JD Mazuera Arias | CHCI

Young Hispanic man who went to college as a "dreamer" aspires to ...

Juan Diego (JD) Mazuera Arias was born in Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia, and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has a bachelor's degree in political science from Queens University of Charlotte and a master's degree in public administration from New York University.

JD founded the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and currently serves as its vice president of civic engagement. Previously, he worked as a senior government affairs assistant for the Century Foundation, a progressive think tank, and as a legislative fellow for Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. 

East alumnus Mazuera-Arias runs for city council – The Eagle

This is JD's first time running for public office.

Supports targeting and incentivizing investment in low-risk, high-impact areas.

Supports encouraging investments in "low-risk, high-impact areas."

- Supports encouraging investments in "low-risk, high-impact areas."

Economy

As of July 22, 2025, Juan Diego (J.D.) Mazuera Arias’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Services

Supports increasing affordable units within mixed-use developments.

Supports increasing affordable units in mixed-use developments.

Supports exploring rent stabilization pilots and tenant protections to help residents stay housed.

Supports trying rent stabilization and improving renter protection laws to help residents stay housed.

Supports expanding down payment assistance and ownership pathways for first-time and long-time Charlotte residents.

Supports expanding down payment assistance and ownership pathways for Charlotte residents.

Supports preserving naturally occurring affordable housing and supporting legacy homeowners.

Supports preserving affordable housing and supporting legacy homeowners.

- Supports increasing affordable units in mixed-use developments.
- Supports trying rent stabilization and improving renter protection laws to help residents stay housed.
- Supports expanding down payment assistance and ownership pathways for Charlotte residents.
- Supports preserving affordable housing and supporting legacy homeowners.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports expanding non-police emergency response services, including mental health crisis teams and reintegration support.

Supports incorporating trauma-informed practices and community participation in all public safety strategies.

- Supports expanding non-police emergency response services, including mental health crisis teams and reintegration support.
- Supports incorporating trauma-informed practices and community participation in all public safety strategies.

Public Safety

Supports funding mobility hubs and bike lanes in transit deserts, especially near new developments.

Supports funding transportation hubs and bike lanes, especially near new developments and areas with little public transportation.

Supports improving the frequency and reliability of bus service along Central, Monroe, Albemarle, and The Plaza.

Supports the full build-out of the LYNX Silver Line and CityLYNX Gold Line with input from East Charlotte.

Supports completely building the LYNX Silver Line and CityLYNX Gold Line with input from East Charlotte.

Supports microtransit and accessible pedestrian pathways near senior housing and schools.

Supports microtransit and accessible walkways near senior housing and schools.

- Supports funding transportation hubs and bike lanes, especially near new developments and areas with little public transportation.
- Supports improving the frequency and reliability of bus service along Central, Monroe, Albemarle, and The Plaza.
- Supports completely building the LYNX Silver Line and CityLYNX Gold Line with input from East Charlotte.
- Supports microtransit and accessible walkways near senior housing and schools.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Education

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Juan Diego (J.D.) Mazuera Arias

Supports the full build-out of the LYNX Silver Line and CityLYNX Gold Line with input from East Charlotte residents.

Advocated for racial and disability equity in education, workforce development, healthcare, and economic policy.

Juan Diego Mazuera Arias is from Charlotte, North Carolina. He has a bachelorâs degree in political science from Queens University of Charlotte and a masterâs degree in public administration from New York Universityâs Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. He is the son of Colombian immigrants.

Juan previously served as the Chair of the Hispanic Democratic Caucus of Mecklenburg County and the founder of the North Carolina Latino Political Caucus. He also served as Communications Director for the Hispanic-American Democrats of Mecklenburg County and worked on multiple political campaigns as a field organizer and campus organizer. He was a legislative Fellow, part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, which gave him access to many of these opportunities. He went on to serve in Congress as a Legislative Fellow in the Office of U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, where he co-led her immigration policy portfolio, advocating for humane immigration reforms and stronger protections for immigrant communities. JD then joined The Century Foundation, a leading progressive think tank, as a Senior Government Affairs Assistant, advocating for racial and disability equity in education, workforce development, healthcare, and economic policy. JD volunteered for the campaigns of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton when he was 17, but this was just the beginning. In less than 10 years, he had worked for the Democratic National Committee, co-led the immigration policy for Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and became a senior government affairs assistant to the Century Foundation where he lobbied members of Congress and the president's staff.

Buket Urgen

Marjorie Molina holds a master's degree in management from UNC Charlotte, a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Arizona State University, and an associate's degree from Central Piedmont Community College. She lives with her children in East Charlotte.

Marjorie is a financial services professional. She has worked in the banking and financial services sector. She also owned an auto-repair business in Charlotte that provided a variety of services, which she launched in 2007. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she worked for Dream Key Partners, where she assisted Spanish-speaking Charlotte families in accessing rent, mortgage, and utilities assistance.

Marjorie Molina - Ballotpedia

Marjorie is currently a member of the Charlotte City Council, representing District 5. She was first elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2023.

Believes economic investments should reflect community priorities and benefit local residents.

Supports workforce development and small business support.

Believes in "the economic empowerment of more women in our community."

- Believes economic investments should reflect community priorities and benefit local residents.
- Supports workforce development and small business support.
- Believes in "the economic empowerment of more women in our community."

Supports expanding Charlotte's role in family-centered investments and ensuring access to mental and behavioral health care.

- Supports expanding Charlotte's role in family-centered investments and ensuring access to mental and behavioral health care.

Helped protect over 170 families through city-led acquisition and stabilization efforts.

Supports protecting existing communities, stabilizing neighborhoods, and retaining long-term residents.

- Helped protect over 170 families through city-led acquisition and stabilization efforts.
- Supports protecting existing communities, stabilizing neighborhoods, and retaining long-term residents.

Helped secure a new domestic violence shelter with wraparound services through partnership with City Housing Trust Fund.

- Helped secure a new domestic violence shelter with wraparound services through partnership with City Housing Trust Fund.

Believes in modernizing infrastructure in areas where it is most needed.

As a city council member, advocated for and delivered investments in sidewalks, mobility enhancements, and safety improvements.

As a city council member, advocated for and delivered investments in sidewalks, transportation, and safety.

- Believes in modernizing infrastructure in areas where it is most needed.
- As a city council member, advocated for and delivered investments in sidewalks, transportation, and safety.

As of July 22, 2025, Marjorie Molina’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Marjorie Molina

Marjorie Molina is from East Charlotte. She has a master%E2%80%99s degree in management from UNC Charlotte, a bachelor%E2%80%99s degree in liberal studies from Arizona State University, and an associate%E2%80%99s degree from Central Piedmont Community College. She also holds certificates in business analysis and project management from Central Piedmont Community College. She lives with her children in East Charlotte.

Marjorie is a financial services professional. She worked in the banking and financial services sector. She also owned an auto-repair business in Charlotte that provided a variety of services, which she launched in 2007. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she worked for Dream Key Partners, where she assisted Spanish-speaking Charlotte families in accessing rent, mortgage, and utilities assistance.

Marjorie is currently a member of the Charlotte City Council, representing District 5. She was first elected in 2022 and is currently serving her first term. She was re-elected in 2023.

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Supports expanding Charlotte's role in family-centered investments and advocating for collaboration to ensure access to mental and behavioral health care.

- City council members work together to set and implement city policy. 
- The city council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city.
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 