Fisto Ndayishimiye’s Vision for Leadership in Concord

For years, I have worked in our community as an organizer, advocate, and bridge-builder. I have seen firsthand both the promise and the challenges of Concord, a city that has

welcomed me and so many others who came here seeking safety, opportunity, and a place to belong. Now, I believe it is time to take that commitment to a higher level. That is why I am running for office, not for the sake of a title, but to make sure that our city and our state reflect the values of fairness, opportunity, and unity that we all deserve.

This campaign is rooted in lived experience. I came to Concord as a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, carrying the weight of displacement but also the hope of renewal. In the years since, I have been blessed to serve my neighbors in many ways: helping young people find safe spaces to grow, advocating for refugee families to be heard by city leaders, working with organizations like Change for Concord, Leadership Greater Concord, and the Young Adults Development Network, and traveling to Washington, D.C. to lobby with the Friends Committee on National Legislation. Each step has taught me that leadership is not about individual advancement, it is about service, about standing in the gap for others, and about daring to imagine a better future.

Running for office is not a decision I take lightly. I know the weight of responsibility that comes with public service. But I also know that Concord, and New Hampshire as a whole, needs leaders who understand what it means to struggle, to rebuild, and to fight for inclusion. Too often, politics feels distant from the daily lives of families who are simply trying to work, raise their children, and find dignity in their communities. My goal is to bring government closer to the people it serves, to make sure every voice is heard, every concern is respected, and every person has a seat at the table.

The vision I carry is not just about today, it is about the generations to come. It is about making Concord a place where young professionals want to stay and build their lives, where families can afford housing, where our roads and public spaces are safe, where small businesses have the support they need to thrive, and where our schools give every child the tools to succeed. It is about ensuring that our diversity is not seen as a challenge but as our greatest strength, and that our policies reflect the values of justice and unity.

When I think about leadership, I think about the countless mentors, neighbors, and community members who have invested in me. They believed in me long before I fully believed in myself. They reminded me that leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room but about listening deeply and acting boldly. That is the kind of leadership I promise to bring to office, leadership that listens, leadership that acts, and leadership that lasts.

This campaign is more than a personal journey. It is an invitation. It is an opportunity for all of us to come together and shape the future of Concord and beyond. I cannot do this alone. Every conversation, every story shared, every door knocked, every vote cast will be part of the movement we are building together. My candidacy is not about me, it is about us, about what we can achieve when we decide that our community deserves better and that our voices matter.

The challenges we face are real, but so is our power. I am running for office because I believe in that power, he power of ordinary people to create extraordinary change. And I believe that with your support, we can make this vision a reality.

This is our moment. This is our time. Together, we can build a Concord where everyone belongs, where hope outweighs fear, and where leadership truly serves the people.