Meet Vesna Nuon
Vensa Nuon is a father, husband, Cambodian refugee, public safety professional, and community activist who has devoted his life to serving others. Since 2018, he has been a dedicated member of the Lowell City Council, currently serving as an at-large Councilor. His commitment to public service is deeply rooted in his personal journey—one that began as a refugee and has led him to become a leader in his community.
Vensa’s story begins in 1982 when he and his family fled a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand, escaping the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime. Sponsored by Catholic Charities, his family arrived in the United States and settled in a converted barn in Stoughton, Massachusetts. With only a few words of English, Vensa and his brother entered high school and faced immense cultural and social challenges, yet they persevered with determination and resilience.
After moving to Allston/Brighton, Vensa attended Brighton High School while working alongside his siblings to support their family. His mother, embodying the spirit of generosity, saved their earnings and eventually purchased a home in Roslindale, where she continued to care for others in need, further instilling in Vensa the values of service and community.
Vensa earned a Boston Globe scholarship and attended UMASS Boston, where he graduated with a BA in Psychology. Though he began his career in banking, his true passion lay in helping others. He taught ESL classes in Chelsea before joining the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office as a Victim Witness Advocate in Lowell. In this role, he worked tirelessly to build trust between law enforcement and the Asian-American community, forming task forces, assisting at-risk youth, and securing federal grants to increase representation in the police force.
In 1997, Vensa and his wife, Navey, moved to Lowell, where they raised their two children, Nathan and Nadya. He continued his public service career when Governor Paul Celluci appointed him to the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board in 2000, a position he still holds today, helping to protect the community through policies on registration, classification, and public safety measures.
Beyond his professional career, Vensa has been an active voice in the community, serving for ten years on the Lowell Zoning Board of Appeals and contributing to organizations like The Center for Hope and Healing, the Angkor Dance Troupe, and UTEC. His leadership extends to advocacy for justice, equity, and diverse representation in city government.
In 2017, Vensa made history by reclaiming his seat on the City Council and becoming the first minority candidate to place first in a Lowell City Council election. He was sworn in as Vice-Mayor in 2018, becoming the first Asian American to hold the position. Throughout his tenure, he has championed initiatives to diversify city administration, uplift underrepresented voices, and create opportunities for all residents.
Following the change to Lowell’s election system in 2021, Vesna was elected as an at-large Councilor, representing the whole City of Lowell.
As he seeks re-election, Vensa remains committed to the people of Lowell, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs are met. His leadership, shaped by lived experience and a deep love for the community, continues to drive meaningful change.
