31. Getting it done, Gets it Done! w/Brian Melford, Candidate for New York City Council’s 12th Dist.

 Brian Melford was born to two loving parents, Joan and Vincent from Kingston, Jamaica W.I. He attended local schools PS76, MS135, and Harry S Truman in Coop City. Brian was President of the Bronx Youth Empowerment Program founded by NYC Council Member Andy King and his wife Neva Shillingford-King. He is also a member of Bronx Miracle Gospel Tabernacle Word of Faith Ministries under the leadership of Rabbi Keith Elijah Thompson. He attended John Jay College where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. While he was attending college Brian worked at 32BJ as a youth organizer where he also studied formal labor history with a CUNY professor. With that passion he started working at SEIU in the communications department where he was instrumental on several phone banking campaigns. Brian’s mother was a member of 32BJ and his grandmother, to this day, is a proud dues paying member of the mighty mighty 1199SEIU. Labor runs through his veins and he was fortunate to be a member of AFRAM and President of FAS Future AFRAM Stars, the youth arm of the NYC Chapter. For the past 8 years he has been on Council Member Andy King’s staff where he started as his special assistant and now transitioned into serving as his budget director. Brian volunteered with a number of organizations, planned and executed their annual youth forums with the Bronx Youth Empowerment Program(YEP), worked with the NYPD to meet with youth of the community, and helped put together many neighborhood parades. He has helped repair a number of our schools including PS41, MS113, PS111, and MS181. Brian was also instrumental in the construction of the Sydney House on Bronxwood, reconstruction of Agnes Haywood Playground, renovation of RAIN Gun Hill, and renovation of his community’s libraries. Service is in his blood and he knows that his hard work lives as a testament to all his accomplishments and he pray that the community he knows and loves agrees. Website: https://www.nycvotes.org/campaigns/brianmelford/contributions/new; Social Media Instagram @brianmelford ; Facebook: Brian Melford; Shout out: Mauleen Pitterson. Closing Word by Michelle Obama