11 NYC Electeds Selected for ISLG’s Lindsay Fellowship in Government Leadership and Practice
Eleven recently elected members of the New York City Council and State Legislature have been selected as 2021 recipients of the Lindsay Fellowship in Government Leadership and Practice, the CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance (ISLG) announced today.
The fellowship recognizes promising New York City leaders who have been elected to the city and state legislative bodies in the past four years and introduces these leaders to experts across a variety of policy areas and provides a space for ongoing dialogue and learning. The fellowship aims to deepen fellows’ understanding of the pressures and concerns that influence government decision-making and enhance their capacity to make a positive impact on the future of New York City and State.
“In elected office, opportunities to come together with colleagues to exchange ideas and discuss common challenges are too rare. Being a Lindsay Fellow connected me to a community of practitioners and fellow public servants from across the five boroughs—many from districts quite different from my own, but all of them committed to good government and thoughtful public policy. I’m grateful for my experiences as a Fellow and congratulate this year’s class,” said New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie.
The 2021 class of Lindsay Fellows includes:
State Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson, Queens
State Senator Jabari Brisport, Brooklyn
State Assemblymember Kenny Burgos, Bronx
State Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, Brooklyn
State Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, Queens
City Councilmember Robert Holden, Queens
City Councilmember Farah Louis, Brooklyn
City Councilmember Kevin Riley, Bronx
State Assemblymember Amanda Septimo, Bronx
State Assemblymember Michael Tannousis, Staten Island/Brooklyn
State Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman, Brooklyn
The Lindsay Fellowship, named for former Mayor John Lindsay, seeks to recognize Mayor Lindsay’s legacy of attracting young talent to local government. The fellows meet several times throughout the year to exchange ideas with experts from the public and private sectors, including business, civic and academic leaders and former government officials.
Kicking off this year’s program, the fellows will attend a day-long opening summit that focuses on key topics and tools for effective leadership and policymaking: city and state budgeting, communications and media, negotiations, and ethics. Michael Jacobson and Marc Shaw, the co-founders of CUNY ISLG, will host the day and moderate panel discussions. Lindsay Fellows will then meet monthly with public and private sector experts to dig more deeply into key issues such as mental health and healthcare, criminal justice, housing, energy and the environment, and education.
The Lindsay Fellows were selected by an advisory board of former government officials who provide guidance to the program. The advisory board includes Gordon Davis, chair, (Venable LLP); Gail Benjamin (former city council staff); Fred Cerullo (Grand Central Partnership); Robert Esnard (Donald Zucker Co); Elsie McCabe (NYC Mission Society); Haeda Mihaltses (NY Mets); Forrest Taylor (former city council staff); and Ann Weisbrod, retired (Hudson Yards Development Corporation).
“Newly elected individuals bring new energy and new ideas to governing and public service—which may be more important now than ever. This class of Lindsay Fellows are a dynamic group of public servants who, in this unique moment, have the opportunity to shape New York City and State for a generation. We’re looking forward to working with them,” said Michael P. Jacobson, executive director of the CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance.”
New members of the New York City Council and the New York State Legislature elected within the past four years are invited at the beginning of the year to apply to become Lindsay Fellows. Applicants are asked to submit a resume and complete an interview with ISLG leadership and Lindsay Fellowship Advisory Board members about what they hope to gain from the program, what issues compelled them to run for office, and the greatest obstacles they face as elected officials.
The Lindsay Fellowship in Government Leadership and Practice is administered by the CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance.
About the Lindsay Fellowship in Government Leadership and Practice
The Lindsay Fellowship in Government Leadership and Practice was created on the 50th anniversary of the election of John Lindsay as mayor of New York City. The program honors his many years of public service as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, during which he played a leading role in the enactment of such historic legislation as the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the 1965 Immigration Reform Act, and as the mayor of New York City, during which he emphasized recruiting young talent, especially individuals from communities of color and others underrepresented in government leadership, and sought ways to encourage their growth, increase their skills, and advance their careers. The Lindsay Fellowship honors his public service by supporting young city and state legislators in broadening their understanding of key constituencies and the pressures and concerns that impact government deliberations and decision-making. The Fellowship also provides fellows with ongoing opportunities to collaborate with their peers and to build relationships with civic leaders and former government officials, as well as leaders from academia, the media, and business.