Cordell understands the challenges we face today, because she has lived them. She is a product of Harlem and New York City’s public schools who has fought every day for housing, education, gun control, small businesses, healthcare, environmental justice and the struggle for generational wealth, black empowerment, and against racial disparities across the board.
Starting as a tenant advocate and as Chair of the NYC Coalition to End Lead Poisoning, Cordell took on the big landlords and helped pass the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, forcing landlords to remove hazardous lead paint that was crippling our children.
Continuing as a skilled legislative Chief of Staff and community leader, Cordell:
- Organized community, teachers, parents and students to fight against and win the battle to save Harlem’s Wadleigh Secondary School for the Visual and Performing Arts from being closed by Mayor DeBlasio.
- Fought alongside NYCHA residents and seniors to stop the closure of Senior Centers in NYCHA developments.
- Stood with Lenox Terrace tenants and community stakeholders to stop developers’ plans that would have overburdened infrastructure and community resources as well as create a massive wave of unaffordable housing and commercial space which would essentially push Harlem residents out.
Cordell is co-founder of the Michelle Obama Democratic Club and has represented us for many terms as our Democratic District Leader in Assembly District 68 and now in Assembly District 70. Previously, Cordell served as a member and then president of School Board 3 and also became President of Community Education Council (CEC) #3.
She is dedicated to preserving our families by focusing on job creation, career readiness, ending gun violence in our streets and domestic violence in our homes. She is ready to make history as this District’s second woman State Senator and will continue to provide our community and our families with the fearless leadership and bold solutions we deserve.