Whereas, Kevin Riley is a lifelong resident of the Bronx’s 12th City Council District, has devoted his career to public service over the past decade as Speaker Carl Heastie’s Constituent Liaison and Community Relations Director, and since 2016 as the District Leader of the 83rd Assembly District of the Bronx, Kevin is deeply devoted to the people of his borough; and

Whereas, Kevin realizes the importance of mentorship in our community, working for the nonprofit citywide organization The New York Foundling as a Skills Coach for young men and as a mentor for President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, as your City Councilman, he will fight to fund efforts that will provide young people with skills and knowledge they need to succeed; and

Whereas, the Bronx has consistently ranked last in community health indicators, with the current pandemic only highlighting and widening these existing inequities, Kevin believes that “health is wealth” and wants to create spaces to promote healthy initiatives, including giving Bronx residents greater access to mental health services, by supporting School Based Health Centers, and advocating that Bronx schools get their fair share of new gymnasiums and sports facilities; and

Whereas, Kevin believes in preparing our children for the real world, he supports expanding entrepreneurship, trade and financial literacy programs in NYC high school curriculum; and

Whereas Kevin is a staunch believer in empowering children of color, he advocates for curriculum that embeds the history and accomplishments of marginalized communities in every level of 3K-12 public education; and

Whereas, Kevin wanted to create an outlet to help de-escalate youth violence, he co-founded the non-profit Music Over Violence; and

Whereas Kevin wanted to celebrate black fatherhood, he founded the national organization, The Dad Gang, to shatter the stereotype that black fathers are not part of their children’s lives and to help all fathers become better dads; and

Whereas, Kevin is a public school parent to two daughters, he supports revenue raisers that would get necessary resources to schools in the Bronx, fully fund foundation aid, and would expand Teacher’s Choice; and,

Whereas, as a member of the City Council, Kevin will expand his ability to help uplift his community and his demonstrated passion for giving back will be an asset to teachers and public education, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the UFT endorse Kevin Riley in his special election for New York City Council District 12 in the Bronx as we believe he will be a strong ally for working people, our schools and our community.