LYNN – “First of all, it makes me extremely proud to represent Lynn like this,” said Faustina Cuevas, Lynn’s Chief of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Cuevas was recently honored with the prestigious Mayor Theodore Mann Regional Leadership Award by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).
Cuevas, a Lynn native, received the award during MAPC’s Winter Council meeting on Wednesday. Established in 1996 in honor of Newton’s longest-serving mayor, Theodore Mann, the award recognizes municipal leaders from the Greater Boston area who demonstrate exceptional commitment to regional collaboration and leadership. As the first DEI officer to be honored, Cuevas sees the recognition as a milestone in the broader movement for equity.
“To be the first Lynner recognized with this award is absolutely humbling, and I’m just proud of my community,” Cuevas said.
“This award is bigger than me,” she said. “It’s a testament to the work being done across Massachusetts to make municipal government more inclusive. DEI is under attack in many places, but here, we’re showing that it’s still a priority. This award sets a positive precedent for what’s possible.”
Cuevas has served as Lynn’s inaugural Chief DEI officer since her appointment in 2021, where she also works closely as a senior advisor to Mayor Jared C. Nicholson. Under her leadership, the city has significantly enhanced its commitment to equity and inclusion, notably through the expansion of language access services and the celebration of diverse heritage events at City Hall.
“Since I started in 2021, we have really ramped up our language access,” Cuevas said. “English is not my first language, and I was my mom’s interpreter my entire life — including at City Hall. I didn’t want others to have to experience that, so I was determined to make language access a priority.”
Cuevas also took part in the city’s equity audit, gathering public feedback on municipal services. The results highlighted the positive impact of her initiatives, with residents noting improved accessibility and inclusion in city operations.
“The public told us we’re doing these things really well, and it has made a tremendous shift in how they feel welcomed at City Hall,” she said. “This is their building, and they should feel like it belongs to them.”
In addition to her work in Lynn, Cuevas has taken on leadership at the state level. Last fall, her peers elected her as chair of the Massachusetts DEI Municipal Coalition, a group representing over 50 municipalities working to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion statewide. She has also played a pivotal role with MAPC’s Racial Equity Advancement & Collaborative Hub (REACH) initiative since 2021, helping municipalities implement equity-based policies.
MAPC Executive Director Marc Draisen commended Cuevas for her “deep commitment to equity and justice,” praising her ability to center marginalized groups and communities in her work.
Mayor Nicholson expressed admiration for Cuevas during the award presentation, saying, “Faustina is a tremendous leader here in our community and as evidenced by this award, at the regional level. She brings contagious energy, strong vision, sincere compassion, and tireless devotion to all she does, and we’re very proud to see her leadership recognized by this award.”
Cuevas emphasized that her mother, who raised her as a single parent in Lynn, played a crucial role in her journey.
“I really have to give a shout-out to my mom. She raised me in Lynn as a single mom, and everything I am is a testament to how hard she fought. She came to this country with immigrant values of striving for more and trying to give her kids a better life. She continues to support me, and she’s the reason I’m able to do everything I do.”
Cuevas’s journey in DEI work began in higher education, where she spent a decade advocating for social justice and institutional change. At the University of Minnesota, she founded the College of Education and Human Development’s first DEI committee in 2015. She later served as Assistant Director of the Social Justice Resource Center at Northeastern University, deepening her focus on racial equity and community-driven policy.
“I’ve always been passionate about making systems more equitable,” she said. “The disparities I saw in education pushed me to do this work. And now, being able to apply those lessons in my hometown is incredibly meaningful.”
While Cuevas is honored by the recognition, she credits her success to the collaborative efforts of her team and the city’s leadership.
“I don’t do this alone,” she said. “I have an incredible support system in City Hall and in the community. This award isn’t just for me — it’s for everyone who believes in making our city a more equitable place.”
Despite the challenges facing DEI work nationally, Cuevas remains focused on local impact.
“The way we see it, local change is where the magic happens. No matter what noise comes out of Washington, we’re focused on the work we’re doing right here in our city.”
