“More than a decade of effort has gone into the Shirley Chisholm Center. After years of planning and community engagement, it is gratifying to see ground broken today on what will be a vital community space. While in the Council, in the wake of Kimani Gray’s death, I was proud to initiate this project to promote youth development, not destruction, and combat the plague of gun violence driven by a lack of resources, opportunity, and investment in communities.
“I thank Council Member Louis for her leadership in continuing to fight for this project, even expanding it, and seeing it through to today’s milestone. The purpose of this project was to create an impact that will last not just beyond a term in office, but through generations of young people to follow. I’m excited for the day, hopefully not too far off, when everyone who worked together on this project can celebrate this center opening its doors and, in the spirit of its namesake, serving as a catalyst for change that brings increased fellowship and opportunity to a neighborhood that I was and am proud to represent.”