Amplify Her asked the Public Advocate candidates: “What is the most shocking NYC statistic related to women that motivates you to run for Public Advocate?” See their video responses below:
IFY IKE
Ify is a first-generation, Nigerian-American activist, artist and attorney whose entire career has been dedicated to empowering marginalized communities and creating data-informed strategies to reduce inequity. Ify is a co-founding Principal of social impact firm, Think Rubix, a professor at Lehman College, and board member of the Women’s Prison Association, as well a Junior Board member of the Nigerian Healthcare Foundation. Ify received her B.A. and M.A. in Communications Theory and Research at West Virginia University; J.D. from CUNY School of Law; and LL.M. in Advanced Litigation and Conflict Resolution from The George Washington University Law School. Ify also holds an Executive Certificate in School Justice Partnerships from the Georgetown University Court School of Public Policy. She lives in BedStuy with her dog, Bishop. NOTE THAT IFY IKE IS NOT ON THE BALLOT FOR THE FEBRUARY 26 SPECIAL ELECTION.
NOMIKI KONST
Nomiki Konst is an advocate, writer and political communications strategist regularly appearing on national media outlets discussing politics. She's Founder & Executive Director of The Accountability Project, an investigative news start-up centered on political corruption. She hosts The Accountability Podcast, which focuses on political corruption. Konst is an advocate for women, gun reform and millennials. From her start on Hillary Clinton’s Senate campaign at 16 years old to national co-chairing Pres. Obama’s Re-Election campaign, she’s worked for four different presidential campaigns as well as dozens of campaigns across the country - in all areas of the campaign world, including organizing, communications, fundraising and media.
MELISSA MARK-VIVERITO
Melissa Mark-Viverito is a leading progressive voice in New York. Melissa made history in 2005 when she was elected as the first Latina to represent Spanish Harlem/El Barrio in the New York City Council. In 2014, she once again made history becoming the first person, and woman, of color to serve as Speaker for the New York City Council. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Melissa is a product of a family that prized education and service to others. She attended Columbia University in New York City where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Melissa was selected to attend the National Urban Fellows Program and earned her Master of Public Administration from Baruch College, CUNY. She worked for over a decade in local activism, nonprofit organizations and grassroots labor organizing before being elected to the City Council.
DAWN SMALLS
In the Obama Administration, Dawn served as Executive Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. During the Clinton Administration, Dawn served as Assistant to White House Chief of Staff John Podesta and as a Special Assistant in the Office of Management and Budget. During the 2008 campaign cycle, Dawn was the New York State Political Director for the Obama for America campaign and a Regional Political Director for the Hillary Clinton for President campaign. Dawn also previously directed approximately $40 million of grant making at the Ford Foundation, and served as a Program Officer at the Open Society Foundations. Dawn also serves as a Commissioner on the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics, having been appointed to that position by the New York State Senate Minority Leader.
LATRICE WALKER
Latrice Monique Walker was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2014. Assemblywoman Walker has dedicated her life’s work to advocacy. For nearly a decade, Assemblywoman Walker has worked with local elected officials to preserve affordable housing while advocating for residents of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Born and raised in Prospect Plaza, a NYCHA development demolished under a Federal HOPE VI grant, the Assemblywoman has firsthand experience on the effects of displacement and the need for adequate legislative representation. As a litigator, she has helped tenants avoid eviction and defended young minority victims of “stop-and-frisk” practices. Assemblywoman Latrice Walker resides in Ocean-Hill Brownsville and is the proud mother of a daughter, Nile Anderson. NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH LATRICE WALKER WILL BE ON THE FEBRUARY 26 SPECIAL ELECTION BALLOT, SHE IS NO LONGER SEEKING THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE.