MEET KHALEEL

Khaleel was born in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and raised in Far Rockaway, Queens. A part of a growing family of five, Khaleel lived in a household where his father was a member of the powerful healthcare workers union 1199 SEIU and his mother, a community organizer for ACORN (now defunct) active during the years 1996-2005. When his dad left home, the financial strain of living in a single parent home as one of three children and one on the way could be felt by all. In 2005 his family moved to Far Rockaway because rent prices became unaffordable. In his pre-teen years, Khaleel struggled with mental health and behavioral problems. This did not hinder his ability to speak on behalf of his peers when he felt things were unfair. He was able to find his activist voice while advocating for students through middle school, high school, college, and in his professional life.

In 2011 he got a start as a youth organizer for a non-profit group in the Rockaways. Khaleel has been involved in community activism, social justice movements, and fighting to ensure black and brown young people have better health outcomes. Khaleel has organized hundreds of young people to become more engaged civically and politically. He has led young people to convert a vacant lot into a full acre urban farm, fought the MTA to extend Q-52 bus service and continues to be an advocate for stronger schools.  In 2014 he led young people in his neighborhood to convert a vacant lot to build a half acre urban farm which provides fresh produce, workshops, training(s) on healthy eating and employment opportunities for young people in the community. 

Khaleel graduated Queens College from a BA program and is finalizing an MA in Urban Affairs, with a minor in Cities and Social Medicine. He serves on Queens Community Board 14, the 101st Police Precinct Council, and is a member of the NAACP Far Rockaway Branch. Today, he is the Democratic and Working Families Party nominee for the New York State Assembly in District 31. He hopes to expand his community work and body of accomplishments to improve the lives of the over 120,000 of his neighbors that call this place home. He currently is a member of PSC serving as a Supplemental Instructor for the SEEK program at his alma mater. Khaleel has stated that he is running for state assembly because now more than ever young people are being railroaded by state policy and a real voice is needed in Albany.  

Result Driven Organizing: 

• Fought the MTA to extend Q-52 bus line in Far Rockaway 

• Pushed the Parks Department for community controlled greenspace:

• Teens on Board Legislation (State) and Community Safety Act (City)

• Increased funding for SEEK/CD/ASAP and other higher ed. funding (2015)

• Member of Ready Rockaway, an emergency preparedness organization that actively works to train and prepare residents for disaster.