Councilwoman Selvena N. Brooks-Powers

Queens Advocate an Inspiration for Teens

June 17, 2022

 

What are your plans for the future?
Can you see yourself helping others in some way?
Can you see yourself being an active member of your community?
Well, if you answered yes to these probing questions, you’re definitely not alone.
Many people choose a career in public service, and Selvena N. Brooks-Powers is one of them.

 

Selvena Brooks-Powers was raised in Southeast Queens and represents the 31st district of the New York City Council. This includes Arverne, Brookville, Edgemere, Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, and Far Rockaway. She is also the current Majority Whip in the New York City Council.

Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers, Queens District 31

A child of Jamaican immigrants, Brooks-Powers was elected to office on February 23, 2021 after previous Councilman Donovan Richards Jr. was chosen to serve as Queens Borough President in November of 2020. As a member of the City Council, Ms. Brooks-Powers has many roles and responsibilities.​

Introducing and voting on legislation (proposed laws) having to do with all aspects of City life.
Negotiating the City’s budget with the Mayor and approving its adoption.
Monitoring city agencies such as the Department of Education and the New York Police Department to ensure they’re effectively serving New Yorkers.
Reviewing land use and making decisions about the growth and development of our city.

As Majority Whip, she is also responsible for upholding party discipline in the council. This means ensuring that members of the party vote according to the party platform, rather than according to their individual ideology or the will of their donors or constituents.

Growing up, Brooks-Powers knew her career would involve helping people. “I didn’t know if it was going to be through education initially, through politics, government or even through law because I considered going to law school,” she says. However, for her, advocating for the underserved has always been a passion.

 

“I definitely always had that calling;

that was a big part of my personality,” she admits.

 

Brooks-Powers has been a dedicated public servant for over 17 years. As a community organizer she has driven high-impact initiatives on critical issues such as education, voting rights and empowerment, racial and economic justice, relief efforts for post-Hurricane Katrina, Minority & Women Owned Businesses (M/WBE) opportunities, and workers’ rights. Since serving as Representative for District 31, she has worked hard to promote equal distribution of city resources for all New York City residents. Brooks-Powers also helped to secure $95 million in restoration to fund the 116th Precinct, expand the Cure Violence program into the 105th Precinct, and establish a permanent COVID-19 vaccine site.

Even closer to home, Powers has had a direct impact on Queens Preparatory Academy and its students. An enthusiastic advocate for education, she secured funding for the school’s Art Program to promote social-emotional engagement for students after the distance of remote learning during the pandemic. It goes without saying that we at Queens Prep would like to honor and congratulate our Councilwoman for all she has done and continues to do to support our community.

Brooks-Powers, a child of immigrants who used her education to empower and uplift our community, is a strong role model for today’s youth. Like her, you too can make a difference, and not just in the future, but in the here and now. You can join community groups, attend town hall meetings, speak to your local representatives and take an interest in plans to improve our communities. If you believe there needs to be change in our society, like our councilwoman, you can work to make it happen. There is no time like the present.

 

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