The New Yorkers Helping Us Move Millions To Brooklyn’s Communities

Oct 10, 2024

A group of people poses together in front of a large "BROOKLYN.ORG" sign, inside a room with blue walls and a white ceiling. — Brooklyn Org's community Advisory Council

Every conversation we have at Brooklyn Org returns to the question, “what do you love about Brooklyn?” Whether we’re speaking with our staff and board, nonprofits, supporters, civic and business leaders, or members of the broader community – it all comes down to our shared love for the borough. That’s why we’re so proud to work hand in hand with New Yorkers through our community Advisory Council, moving millions of dollars in funding across Brooklyn every year.

Our Advisory Council is made up of 12 Brooklynites who bring a range of lived experience and professional know-how to the table, each serving for 2 years. Building on our longstanding participatory grantmaking practice, these community members review funding applications from nonprofits, attend site visits with our staff, and help decide which organizations should receive grants from us.

Learn more about our current Advisory Council below!

The Brooklyn Org Advisory Council

Smiling person with curly hair and large, square glasses, wearing hoop earrings and a necklace, against a plain background.

Alyssa Belle

East New York

She/Her

Person wearing a green and black hat and gold hoop earrings smiles at the camera.

Jo-Ena Bennett

Bushwick

She/Her

A person in a blue dress is sitting at a table in a banquet hall, holding a pen.

Monique Brizz-Walker

Prospect-Lefferts

She/Her

Melanie Hart

Bed- Stuy

She/Her

A person wearing a blue and pink checkered shirt is sitting outdoors with a slight smile, and trees are visible in the background.

Xavier Ifill

East Flatbush

He/Him

A woman wearing glasses and a green cardigan smiles while standing outdoors. She has curly hair and is wearing a large necklace.

Farrah Lafontant

East New York

She/Her

Person smiling, wearing a black jacket and blue shirt, with a neutral background.

Traci Lester

Flatbush/Prospect Park South

She/Her

Portrait of a person smiling, wearing a black and white patterned jacket.

Jackie McKinney

East Flatbush

She/Her

A woman in a blazer stands in front of a LinkNYC digital kiosk displaying community board meeting information.

Nicole Robinson-Etienne

Canarsie

She/Her

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a navy blue top, smiles at the camera against a plain white background.

Jordan Smoczyk

Williamsburg

She/Her

Woman with long hair in a white blouse stands outdoors in a park area with trees and grass in the background.

Bonnie Sultan

South Brooklyn

She/Her

Person with glasses and short hair smiling in front of a turquoise wall.

Adrien Lorenzo Weibgen

Flatbush

They/Them

Brooklyn embodies a true melting pot. The various communities, cultures, cuisines, arts are like no other. Alyssa Belle

I love the convenience of transportation in Brooklyn and neighborhood amenities. Jo-Ena Bennett

Brooklyn's charm lies in its diverse community and the lively tapestry of its sights and sounds. Our differences not only define us but also bring us together, fostering a united spirit that strengthens our borough and makes it a wonderful place to call home. Monique Brizz-Walker

I love that Brooklyn is home. It represents my people, our struggle and beauty. Melanie Hart

Brooklyn is the greatest place in the world. Having lived here for most of my life, I still discover new neighborhoods. Xavier Ifill

I love Brooklyn's diversity, grit and rich history. Brooklyn's energy is undeniable, which in large part is because of its people. Farrah Lafontant

What I love most about Brooklyn is the cultural richness and diversity of the Borough. Traci Lester

I love exploring the diverse cultures of each neighborhood through events and food. Jackie McKinney

Born and raised in Brooklyn, I take great pride in being from a borough that welcomed and embraced my parents as new immigrants to this country in the early 1970s. I mostly love the unique cultural diversity of each neighborhood and knowing that no matter where you go in the world, when you ask, 'Is Brooklyn in the house?' someone is bound to answer. Nicole Robinson-Etienne

I love and am energized and delighted by walking and biking to our world-renowned parks, waterfronts, and local businesses while encountering art, events, and other Brooklynites and visitors with shared and different experiences, interests, and passions than my own. Jordan Smoczyk