February 2025 Student Spotlight

Aura Jimenez is Executive Operations Manager at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice (MOERJ) and an MPA candidate

What are some ways equity impacts everyday New Yorkers?
Being Dominican and a native New Yorker (from the Bronx!), I have noticed many New Yorkers are often unaware how inequities impact their daily lives because they’ve grown accustomed to their circumstances. Because something has always been a certain way, it doesn’t make it right or mean that it can’t be improved upon. For instance, some of the ways that inequities impact us daily include access to quality education, affordable healthcare and housing, or easy access to transportation, healthy foods, and parks. Equity is the solution! It ensures that all New Yorkers have access to all these resources without going out of their way or travel to another borough.

Why do you believe everyone is so focused on equity right now?
I believe it’s a culmination of what we’ve seen in the last few years. This includes our awakenings due to the pandemic, but also shifts across both the population and political landscapes. The pandemic really forced us to be still – it literally stopped us all in our tracks. That created a broader awareness around what was happening. It encouraged us to look beyond ourselves, engage with our communities, and confront the obvious disparities present in many aspects of life.

Can you tell us some challenges you face as Executive Operations Manager at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice?
I believe that anyone who works in equity understands that an ongoing challenge is ensuring that people understand just what equity is, just how important equity is and also that it does impact everyone. A large part of my approach to this work is ensuring that people can make those connections regardless of their identity because we are truly all in this together.

What are some projects you’ve worked on or overseen?
I directly collaborate with the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and Chief Content Officer in managing special projects such as implementing the 2022 Racial Justice Charter Amendments. This initiative, mandated by many New Yorkers and voted for at an unprecedented level, led to our office’s transition into a mayoral agency. It also signifies that we are focusing on putting racial equity at the heart of the city. Anyone who knows New York City, understands that diversity is its superpower. Working closely with leadership, I’m creating change that will be felt for generations.

Can you tell us about your MPA experience at the Marxe School thus far? Do you have any favorite classes, professors, or lessons you’ve learned from?
My experience at the Marxe School has been incredible. As a part-time student, I was hesitant about returning to school while working; however, I found that this program is tailored for students like me. As the first in my family to pursue a master’s degree, the Marxe School has provided me with the flexibility and support I needed to carry out this goal, while also building a sense of community. I’ve enjoyed taking several classes with Dr. Alexis Perrotta, which helped me choose my concentration in Urban Development and Sustainability. She is a great professor who fostered my love for data and statistics! One important lesson I’ve learned through this experience is to reach out to my professors when I need help with my schoolwork—they’re there to support you!