ago, Said Abdirahman Abdikarim got the nickname "the kid with the long name" while growing up in District 7. You may also know him as the orange shirt guy because of the first shirt given to him in Boston. That orange shirt symbolized this city where he received opportunities and became part of.
As a young boy, growing up in District 7 wasn't easy for him. He moved between public housing units and bounced between Boston public schools. Abdikarim lost friends to substance abuse, gun violence, and the criminal justice system. His belief in the potential for a better District 7 never wavered amid these challenges.
Abdikarim's personal experiences shaped his passion for public service and fueled his decision to leave a successful career in the technology industry. He chose instead to work in the nonprofit sector, where he could focus on policy advocacy and directly advocate for the communities that had shaped him.
He devoted his energy to fair policies, civic engagement, and advocacy, directly serving the residents of District 7. He has a proven track record as a nonprofit leader in getting things done.
Community Spaces
As a young black boy, losing friends to gun violence, substance abuse and the criminal justice system, I found refuge in sports, community centers, art classes, parks, and playgrounds. These community spaces allowed me to momentarily escape my trauma and imagine a better future.