Progressive Caucus Alliance
Council Member Margaret Chin immigrated to the U.S. with her family from Hong Kong in 1963 when she was nine years old. She grew up in NYC Chinatown and attended P.S. 130 and JHS 65. She graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and from the City College of New York (CCNY) with a degree in education. It was at City College through taking Asian Studies courses that Margaret got involved in community organizing. For more than 30 years she has dedicated herself to public service to help immigrants, low income and working families. Margaret was elected to the New York City Council in 2010, as the representative for District 1, lower Manhattan. Margaret is a proud member of the Progressive Caucus, and the Women's Caucus. Margaret has twice been elected by her colleagues to serve as an executive member of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus.
Council Member Daniel Dromm is an educator, community organizer, union leader, and political activist. His experience and dedication to the community has led to Daniel Dromm being overwhelmingly elected as the New York City Council Member for the 25th District (representing Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, LeFrak City, Corona, Rego Park, and Woodside) with over 75% of the vote on November 3rd, 2009. Daniel Dromm is an award-winning New York City public school teacher. Since 1984, he has instructed and inspired thousands of students at PS 199Q in Queens. In 1992, Dromm courageously came out as an openly gay teacher. The ensuing battle tested Dromm's resolve as a fighter who is unafraid to take on the powers that be. Deeply committed to civil rights and social justice, Dromm has established himself a fighter against prejudice, discrimination and violence as the founder and former co-chairperson of the Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee. It is creating change that motivates Daniel Dromm to serve the public on the City Council. He serves as Chair of the Committee on Immigration is a member of the Progressive Caucus.
Council Member Brad Lander has spent his career standing up for affordable, livable, and sustainable communities in Brooklyn and throughout New York City. As executive director of an award-winning community development organization and one of city’s leading public policy advocates, Lander has created and preserved thousands of units of affordable housing, strengthened local small businesses, and helped thousands of low-income New Yorkers find living wage jobs. Lander was elected to the New York City Council in November 2009. He represents the 39th district in Brooklyn, which includes the neighborhoods of Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace and Borough Park, and Kensington. Lander lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn with his wife, Meg Barnette, the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Planned Parenthood NYC, and their children, Marek (who attends Middle School 51) and Rosa (who attends Public School 107).
Council Member Julissa Ferreras is a charismatic, pro-active leader and a powerful voice advocating for the needs of her community and New York City’s most vulnerable citizens. She proudly serves Corona, Elmhurst and parts of Jackson Heights. Council Member Ferreras grew up in Jackson Heights and currently resides in Corona. Elected to the 21st Council District in 2009, she is the first Latina to hold a Queens seat on the City Council. Council Member Ferreras is passionately dedicated to improving the status of women in New York City, particularly immigrant women. She currently serves as Chair of the Committee on Women’s Issues where she has raised the profile of that committee, holding hearings on important issues such as human trafficking and domestic violence. She is also a member of the Policy and Program Working Group, the Progressive Caucus, the Women’s Caucus, and the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus.
Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico and attended Columbia College at Columbia University in New York City where she earned her B.A. majoring in Political Science in 1991. Melissa was selected to attend the National Urban Fellows Program and earned her Master of Public Administration from Baruch College, City University of New York in 1995. Melissa is the first Puerto Rican woman and Latina elected to serve as Council Member for the 8th Council District. Melissa has worked to advance an agenda focused on issues affecting working class and low-income families, youth, seniors and immigrant communities. In particular, she has been a staunch advocate for the creation and preservation of income-targeted housing and for our city’s public housing program. She has also spearheaded several initiatives to address local community issues including the city’s first Age Improvement District in East Harlem as well as task forces on youth violence and displacement. She currently serves as Chair of the City Council’s Parks & Recreation Committee and Co-Chair of the Council’s Progressive Caucus.
Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, a life long resident of Western Queens, was elected to the New York City Council on November 3, 2009. A community organizer, Jimmy Van Bramer is the son of two active union members. Jimmy learned the importance of hard work, and the powerful impact that seemingly small efforts can have on the lives of working people. Jimmy has carried those lessons throughout his life. Jimmy's career has been devoted to making his community stronger and making life better for Queens families like the one he grew up in. From 1999-2009, he served as the Chief External Affairs Officer of the Queens Public Library. As the library's link between community members and government, Jimmy worked to protect and expand important library services, such as after-school programs and English language classes. Jimmy currently lives in Sunnyside Gardens with Dan Hendrick, his partner of thirteen years.
Council Member Jumaane D. Williams is a first-generation Brooklynite of West Indian parentage. He is a proud product of our city’s public school system, including Brooklyn Tech and Brooklyn College. It was while earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at Brooklyn College 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; during these studies, Jumaane honed his skills as an organizer and also served as the graduate student body president. Since being elected in 2009 to represent the 45th District in the New York City Council, Jumaane has been a tireless advocate for his constituents. In the district, Jumaane has brought his experience as an organizer to help unleash the community’s full potential with realistic solutions, not political rhetoric. Jumaane serves as co-chair of the Task Force to Combat Gun Violence, vice chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus and is a founding member of the Progressive Caucus.