‘Neighbor’ is Running to be Borough President of Brooklyn

By COLlive reporter

A small gathering was organized for a group of residents of Crown Heights and other communities to meet and hear from Khari Edwards, a Democratic candidate for Borough President of Brooklyn on Thursday, May 20.

Although he isn’t a household name, Edwards was familiar to a good few of them. In fact, he is their neighbor.

Edwards was born and raised in Crown Heights, Crown Heights, the high-profile neighborhood in central Brooklyn that is home to a large West Indian and African American population, as well as a Jewish one.

For nearly two decades, Edwards worked in community development for elected officials, non-for-profits and city agencies. Most recently, Edwards worked as the Vice President of External Affairs for Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center in Eastern Brooklyn.

Edwards was instrumental in building and developing partnerships with local community-based organizations and created a free math tutoring program for young women and girls. He is also one of the lead coordinators for the East Brooklyn Call to Action Campaign that focuses on housing, healthcare, workforce development and physical fitness for Brooklynites.

He is now running to succeed Eric Adams who is running for Mayor of New York City. Coming to meet him were people from the private and public sector who discussed how would like to see Brooklyn move forward post the pandemic.

Yaacov Behrman, a Jewish activist, knows Edwards well as neighbors on Carroll Street. “We’ve been friends since the mid-80s,” he commented. Edwards continues to live with his wife and three children on Carroll.

“Carroll street is diverse,” said Behrman. “Young professionals, Chassidic Jewish families, African American families but on Carroll we are just New Yorkers and good neighbors.”

Speaking to people gathered, Edwards said he is a strong believer in fostering and bringing all voices to the table whether he agrees or disagrees with them.

“As Borough President, it is important that they be uniter and not a divider, especially if we want this city to come back and come back stronger post the pandemic,” Edwards said.