Beatriz Gómez Mouakad, known as Bea in the community, joined the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) in April 2025 as the Director of Real Estate. In this role, she oversees SCC’s portfolio of 340 affordable housing units and leads efforts to expand affordable housing throughout Somerville.

Beatriz brings a strong background in architecture, strategic planning, and project management, with more than 20 years of experience in housing and healthcare development. A longtime resident of Somerville since 2003, she also served as the Ward 5 City Councilor. She holds a degree in Urban Studies from Brown University and a Master of Architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

Deeply committed to housing justice, Beatriz believes that affordable, stable housing is essential infrastructure for thriving cities. She emphasizes that access to permanent, healthy, and affordable homes enables residents to live productive, successful lives close to work and community resources. As a founding member of Padres Latinos de Somerville Public Schools, she understands firsthand the impact of housing instability on children, particularly when school changes and the loss of support systems disrupt academic progress.

The daughter of two science teachers who nurtured her curiosity about energy and sustainability—from teaching her about heat transfer using ceiling thermometers to measuring household energy use at the electric meter—Beatriz is passionate about building sustainable, energy-efficient housing. In the face of rising energy costs and climate extremes such as heat waves, intense rainfall, and freezing temperatures, she advocates for housing design that addresses both environmental resilience and affordability. She recognizes the challenge of doing so amid escalating construction costs, which further complicates the development of affordable housing.

Beatriz is excited and honored to serve the community she calls home. She is grateful to work alongside SCC’s diverse, mission-driven staff as they tackle the pressing need for more equitable and sustainable housing in Somerville.