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John,
Back to our regularly scheduled programming! ● This Tuesday, 6/6, the Progressive Caucus is hosting a Citywide Town Hall to kickstart our budget organizing! Join me and the rest of our caucus at 6:30 PM to learn how we can win a progressive budget this summer. ● June is Pride Month, and our office is proud to be working with the Center for Anti-Violence Education to host an upstander training on Monday, 6/5! Together, we'll learn tools for intervening and de-escalating conflict in order to disrupt homophobic and transphobic violence. RSVP using this link.
Meet Team D39 Behind all of the work I do for our community are eight brilliant and dedicated people who put in dozens of hours every week to serve our diverse district. If you’ve called our office or attended one of our events, you’ve likely seen them running around, keeping the proverbial trains running on time in District 39. This team is integral to the work I do, so between now and the end of the year, I’ll be dedicating four newsletters to introduce them all to our community. First up are Michael and Mus!
Michael - Communications Director Hello, District 39! My name is Michael Whitesides, and I’ve had the privilege of working as Council Member Hanif’s Communications Director since January 2022. I grew up in Marietta, Georgia (where the Broadway musical Parade took place, fun fact!), went to school in Boston, and ended up in New York City for my Masters's. I got my political start working for Jon Ossoff’s first congressional campaign in my hometown and have been passionate about progressive politics ever since. After working on a few campaigns and leading communications for advocacy organizations, I’ve been so happy to join the hardworking team that serves District 39. In my role, I write the first draft for most external and internal communications, including this newsletter, social media posts, and working with the press. I work closely with the Council Member and other team members to craft thoughtful communication to get our message across and ensure it gets in front of as many eyes as possible! My favorite thing about this work is how fast-paced it is and how tangible the impact is. I feel strongly about working to make the world a better place and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Outside of work, I’m an avid runner, making frequent use of the Prospect Park loop, and love to go camping when I get a free weekend out of the city! |
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Camping upstate for Memorial Day! |
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Mus - Scheduler & Officer Manager Hi there! My name is Mus (pronounced ‘Moose’), and I am the Council Member’s Scheduler and Office Manager. I grew up in the Midwood/Flatbush area of Brooklyn and, as a first-generation Bangladeshi-American, spent a lot of time in Kensington's Little Bangladesh, where the mosque my family goes to is located, along with a variety of fresh halal grocers and Bangladeshi restaurants which I frequent. I was very passionate about civic engagement from a young age as I saw firsthand neighbors around me being denied quality health care, the right to vote, and access to government services because of their immigration status. I went to CUNY John Jay College for undergrad. I served as the President of the student government, where I fought for fair funding for CUNY in our state and city budgets and participated in voter education and awareness efforts. I knew I wanted to contribute to New York City’s local government after interning with NYCEM and RAICES Texas, two experiences that showed me how municipalities could establish creative solutions and protections that challenge xenophobic and anti-immigrant narratives. I love that our office is collectively passionate about creating a more just world, and we do so with our events, programming, and legislation. When I’m not at the office, I’m likely at a yoga class and have recently been exploring aerial yoga. I’m also a proud cat mom! |
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With Council Member Hanif at the Macaulay Honor's graduation! |
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Community Bulletin ● Want to share your thoughts on the Parks Department’s reconstruction of Boerum Park? Join the Department’s virtual feedback session on Wednesday, 6/7 to share your feedback! RSVP here. ● Have thoughts on District 15’s Diversity Plan for schools? The Department of Education is running a survey through 6/15 to collect community feedback on this important educational diversity program. Be sure to check it out! ● KoKoNYC is hosting a free two-day printmaking workshop for youth in 5th through 8th grade on 6/17 and 6/18. Check out more details and register here. ● NYC DOT is conducting community outreach to understand how the Beverley Road Open Street is used and how the community wants to see this new public space evolve in the future! Take this short survey to share your feedback and ideas for the Beverley Road Open Street – the survey will remain open until 6/30. ● Are you above 60? Get fit while having fun at the Park Slope Center for Successful Aging’s Latin Rhythms Dance Class. The Latin Rhythms Dance class includes seated warmups, fundamental steps, and an introduction to different rhythmic styles like tango, salsa, bachata, and cumbia. The class is offered every Wednesday from 11 AM - 12 PM through 6/28. ● We need your help! Our office is crowdsourcing information on free youth activities in New York City and locally in District 39 for asylum-seeking youth. We are building this list to have more program options to share with asylum seekers. If you know of any programs, please share them with this form. ● Interested in outdoor movies this summer? Rooftop Films is bringing film festivals and crowd favorites to outdoor venues in and around District 39 all summer long! Check out their calendar to grab your tickets for an upcoming show. ● Check out Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City for free music, dancing, and social events!
In Solidarity, Shahana |
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