JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS is a first-generation Brooklynite of West Indian parentage. He has been fighting for affordable housing for most of his career. Jumaane served as the Housing Director for the Flatbush Development Corporation, where he re-constituted a defunct housing program. Most recently, he was the Executive Director of the NYS Tenants & Neighbors, a state-wide organization that fights for tenants’ rights and affordable housing through organizing and advocacy. He is a proud product of our public school system including Brooklyn Tech and Brooklyn College.

It was while earning his Bachelor’s Degree at Brooklyn College (BC) that Jumaane realized civic engagement and community empowerment would be his focus. He received a Master’s Degree, also from Brooklyn College, in Urban Policy and Administration. While at BC, Jumaane honed his skills as an organizer and also served as the graduate student body president. Immediately after college, Jumaane was hired as the assistant director for the Greater Flatbush Beacon School where he provided leadership for the Beacon’s first successful summer. Subsequently, he became the interim executive director of Flatbush East Community Development Corporation. As a community organizer, he worked in the well-known Vanderveer Estates’ buildings and successfully secured city funding for a new youth program. As an organizer, Jumaane has learned realistic ways to help unleash our community’s full potential with realistic solutions, not political rhetoric.

Jumaane brings to the 45th Council District of Brooklyn, years of experience in fighting for the issues that concern our community. Affordable housing is essential at this time. Assistance for tenants, small landlords, and homeowners facing foreclosure is critical for this district. Activities for our young people should not be scaled back and blamed on budget cuts; this is inexcusable and a result of poor planning. In addition, it almost goes without saying that more job training should be provided for all those who need it. Jumaane’s professional and educational background has provided him with the knowledge and experience to develop sensible solutions to address all of these issues.

What distinguishes Jumaane from many of the candidates seeking office is that he is the only one who has spent his entire academic career studying how to solve the problems in the 45th. Not only did he decide to study these issues, Jumaane is also the only candidate who has spent over a decade applying what he learned, working with community groups in Flatbush and Canarsie, linking them to beneficial city and statewide campaigns. He has spent his entire career working on bringing resources to the 45th and helping to pass laws that benefit this community. Jumaane brings experience that no other candidate can claim. He is without a doubt the right leader for the 45th!!!

Jumaane is the vice-president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Brooklyn chapter, a board member of Community Board 18, The Caribbean International Students’ Alumni Association of Brooklyn College, and a member of The Brooklyn Tech Alumni Association.

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