Meet James
James, his wife Lina, and their sons Anthony and Alessandro
Growing Up
In The Bay State
The grandson of Italian immigrants who made their way to Boston through Ellis Island, James’ father drove a truck, owned a gas station, and later learned lithography. His mother was a nurse who directed nursing programs for the Commonwealth.
Raised in Walpole, his mom brought Freedom Riders to their home, hosted environmental meetings/cleanups, supported Kennedy campaigns, ran PTA meetings, and helped anti-hunger walks.
It was these experiences that inspired James to be involved in various Democratic campaigns during his studies at Xaverian High School and Harvard University.
Family
James and his wife Lina Arena raised their two wonderful sons Anthony and Alessandro in Holliston where the family became involved in youth baseball, CCD at St. Mary's, Celebrate Holliston, and the town's wonderful public schools. Lina directed the Holliston Senior Center for many years and the two of them are long-time members of the Celebrate Holliston Committee.
While their sons have grown up, James and Lina still have a full house with residents Cleo the cat and Virgil the pug.
A Life Of
Public Service
Elected to the House of Representatives in 2022, James has spent his entire life working in public service.
His passion for activism and service was instilled in him at a young age by his mom, Vera DeRosa, whose living room was often full of Democratic activists she supported during the 1960s and 70s. As a young boy, James met union organizers, student activists, political candidates, and Freedom Riders.
Community Service:
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Holliston Finance Committee
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Chair, Holliston Democratic Town Committee
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Little League Baseball Coach
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Performing Arts Parents
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Holliston Day Volunteer
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Town Administrator Search Committee
Volunteer Positions:
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Former SEIU Union Member and Contract Negotiator, Local 285
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Mass Farmers Markets, Board Member, Executive Committee on Policy
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Miracle Of Help Sierra Leone, Africa, Board of Directors
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Dante Alighieri Cultural Society, Board of Governors
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Sons of Italy Scholarship Commission
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Xaverian Brothers High School Alumni Association
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Harvard-Radcliffe Alumni Association/Reunion Committee
State and Federal Positions:
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Special Assistant to the Secretary, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with a focus on citizens’ rights, voting, and public records.
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New England Director, Peace Corps
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Northeast Regional Administrator, USDA Food and Nutrition
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Volunteer Policy Advisor to President Joe Biden and Democratic Presidential Candidate Hilary Rodham Clinton
Nonprofit Sector & Higher Education:
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Director of Public Advocacy, Oxfam America
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Adjunct Lecturer, Heller School, Brandeis University
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CEO Foodshare/Anti-Hunger Activist Leader
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Lifetime Learning Instructor for Seniors, Sherborn MA
Meet The Team
Jeff Meyers
Legislative Aide
Born and raised in Holliston, Jeff is the lead staffer on constituent services, communications, and legislative affairs. Jeff joined the office from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he received a Master of Public Policy and a B.A. in Legal Studies.
Summer 2023
Legislative Interns
Interested in joining our team? See the instructions on how to apply for a summer internship with our office at the bottom of this page!
Michaela Hoenig
Legislative Intern '23
Michaela Hoenig is pursuing her Masters in Public Health at Boston University School of Public Health where she is concentrating on Epidemiology and Biostatistics, with a focus on Infectious disease. She graduated from Muhlenberg College in 2022 where she double majored in political science and public health, and was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society. Michaela is excited to be on Representative Arena-DeRosa's team where she focuses on public health policy and analysis. In her free time she enjoys volunteering at the local animal shelter and exploring New England.
Jonathan Pinelli
Legislative Intern '23
Jonathan Pinelli is a Senior at Xaverian Brothers High School. Raised in Millis, he is excited to serve his home town and learn more about the legislative process. Jonathan is especially interested in working on issues such as environmental infrastructure and healthcare policy and hopes to work toward a degree in public health or international relations. Outside of school, Jonathan loves to read and compete for Xaverian's Model UN and Mock Trial Teams
Angie Feng
Legislative Intern '23
Angie Feng is a rising Senior at the Noble and Greenough School with a special interest in foreign policy and computer science. She is the editor-in-chief of Cogito, Nobles’ international affairs publication, and participates in the competitive Model UN, Debate, and Mock Trial teams. As an intern with Representative Arena-DeRosa, Angie is particularly excited to work on small business policy and to learn more about the political process. During her free time, she enjoys volunteering as a tutor at the Immigrant Family Services Institute in Boston and playing the French Horn.
Internships
The current application period is closed. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning on January 1st of each year.
Ideal candidates are organized, professional, and responsible individuals that thrive in a fast-paced work environment. An unpaid internship at the State House is a wonderful opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of Beacon Hill and the legislative process. During their term, interns are encouraged to attend briefings, committee hearings, and lectures of personal interest.
Term
Internships are available on a full or part-time basis for the Summer of 2024. Internships will generally begin in May and end in August but are flexible depending on an individual’s circumstances. Interns typically work 3 days a week, Tuesday through Thursday
Role
Responsibilities vary based on experience and education level, but may include:
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Researching legislation and policy
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Attending committee hearings, issues briefings, and meetings
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General office work including:
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Answering telephone calls and greeting visitors
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Processing constituent correspondence
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Database entry
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Preparing and sending letters to constituent
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Filing, both traditional and electronic
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Working on special projects as needed
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Writing a policy research paper on a subject of personal interest
To Apply
The current application period is closed. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis beginning January 1st. To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and 1–2-page writing sample to Legislative Aide Jeff Meyers at jeffrey.meyers@mahouse.gov. Please express whether you are able to work in the district, in the State House, or both in your cover letter. Knowledge or connection to the 8th Middlesex District is a plus, but all are welcome to apply. Please contact our office with any questions.