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District 49

Kamillah Hanks

St. George-New Brighton, Tompkinsville-Stapleton-Clifton-Fox Hills, Rosebank-Shore Acres-Park Hill, West New Brighton-Silver Lake-Grymes Hill, Westerleigh-Castleton Corners, Port Richmond, Mariner's Harbor-Arlington-Graniteville, Snug Harbor, Todt Hill-Emerson Hill-Manor Heights, Fort Wadsworth

Kamillah M. Hanks is a lifelong Staten Islander and a proud mother of four, dedicated to fostering smart growth and positive economic development in the North Shore community for nearly two decades. With a background in marketing and finance from the College of Staten Island and over 20 years of professional experience across public and private sectors, Kamillah has built a career marked by advocacy, innovation, and leadership.

In 2012, she founded the Historic Tappen Park Community Partnership, where she collaborates with civic leaders, community organizations, and schools to drive cultural and economic revitalization in Stapleton and surrounding neighborhoods. Her pioneering efforts include establishing Staten Island’s first YouthBuild program, providing pathways to advanced vocational education, job training, and life skills for young adults. Under her leadership, YouthBuild Staten Island secured a $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor in 2018.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kamillah partnered with local businesses and YouthBuild participants to create a training program that produced and donated over 5,000 face shields to first responders and healthcare workers. In 2020, she founded the Minority Women in Business Association of Staten Island to address inequities and support women of color in business.

Since her election in 2021 as the Council Member for the North Shore of Staten Island, Kamillah has delivered over $61 million in funding for schools, parks, healthcare, and community initiatives, as well as worked with Mayor Eric Adams to secure $426 million for the transformative North Shore waterfront revitalization project.

Throughout her career, Kamillah has championed policies to foster local entrepreneurship, advocated for accessible education, and prioritized public safety through innovative projects like Staten Island’s first Community Justice Center. She has also served on the New York City Council Redistricting Commission, the Van Duzer Civic Association, and as the Executive Director of the Downtown Staten Island Council. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including being named a Staten Island Advance 2020 Woman of Achievement and a Young, Gifted, and Black Entrepreneurial award honoree.

Kamillah’s diverse accomplishments reflect her deep commitment to her community, from her role in the Oscar-nominated documentary short Ferry Tales to her appointment to the NYC Panel for Education Policy by former Staten Island Borough President James Oddo. Her work consistently exemplifies a vision for equitable growth, resilience, and empowerment across Staten Island.

She resides in Stapleton with her family and remains devoted to building a brighter, more inclusive future for her beloved North Shore community.