Professional Accomplishments
A long-time resident of Boston, he taught at Springfield College, UMass Boston, Roxbury Community College, Boston University, and Emmanuel College. Arroyo ran for the Boston School Committee in 1981 and 1983, becoming the first Latino to ever run citywide and the first Latino to ever pass a primary. In 1984 Arroyo founded the Latino Democratic Committee, the first statewide Latino political organization in Massachusetts. In 1984 Arroyo served as the Latin American Affairs Director for United States Senator John Kerry. Served in Mayor Raymond L. Flynn's cabinet from 1985 until 1992. In 1992, he resigned his salaried position as the Director of Personnel for the City of Boston to take an unpaid position as a member of the Boston School Committee. Arroyo would later serve as Vice President and President of the Boston School Committee.
Arroyo joined the City Council as one of its four at-large members in January 2003, after placing fifth in the 2001 election. Arroyo was seated when one of the four at-large council members resigned. He was re-elected in 2003 and 2005, but narrowly lost in November 2007, placing fifth in a field of nine candidates. His loss has been blamed on low turnout among nonwhite communities, coupled with disproportionately strong turnout in traditionally white, Irish enclaves; overall turnout was only 13.6%.
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