Meet John
Councilman Goncalves has been a resident of Providence as a Fox Point and East Side community member for over 25 years. John is a passionate educator and DEI Coordinator at the Wheeler School in Providence and a community advocate who has worked to advance issues on education, environmental justice, and neighborhood quality of life.
Now, John is running for Congress in the 2023 Special Election for Rhode Island's First Congressional District to continue his advocacy for the Ocean State's working families in Washington.
Goncalves attended Providence Public Schools, is a Wheeler School graduate, and graduated with a B.A. and a Master's degree from Brown University.
Councilman John Goncalves has been an active and effective legislator and the lead sponsor and author of dozens of pieces of passed legislation in the City of Providence. He currently serves as Chairman of the Providence City Council's Committee on State Legislative Affairs, Chairman of the Committee on City Property, and Chairman of the Committee on Claims and Pending Suits.
Additionally, Councilman Goncalves has been a strong, consistent voice on matters across the most actively developing Ward in the City of Providence, Ward 1, which includes Downtown, The I-195 Land, and the East Side of Providence.
Professionally, Goncalves is a passionate educator and a community advocate who has worked to advance issues on education, environmental justice, and neighborhood quality of life. Previously, John served as a board member of the Fox Point Neighborhood Association and the Brown Alumni Association Board of Governors. He was also named Providence Monthly's Who To Watch in 2020 for spearheading a Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations that included representation from more than 19 neighborhood associations working collaboratively to tackle common neighborhood challenges and citywide issues.
John also served as a teacher for several years in Minnesota, where he was a faculty leader. Outside of being an educator, John has been involved in many political campaigns, including roles as Chair of the Minnesota Senate District 60 Committee and Strategy Director in key City Council, Mayoral, Attorney General, and Senate races. John previously served as an elected board member of the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association, the oldest and largest neighborhood association in Minneapolis.
Councilman Goncalves currently lives with his partner in Fox Point.
