I’ve proudly called Brooklyn my home for over a quarter century, working for much of that time at the nation’s first community development corporation, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation , and more recently leading The HOPE Program , a citywide workforce development organization headquartered in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn. Throughout these years, I have witnessed countless stories of resilience and transformation. But meeting Cleveland Oakes at a recent HOPE alumni event truly brought my journey full circle. His story embodies the very mission I have dedicated my life to advancing: creating pathways for Brooklyn residents to reclaim their power and build better futures.

When Oakes first introduced himself, his warmth and confidence made me think he was a community partne

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