We are thrilled to welcome Julio Rodriguez to the team, as our next Bicycle Coalition Policy Director! He comes to BCGP with over 10 years of policy experience, and a wealth of legislative knowledge and leadership experience that is sure to help us advance our policy and advocacy priorities.
Originally from Chicago, Julio has called West Philadelphia home for the past four years—three of them serving as Political Director at the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition (PIC).
Throughout his career, he’s been a champion for marginalized communities through community development and public-sector collaboration, including work in Chicago to deliver 18 miles of bike lanes, securing a $55 million dollar investment for the construction of a new public school and park field house renovations, in addition to leading community planning initiatives that improved cycling infrastructure and transportation along a major commercial corridor in Chicago’s Belmont Cragin neighborhood.
Most recently, at PIC, Julio partnered with member organizations to pass welcoming policies and build immigrant power and leadership across Pennsylvania. He helped shift public narrative by making the case for how the Commonwealth benefits when it chooses to be pro-immigrant and rejects anti-immigrant proposals and rhetoric. He kept coalition members informed on federal legislation, rulemaking, executive orders, and court decisions, while tracking both pro- and anti-immigrant bills. Locally, he helped advance welcoming policies in Montgomery, Dauphin, Lycoming, Allegheny, and Chester County.
In Philadelphia, Julio supported the Ending Medical Deportation Coalition, which helped advance a first-in-the-nation ordinance making it unlawful for hospitals to repatriate noncitizens without rigorous safeguards and exhaustive review of available remedies. He also played an instrumental role supporting immigrant right coalition members advance the NO ICE Philly legislation.
Now, Julio is excited to hit the ground running—securing critical investments for safer streets through protected bike lanes and advancing Vision Zero efforts so every resident can get where they’re going safely and effectively.
Outside of work, Julio loves cycling, going to the gym, and is always hunting for a good taco spot!
We’re really excited about the people-centered, solutions-focused approach Julio brings to his work, and look forward to his leadership at the Coalition!
You can reach Julio at julio@bicyclecoalition.org.