Aleja Newman
for
Houston City Council
District K
2027
Restoring Joy Across Houston
Together We Can Thrive
Meet Aleja
Aleja Newman is a community driven leader who works to uplift all those around her. Shaped by YMCA of Greater Houston youth development programs and studying Sociology, Aleja knows the reality of overcoming barriers that allow us to thrive.
She's a native Houstonian who cares deeply about advancing people and finding ways to improve quality of life for others. Aleja is a Posse Scholar and was in the first Houston cohort to Bryn Mawr College.
Integrity is one of her biggest values though she draws on the ones taught to her during her youth at the YMCA:
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Honesty
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Caring
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Respect
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Responsibility
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Faith
Aleja is a real person who wants to see real change. Your boots on the ground, everyday neighbor that wants the best for our city and for you.
Aleja is committed to not only making a difference in District K, but across the city of Houston. She recognizes that the leadership on city council is a team, and her voice will ultimately impact all Houstonians.
Professional
Experience
Aleja has a demonstrated commitment to cultivating better quality of life
Regional Program Director, YMCA of Greater Houston
Aleja led, in total, 5 sites and their surrounding areas to support youth and their families with programming around: financial and digital literacy, career readiness, leadership and asset development, healthy communication and more. She also co-piloted their first internship program, "Achieve, Earn, Learn " for teens that revolved around teen choice, mentorship, and the ability to "fail forward"
HR Business Director, International YMCA
She hired, supported, and trained over 300 staff to ensure fulfillment of the organization’s mission to strengthen communities
Political Coordinator, Texas Gulf Coast AFL-CIO
Aleja believes in people over profit. In this role she worked to provide support for a coalition of, at the time, 92 unions and their 59,000 union members in the Houston region
Senior Political Organizer, Woori Juntos x NAKASEC Action Fund TX
During this opportunity Aleja supported efforts of both a 501c(3) and 501c(4) non-profit to uplift Asian and immigrant populations through language justice, social services, voter education and engagement, and lobbying at the Texas State Legislature
Community
Experience
CRAN(e) Advisory Board Member
CRAN(e) - Community Research Action Network the new community advisory board launched by Bayou City Waterkeeper (BCWK).
During her time here Aleja aimed to provide guidance to BCWK's staff on community and policy needs concerning various water-related challenges such as flooding, pollution, water infrastructure, and green infrastructure.
She also was asked to advise the organization on organizing and policy needs, engage in research with experts, share collective experiences around water injustices, and work towards building community power.
Precinct Chair
Aleja stepped up to fill a vacant precinct chair position. Precinct chairs work to do three main things: register people to vote, educate people about what's on the ballot, and get people out to vote. This is an unpaid, volunteer position.
Child Friendly Cities Initiative Intergenerational Committee Member
This was a committee put together by the Mayor's Office of the City of Houston
In this role Aleja demonstrated to children and young people that their voices and concerns are being taken seriously by the government and other adult stakeholders.
Amplify Your Leadership Symposium Speaker
A symposium presented by Harris County Department of Education/ Case for Kids in collaboration with the YMCA of Greater Houston.
Aleja developed and led a workshop called "Pouring From a Full Cup". It focused on teaching those who work with youth how to unlock their own generational trauma and recognize limiting self-beliefs so that the youth of today can have a brighter tomorrow.
ACLU Legal Intake Department
Aleja reviewed civil liberties complaint facts with legal staff to effectively address complainant letters, emails, and calls concerning justice reform, parole, free speech, and discrimination claims.
In Community
Aleja is committed to community engagement and seeing people flourish. She works to reduce barriers and expand opportunity in a variety of ways.
Volunteering at League of Women Voters Houston on an urgent call to update non-partisan voter guides that were distributed to hundreds of voters.
Aleja recognizes that many people have anxiety around voting and often "don't go" because they "don't know". Whether that's what will be on the ballot, where to vote, or what to vote for and why.
To tackle that Aleja came up with the idea to host "Baddies & Ballots". She brought her home printer and other supplies to a cafe in central Houston that agreed to partner with her.
She and her friends helped people by:
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Printing someone a sample ballot based on where they live
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Explaining their ballot
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Helping to create a vote plan
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Finding their polling location
All to reduce anxiety around voting and increase voter turn out and engagement.
They were even able to help people from Fort Bend!
Picketing with UNITEHere Local 23 union members on Labor Day to fight for fair wages in front of the Hilton Americas in Downtown Houston.
Values & Vision
Houston Deserves:
Transparency
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Clear answers about where tax dollars are being spent and why
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Visibility on what projects the city is working on
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Simple access & easy-to-understand public records
No guessing, no barriers. Just open, accessible information to make the best decisions.
Quality of Life
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Timely trash pickup and fast pothole repairs
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Straightforward permitting processes
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Removing barriers and expanding opportunity
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Affordable, reliable city services
You should be able to count on the basics without stress, delays, or excuses.
Grounded Leadership
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Aleja is not afraid to stand up to any politician who doesn’t have your best interests at heart
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She also leads knowing we can’t get anywhere without conversation, teamwork, and professionalism
Real progress comes from real dialogue: open, honest, and focused on solutions that move our city forward.
Geniune Joy
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Every family deserves pure, unfiltered joy, not constant worry over bills, instability, or the rising cost of living
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You should be thriving, not just surviving
A city should lift you up, not drag you down.
Aleja's goal is to restore the ease, stability and joy that every Houstonian deserves.
Your Voice Matters
Aleja here!
I'm spending 2026 getting to know the issues that are important to YOU.
You deserve a council member that prioritizes the issues facing you today for a better tomorrow.
If you live in District K, share your voice. Feel free to fill out this survey to tell me what matters to you most.
