Why I Serve

That belief has guided every decision I've made as a lawyer, an advocate, and your State Representative. It's why I spend as much time helping a constituent resolve a problem with a state agency as I do debating legislation at the State House. It's why I believe listening is just as important as leading. And it's why, after two terms representing Pawtucket's District 61, I remain as committed as ever to serving the community that shaped me.

Long before I held elected office, I learned what it feels like to depend on people who believe in you.

My story isn't unique in Pawtucket. It's the story of countless families who came to this country believing that if they worked hard and sacrificed for their children, the next generation would have opportunities they never had. It's the story of parents working multiple jobs, neighbors helping neighbors, and families who refused to give up, even when life became incredibly difficult.

I was born in the United States and spent part of my childhood in the Dominican Republic, where my parents were born. In 2002, my family made Pawtucket our home, and it has been home ever since. I attended Shea High School before continuing my education at the Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and eventually earning my law degree in Boston.

Like many families in our community, our path wasn't easy.

My first job was at the McDonald's on Lonsdale Avenue. I worked while going to school because my family believed education was the surest path to opportunity. When I graduated from law school, I looked into the audience and saw my mother crying. It remains one of the proudest moments of my life—not because of the diploma itself, but because of everything it represented for our family.

The strongest person I have ever known is my mother.

She survived abuse, raised our family through extraordinary hardship, and refused to let those hardships define our future. After losing our home during one of the most difficult periods of our lives, she rebuilt everything from the ground up and eventually created a successful tailoring business through determination, skill, and relentless hard work.

She taught me that courage isn't the absence of fear. Courage is choosing to move forward anyway.

As a teenager, I also made mistakes that introduced me to a justice system that too often defines people by the worst decision they have ever made. I was fortunate to receive a second chance, and even more fortunate to have a family that never stopped believing in me.

That conviction eventually led me to become a lawyer, advocate for immigrant families and healthcare access, and ultimately seek public office.

During my first year in office, a longtime community advocate told me that, for the first time, she felt seen while testifying before a legislative committee. That moment reminded me that representation is about far more than occupying a seat. Sometimes simply showing up, listening, and making people feel like they belong is where public service begins.

Some of the work I am proudest of never becomes a headline. It's helping a constituent finally receive unemployment benefits after months of delays, helping families access healthcare or food assistance, and making sure people know they are not alone.

I've also learned that leadership begins with listening. During debate over Rhode Island's assault weapons legislation, I met with constituents who opposed the bill, the lead sponsor, and a local Pawtucket gun store owner. We reviewed the legislation together and made changes that strengthened it while preserving its public safety goals. Respectful dialogue doesn't weaken democracy—it strengthens it.

One of my favorite moments as your State Representative happened during a mock legislative session I hosted at the State House for students from Goff Middle School. Later, I encouraged one student to consider running for office someday. She told me she wasn't a good public speaker. I smiled and told her, 'Neither was I. What gave me the courage to speak wasn't confidence. It was loving my community more than I feared speaking in public.'

Years ago, people believed in me before I fully believed in myself. Today, I try to do the same for others.

Whether I'm helping one constituent navigate government, casting a difficult vote, or encouraging a young person to find their voice, my purpose remains the same:

To make sure people know they matter.

With gratitude,
Leonela “Leo” Felix