Nelson Merced is the former Executive Director of the Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA) in Boston Massachusetts. Nelson Merced came to the IBA in 1994 and served until 1996. Throughout his time, Merced focused on housing and social service initiatives in the Villa Victoria neighborhood of Boston. In addition to IBA, Merced was involved in the founding of the Nuestra Comunidad Community Development Corporation, the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, and the Casa Esperanza. Before serving in IBA, Nelson Merced became the first Latino elected to the Massachusetts State House of Representatives. In the later part of his career, Nelson worked at Neighborworks America to sustain relationships betweens CDCs and the federal government. 

Interview summary

In this interview, Merced reflects on his experiences in Latino activism in the United States and Puerto Rico and how his participation in various organizations led him to serve the Boston area. Mr. Merced also shares some insight as to the legal and financial mechanisms of maintaining and growing a CDC, expertise he’s accumulated throughout his years as a leader in community development, his position in local politics, and working at the federal level. Nelson Merced now lives in Tampa Bay, Florida and is an active member of NALCAB.

Key Terms

Community, organizations, Latino, Puerto Rico, Community Development Corporation, Boston, money, Executive Director, Latino community, Roxbury, grants, neighborhood 

Date: July 7, 2020

Interviewers: Dr. Gerald Poyo, former CEO of NALCAB Noel Poyo, and Victoria Villaseñor.