Speaking in the newly renovated City Council chambers, Quinn appeared to distance herself from Mayor Michael Bloomberg, harkening back to
her roots as a community organizer and stressing the power of communities to create a kinder, gentler New York.
Jelani began his career in education reform 11 years ago
as a
community organizer and youth worker at Mikva Challenge, where he developed curriculum to train teachers in grass
roots activism and supported over 5,000 high school students» activism projects.