Julissa Ferreras-Copeland

Mrs. Ferraras-Copeland is a Founder and Partner at Hollis Public Affairs, where she draws on a lifetime of transformative community leadership to advise organizations and stakeholders on strategies for success. As a New York City Councilwoman from 2009 to 2017, Julissa was the first woman, first person of color, and the youngest chair of the influential Committee on Finance, which oversaw the City’s $82 billion budget process as well as the Department of Finance, Comptroller’s Office, Banking Commission, Tax Commission, Department of Design and Construction, and the Independent Budget Office.

Julissa brings personal experience in complex and community-impacting projects including billion-dollar land-use negotiations, public-private partnerships, crisis management, community benefits agreements, writing of city and state legislation, and organizing issues-based campaigns. She specializes in navigating through regulatory challenges, cultivating grassroots support, and developing broad stakeholder coalitions to deliver meaningful progress.

Julissa previously served as the Vice President of NALEO (National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials) and Executive Board Member of NYC Council’s Black Latino and Asian Caucus. Prior to joining the New York City Council, Julissa also served her community as president of the Corona-East Elmhurst NAACP Youth Council. She supported working families and created educational opportunities in her district.