Brooklyn Is the Epicenter: A Reflection from Visiting Scholar Christina Greer

Some argue New York City is the center of the universe. If that is indeed true, then Brooklyn is the epicenter.

Not just because both Congressional leaders Schumer and Jeffries call Brooklyn their home, as well as New York State Attorney General Tish James, and countless leaders in Albany and the city council, but to call Brooklyn your home means something special. It’s a community of neighborhoods large and small, constant in and out migration, and a shared vision that to be a Brooklynite is to take care of the borough, its people, its parks, and so much more. 

I am proud to be the inaugural Visiting Fellow at Brooklyn Org to help its leadership team and its community of supporters, fund holders, and changemakers think through some of the complex policy challenges facing the borough, as well as celebrate the triumphs of small businesses, nonprofits, and policy organizations working to make Brooklyn a leader not just in New York City, but across the country.

As the nation celebrates her 250th anniversary, Brooklyn Org continues to invest in people, organizations, and communities in policy spaces I care about deeply. From youth programs to immigrant support, criminal justice reform to civic engagement and education. The mission of Brooklyn Org continues to expand to match the changing and diversifying Brooklyn. Providing inclusive support for a myriad of groups is the foundation of our beloved borough that will keep it thriving for generations to come.

I was born in Queens, spent most of my adult life in Harlem and the Upper West Side, and moved to Brooklyn in 2018. I fell in love with Crown Heights because of four things: the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Public Library, and Prospect Park. I could not believe I had four of the greatest gems NYC has to offer literally within walking distance. The art and architecture of these four institutions transport me each time I take them in. Eastern Parkway reminds me of a European promenade and the tree lined streets remind me of Philadelphia, where I spent my formative years. That is just a small slice of the over 70 neighborhoods in Brooklyn. It is my sincere hope that my tenure with Brooklyn Org will allow me to learn more about the work being done in the borough and share my expertise when needed.