38 Facts About Sumbul Siddiqui

Sumbul Siddiqui was born on 1988 and is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 77th mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Sumbul Siddiqui succeeded Marc C McGovern in January 2020, becoming the first Muslim mayor in Massachusetts history.

Sumbul Siddiqui immigrated to the United States from Pakistan when she was two years old, with her parents and twin brother.

Sumbul Siddiqui's family moved to Cambridge after receiving a lottery spot in Cambridge's affordable housing system.

Sumbul Siddiqui was raised in Rindge Towers in North Cambridge and Roosevelt Towers in East Cambridge.

Sumbul Siddiqui attended schools in the Cambridge Public School District and graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in 2006, where she was student body president.

Sumbul Siddiqui received a 2006 Peace and Justice Award from the Cambridge Peace Commission.

Sumbul Siddiqui co-founded the Cambridge Youth Council in 2002, which still exists in the city today and has led to many initiatives by student activists.

Sumbul Siddiqui attended Brown University, where she was involved in the university's South Asian Students Association.

Sumbul Siddiqui graduated from Brown in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in public policy and American institutions.

Sumbul Siddiqui later attended the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, graduating in 2014 with a JD.

Sumbul Siddiqui then joined Northeast Legal Aid, where she helped lead the Community Development and Entrepreneurship practice.

Sumbul Siddiqui provided free legal services to local entrepreneurs and small businesses in Lowell, Lawrence, and Lynn.

Sumbul Siddiqui offered office hours at community organizations to offer brief advice related to common legal issues for small businesses.

In October 2018, Councillor Sumbul Siddiqui sponsored numerous community events, including Cambridge Digs DEEP, a series of Citywide forums on racial justice.

In September 2019, Councillor Sumbul Siddiqui was the deciding vote in a controversial project to develop the East Cambridge Courthouse.

Sumbul Siddiqui advocated for more affordable housing in the deal.

Sumbul Siddiqui was elected Mayor on January 6,2020 with a unanimous vote.

In March 2020, Sumbul Siddiqui responded to the COVID-19 Pandemic, by launching the Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund, which raised over $5 million to provide assistance to individuals, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

Sumbul Siddiqui supported a tree protection ordinance intended to slow tree destruction by putting their preservation front and center.

In September 2021, Sumbul Siddiqui started Cambridge RISE, one of the first guaranteed income pilots in the country, which provided130 single caretakers $500 monthly over 18 months.

In October 2021, Sumbul Siddiqui preserved and expanded affordable housing options in Cambridge.

In March 2022, Sumbul Siddiqui hosted a Women's History Month art contest and collected art from residents.

Sumbul Siddiqui organized the second annual Bike Bonanza and had residents bike in protected bike lanes around the City and stop by to support local business along the way.

Sumbul Siddiqui always worked with the Department of Public Works and planted a cherry blossom tree at the Baldwin School with the 1st graders.

Sumbul Siddiqui appointed a climate crisis working group that provided a report that highlights climate actions and goals.

Sumbul Siddiqui advocated to provide a $75 gift card to anyone that got their COVID booster.

In February 2023, Sumbul Siddiqui celebrated International Mother Language Day by collecting 65 poems in different languages from Cambridge residents.

Sumbul Siddiqui collected 1,045 donated wool socks for unhoused residents that were distributed through CASPAR.

Sumbul Siddiqui hosted a free ice skate at the Canal District rink for all residents.

In March 2023, Sumbul Siddiqui hosted an Iftar that brought together almost 1,000 people.

In March 2023, Sumbul Siddiqui hosted a Women's History Month themed trivia night and an art contest that received 45 submissions.

Sumbul Siddiqui worked with the Department of Public Works to plant two trees at the Amigos School and Cambridgeport School.

In May 2023, Sumbul Siddiqui worked with the student School Committee representatives to host an Ice Cream Social voter registration event.

In May 2023, Sumbul Siddiqui joined Mayors from Somerville, Lynn, and Salem to sign the Commonwealth Development Compact, committing to historic DEI evaluation criteria in public and private real estate development projects.

Sumbul Siddiqui organized a toy drive that collected 500 toys for families in the Cambridge Public Schools.

Sumbul Siddiqui hosted a free skate day for all residents in Cambridge.

Four of the employees alleged Sumbul Siddiqui retaliated against them when they accepted new jobs or sought to leave her office.