PART OF HISTORY
State Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz among largest group of women to serve in Legislature
When Johanny CepedaFreytiz took the oath of office in January, officially being sworn in as one of Pennsylvania’s newest legislators, she became a part of history.
With the addition of the new class of state House and Senate members, the state Legislature found itself with the largest number of female members in its long existence.
Cepeda-Freytiz knows just how important that is. She has spent her career fighting for her community and working to ensure those in leadership positions reflect the people they serve.
And while there is still a long way to go — only 35% of legislators are women compared to 51% of the state’s overall population — Cepeda-Freytiz is proud to be part of a freshman class that has helped move the Legislature closer to that goal.
She shared that pride, along with the story of how she managed to become part of state leadership, as the guest speaker at a World Affairs Council of Greater Reading luncheon Thursday, March 9. The event was held to mark International Women’s Day, which was Wednesday.
“While today is not March 8, we can celebrate International Women’s Day every day,” she told an applauding crowd.
Cepeda-Freytiz’s success in politics isn’t something she has accomplished on her own. In fact, it’s not even something she ever intended to pursue.
“I kid you not, I hated politics,” she said. “And being called a politician made me cringe.”
But in many ways, her current political role is one she’s been training for since she was a child.
Cepeda-Freytiz said that from an early age she was instilled with the mindset and vision needed to become a leader. And her mother, Ana Cepeda, played a big role in that.
“She is my rock, she taught me how to be independent, to be a hard worker” Cepeda-Freytiz said. “I couldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her and what she instilled in me.”
Her mother was one of 14 children whose family often struggled to get by. And when she moved to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic at age 18, she was determined to make something of herself.
Her mother earned her GED, learned English and became a U.S. citizen.
Ana Cepeda was the kind of woman her daughter could look up to, the kind of role model she needed. She was the kind of mom that also pushed her kids to succeed, to become the best versions of themselves.
Her father, too, provided that kind of support and encouragement.
Cepeda-Freytiz said that Luis Cepeda was found of the phrase “where there’s a will there’s a way,” using it to remind Cepeda-Freytiz that she could achieve whatever she set her mind to.
And that’s exactly how she’s tried to live her life.
Cepeda-Freytiz was born in the U.S., but spent fifth through ninth grade in the Dominican Republic. She went to high school and college in New York, and after finishing her education ran a community center in New York City.
She also worked part time as a guidance counselor at the school where the community center was located. She loved both jobs, but after having children realized the jobs were taking up too much of her time.
“I would go to work at 8 a.m. and not get home until 9 p.m.,” she said. “I needed a change.”
So, she moved to Reading, where she opened the Mi Casa Su Casa restaurant on Penn Street. There, she could bring her kids to work with her.
“Being able to spend time with my kids was priceless,” she said.
Cepeda-Freytiz said she loved running the restaurant, explaining that it become a sort of community hub. She hosted fundraisers and open mic nights
and cooking classes and community celebrations and voter registration drives.
Through being a business owner, Cepeda-Freytiz quickly learned the important role that politicians play in people’s daily lives. And having many thoughts on how those lives could be made batter, she decided to try her hand at it.
In 2015 she ran for Reading City Council. She lost.
She also failed to earn an appointment to council after the man who beat her, Jeffery Waltman, vacated the seat to serve as council president.
For a while, she thought that was the end of her political career. The experience left a bad taste in her mouth, leaving her questioning why someone as vested in the community as she was couldn’t get picked to serve that community.
But four years later, when another opening on council popped up, she decided to try again. This time she won an appointment.
A year later she was elected, and eventually even served as council president.
Cepeda-Freytiz’s time on council was relatively brief, although that was not the plan. She intended to continue to serve, but when an opportunity arose to serve in a higher office members of the community
urged her to pursue it.
So last year she ran for the 129th Legislative District, which represents parts of Reading and Spring Township, as well as West Reading, Sinking Spring and Wyomissing.
She won, becoming the first Latino woman to ever represent Berks in the Legislature.
Now, she is representing her community in Harrisburg. And while she’s only been in the position a short while, she has already had a chance to cast some very meaningful votes.
Like, she said, when she got to support Rep. Joanna McClinton, who was elected as the House’s first female speaker. It was another historic moment for women, Cepeda-Freytiz said.
Of course, Cepeda-Freytiz isn’t satisfied with the history that’s been made so far. She said there is still lots of progress to be made, and she’s dedicated to making it.
“Women, we’ve come so far,” she said. “And there’s still so much work to do.”
And Cepeda-Freytiz said she plans to handle the long, difficult journey of getting that work done the same way she’s always accomplished things: with support.
“Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back,” she said.
“Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back.” — Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz