This morning, New York feels a little lighter and more united than ever. Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani’s win in New York City reminds us what becomes possible when we act from a mindset rooted in care and solidarity rather than fear and scarcity. It began in one city but belongs to all of us across the state – to every one of us who knows our futures are connected and that real change grows when we choose to act together. At a time when authoritarianism and a politics of fear are hardening across the world, this victory shows that another path is possible if we work together. It shows what can happen when people choose community over isolation and build lives grounded in shared purpose.

For twenty-five years, we have organized with that belief at our core. We’ve worked toward a New York where every child can learn in a well-resourced school, where care is a shared responsibility, and where the systems that shape our lives honor our collective humanity. Zohran’s election opens a door to that future. A future grounded in interdependence and an understanding that our liberation is bound together. We believe in his vision, and we believe in the movement that made it possible. Now he has the opportunity to show what that belief can build.

As we move into budget season, we at AQE are excited to carry that energy forward. There is new possibility for our children, our communities, and our future. What we imagine and fight for together now will shape the story of New York and inspire others far beyond it.

We’re grateful to have you with us on this journey – in solidarity and in hope.

In solidarity,

Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and Marina Marcou-O'Malley
Co-Executive Directors, Alliance for Quality Education