New York City Council Member Rita C. Joseph, elected in 2021 to represent Brooklyn’s
40th District, is a visionary leader and lifelong advocate for education, justice, equity,
and opportunity. A former public school teacher, proud union member, and community
organizer, her journey began at just 19 years old when she led a historic 150,000-person rally that successfully challenged the FDA’s discriminatory “Bad Blood” rule against Haitians.

A once-teen mother who defied the odds to earn a full college scholarship, Council Member Joseph’s life reflects resilience, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to uplifting others. Today, she serves as Chair of the New York City Council’s Higher Education Committee, where she is driving a forward-looking agenda to expand access, affordability, and pathways to success for all New Yorkers. She also continues to champion educational equity, drawing on over two decades of experience in the classroom.

Council Member Joseph is an active member of several key committees within the New York City Council, including: Immigration, Education, Disabilities, Children and Youth, Housing and Buildings, and the Sub-Committee on Early Childhood Education. Within the New York City Council, she is Co-Chair of the Brooklyn Delegation, Co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus, Second Vice Chair of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus, and a proud member of the Progressive Caucus. She is also a distinguished member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, embodying a legacy of service, scholarship, and sisterhood. Council Member Rita Joseph remains committed to public service by centering equity and innovation, grounding herself in her community, guided by a vision for a more just and inclusive city.