Brooklyn Org Celebrates 25 Community Leaders Shaping the Borough’s Future at Annual Changemakers Ball

The October 28 celebration will recognize Brooklyn-based changemakers and debut “We ThePeople” art installation with partner Photoville

Brooklyn Org will spotlight 25 community leaders during its annual Brooklyn Org Changemakers Ball at Powerhouse Arts on Wednesday, October 28. The evening benefit will celebrate the borough’s most impactful community leaders alongside showcasing Brooklyn Org’s work to mobilize greater investment in the borough. During the ball, Brooklyn Org will also unveil “We The People,” a portrait gallery and public art installation in collaboration with Photoville featuring the stories of the 25 local leaders.

The Brooklyn Org 25

The Brooklyn Org 25 is an annual recognition of emerging and longtime community leaders whose work is shaping the borough’s future. This year’s recipients reflect three urgent priorities in the face of significant federal policy changes: defending Brooklynites’ rights, protecting Brooklyn families, and preserving the borough’s historic arts and culture. Together, these honorees are a testament to what is possible when neighbors invest in one another and communities come together to meet challenges with solutions and local action.

“Brooklyn’s greatest strength comes from the community members committed to creating meaningful change,” said Dr. Jocelynne Rainey, President and CEO of Brooklyn Org. “The Brooklyn Org 25 reflect the driving forces pushing our borough forward. These honorees reflect the best of our diverse and thriving communities and their work demonstrates what Brooklyn can do when we come together to pursue an equitable future.”

This year’s recipients include Randy Ali of Arab American Family Support Center, Rev. DeVanie Jackson of Brooklyn Rescue Mission Urban Harvest Center and Atiba Edwards of Brooklyn Children’s Museum, who will provide remarks at this year’s Changemakers Ball. To view the full Brooklyn Org 25 list, please visit brooklyn.org/bko25.

The Brooklyn Org Changemakers Ball

The Changemakers Ball is Brooklyn Org’s largest annual fundraiser, raising over $1 million to power its investment in local communities and the nonprofits that serve them. Bringing together community leaders, supporters and businesses, the evening will celebrate the people and organizations shaping Brooklyn’s future and the role of local giving in building a more equitable and just borough.

Ali, Jackson and Edwards will take the main stage to represent this year’s Brooklyn Org 25 honorees and share perspectives on their work and Brooklyn’s future. The evening will feature performances by Brooklyn-born playwright and poet Najee Omar and DJ Stretch Armstrong. Armstrong will serve as the evening’s musical emcee.

For event details and tickets, visit brooklyn.org/changemakersball.

“We The People”

In partnership with Photoville, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and Two Trees Management, Brooklyn Org will unveil “We The People,” a photo installation featuring this year’s Brooklyn Org 25, with portraits by photographer Aundre Larrow. The installation celebrates the people, institutions and communities writing Brooklyn’s next chapter, extending the recognition beyond the Ball and into the borough’s public spaces.

“We The People” will debut at the Brooklyn Org Changemakers Ball before moving to The Plaza at 300 Ashland, where the public can experience the portraits and learn about the honorees’ work starting October 30, 2026 throughout the month of November.

“A better world is built by the people who stand up for their communities and turn their convictions into actions,” said Sam Barzilay, creative director and co-founder of Photoville. “We believe public spaces should celebrate these changemakers, and we’re proud to partner with Brooklyn Org to bring their portraits and stories to Downtown Brooklyn, giving more people a chance to recognize the important work being done in their communities and the people behind it.”

In addition to the exhibition, Brooklyn Org has partnered with Brooklyn-based design studio Culture 12 on a limited-edition t-shirt celebrating the borough and the people shaping its future. Available exclusively through the Brooklyn Made store beginning Oct. 15, a percentage of proceeds will support Brooklyn Org’s work to mobilize resources for communities across the borough.

“We’re excited to create this limited-edition shirt to honor the power of community that we hold as Brooklynites,” said Nicole Lavonne Smith-Johnson, Culture 12 co-founder. “Power lies in us, the people, individually and collectively. Our greatest strength is in our communities.”

To learn more about Brooklyn Org, the Changemakers Ball and this year’s Brooklyn Org 25, please visit brooklyn.org/changemakersball.

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About Brooklyn Org

Brooklyn Org is a champion for Brooklyn bringing together community changemakers—families and businesses, grassroots leaders and growing companies, and local nonprofits and the communities they serve—to be a new model for local philanthropy, in pursuit of a more equitable and just borough. Since its founding in 2009, Brooklyn Org has moved over $150 million to nonprofits through its strategic grantmaking and Donor Advised Funds, while driving action to address urgent crises and long-term change in Brooklyn. Learn more at brooklyn.org.

About Photoville

Photoville was built on the principles of addressing cultural equity and inclusion by ensuring that the artists it exhibits are diverse in gender, class and race. Since 2011, Photoville has activated public spaces, amplified visual storytellers and created unique and highly innovative exhibition and programming environments across the five boroughs of New York City. Through creative partnerships with festivals, city agencies, and other nonprofit organizations, Photoville offers visual storytellers, educators, and students financial support, mentorship and promotional & production resources, on a range of exhibition opportunities. For more information about Photoville visit photoville.com.

About Culture 12

Brooklyn-based Culture 12 sits at the intersection of art, design, culture, and social change. The design studio creates bold, handcrafted shirts that amplify values, spark conversation, and use art as a vehicle for personal expression. Culture 12 brings decades of user-experience design and community building to their approach to apparel. culture12.com

About Downtown Brooklyn Partnership

Downtown Brooklyn Partnership is a not-for-profit local development corporation that serves as the primary champion for Downtown Brooklyn as a world-class business, cultural, educational, residential, and retail destination. The organization manages three Business Improvement Districts and works to support economic development, improve public spaces, foster innovation, and strengthen the neighborhood’s vibrant business community. downtownbrooklyn.com

About Two Trees Management

Since its founding in 1968, Two Trees, a Brooklyn-based, family-owned real estate development firm, has owned, managed and developed a portfolio worth more than $4B in real estate. Today, Two Trees currently owns and manages more than 4,000 apartments, and an additional 3 million square feet of commercial and industrial real estate throughout New York City. twotreesny.com