Dear friends and neighbors of Ward Six,

My name is Jenny Mercado, and I write to you not as a politician, but as a mother, neighbor, healthcare worker, public servant, and someone whose life has been shaped by many of the same struggles and hopes that families in Ward Six experience every day.

I still remember what it felt like arriving in this country at 15 years old; trying to learn a new language, adapt to a new culture, and navigating an unfamiliar school system. Like so many immigrant families in Providence, my mother sacrificed so much to give us a better life, but there were moments when we simply did not know where to turn for help.

That experience has fueled my passion for a life of service, helping families access the schools, healthcare, and community services they deserve in a complex and often overwhelming system.

I graduated from Mount Pleasant High School and am now raising my children here in Olneyville, a Providence community I am grateful to call home. Watching my twin daughters grow into young women has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.

But like so many parents, I also carry the daily worries that come with raising children in today’s world. Will they be safe? Will they have opportunities to reach their full potential? Will our city continue moving forward for the next generation?

I work multiple jobs, including serving children and families on the frontlines at Hasbro Children's Hospital. My career in healthcare has given me a window into life at its most difficult moments: parents sitting beside hospital beds anxious about their child’s health while sharing their stress about how they will pay rent, cover groceries, or afford their next utility bill.

I have worked directly with immigrant families, bilingual families, and neighbors who often feel unheard or left behind. I have helped families register their children for school, connect to healthcare services, and access important community resources because I know firsthand how difficult those systems can sometimes feel.

I have sat with residents worried about flooding after heavy rains and have listened to families concerned about unsafe conditions, neglected properties, and other neighborhood issues that too often go ignored. This is why I helped to create Nuevas Voces, an initiative focused on building leadership among Spanish-speaking residents to address the environmental and quality of life issues that directly impact families in our community.

This taught me an important lesson: People deserve leaders who listen, show up, and are willing to fight for solutions.

That is how I approach public service.

I believe in being fiscally responsible, transparent, and willing to make smart investments in our children's future. We must continue moving our schools forward from the failures outlined in the 2019 Johns Hopkins Report. Our children deserve better than that.We can support strong public schools while also demanding accountability. We can support teachers while making sure budgets are balanced responsibly. We can improve school buildings, strengthen career and technical education opportunities, support student mental health, and ensure our classrooms have the resources students need to succeed.

I also understand how difficult the housing crisis has become. Families should not have to fear unfair rent increases, unsafe housing conditions, or feel powerless when problems arise. At the same time, many landlords are hardworking people trying to support their own families and maintain their properties responsibly.

I believe we need practical and balanced solutions that protect tenants, support responsible property owners, increase affordable housing opportunities, strengthen neighborhood code enforcement, and create pathways to homeownership for working families.

One of my priorities is to consistently respond to neighborhood concerns. I will regularly walk and drive through our neighborhoods with residents, because leadership should never happen from behind a desk alone. Leadership means showing up. I believe Ward Six deserves leadership that is visible, compassionate, and ready to work every single day to improve the lives of families. I believe our neighborhoods can be cleaner, safer, healthier, and stronger. I believe our children deserve opportunity, our seniors deserve respect, and working families deserve leaders who share their challenges and dreams.

This campaign is personal to me because this community helped shape my life. I am running to make sure our government finally works for the families who need it most. I know the struggles our families face because I have experienced many of them myself. At the same time, I recognize the strength, resilience, and potential that exists in Ward Six. I believe that when we work together block by block, family by family, neighborhood by neighborhood we can build a Providence where every family feels seen, supported, and proud to call this community home.

I would be honored to earn your trust, your support, and your vote for Providence City Council.