Representative Joshua J. Giraldo
Member, House Education Committee
Member, House Health and Human Services Committee
Member, House Small Business Committee
Member, House Special Legislation Committee
Joshua
J. Giraldo (D) was elected in March 2020 to the seat in House District 56 in
Central Falls to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Rep. Shelby
Maldonado, and then won re-election to a two-year term in November 2020. He is
a member of the House Education Committee, the House Health and Human Services
Committee, the House Small Business Committee and the House Special Legislation
Committee.
During
the 2021 session, he sponsored a law that authorized the City of Central Falls
to issue bonds of $5.76 million to finance
the construction and renovation of schools in the city. Central
Falls voters later approved the referendum.
He
also sponsored a new law that prohibits the waiving of rules and regulations
relating to minority-owned
businesses involved with state contracts during periods such as a
declared state of emergency. He also sponsored a law that prohibits
discrimination against a potential organ transplant recipient based
solely on a physical or mental disability.
Representative
Giraldo is the Director of Human Capital for Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral
Academy. He served as chief of staff for Central Falls Mayor James Diossa from
October 2015 to July 2020. Before that, he worked as a teacher at Blackstone
Valley Prep Mayoral Academy and as a family literacy instructor at Dorcas Place
Family Learning Center. He also served as director of the Central Falls
Department of Parks and Recreation for two years before becoming chief of
staff.
A
graduate of Central Falls High School in 2004, he earned a bachelor’s degree in
elementary and secondary education from Providence College in 2008.
Representative
Giraldo, who was born on November 18, 1986, resides in Central Falls with his
wife Maité and their daughters, Valentina and Catalina.