Council Member Mercedes Narcisse

Council Member Mercedes Narcisse is a registered nurse who represents the 46th Council District in Brooklyn, covering the neighborhoods of Bergen Beach, Canarsie, Flatlands, Georgetown, Gerritsen Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Mill Island, Sheepshead Bay. Council Member Narcisse is Chair of the New York City Council’s Committee on Hospitals and serves on the Committees on Health, Education, Parks and Recreation, Transportation and Infrastructure, Criminal Justice and the Subcommittee on COVID Recovery and Resiliency.

Mercedes was born in Saint Marc, Haiti and migrated to the United States as a teenager, settling in Brooklyn. She attended public high school in Brooklyn, and is a proud CUNY graduate. Prior to her election to the City Council in November, 2021, she worked as a registered nurse and was a small business owner.

In her first term as a Member of the New York City Council, Mercedes built a reputation as a fierce advocate for her community with a tireless work ethic.  Her community office has notably become one of the highest in serving constituents in NYC, demonstrating her effectiveness and dedication.

As a member of the Council’s Budget and Negotiation Team, Mercedes has delivered unprecedented victories for District 46. She secured millions of dollars in city funding to upgrade and renovate parks, libraries and schools across the district. Mercedes also secured the funding needed to operate after-school programs, senior centers, and other community initiatives, greatly benefiting local residents.

In 2023, she championed strong legislation, notably a bill to enhance health outcomes for those with sickle cell disease and another to train NYPD officers in identifying and interacting with New Yorkers with autism. These initiatives reflect her commitment to addressing both health and social challenges, further cementing her reputation as a relentless advocate for her constituents.

Mercedes is a loving mother of four and a proud resident of the 46th district in Brooklyn. In November, 2023 she was re-elected to serve another two-year term beginning January 1, 2024.

Dr. Waleek Boone –  Director of the Transition Academy, Medgar Evers College

Dr. Waleek Boone is a passionate advocate for marginalized communities and a
dedicated leader in higher education. As Director of the Transition Academy at MedgarEvers College, he has made it his mission to empower students facing personal challenges, including food insecurity, homelessness, and domestic violence.

With a career spanning over a decade, Dr. Boone has established himself as a champion for student success and well-being. His tireless efforts have secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants, funding essential programs like the college’s food pantry, which provides vital support to students in need. Dr. Boone’s commitment to social justice extends beyond his professional role. He has been recognized with numerous accolades from elected officials and community organizations for his selfless contributions.

Despite his preference for working behind the scenes, his impact on the lives of many is undeniable. As a proud alumnus of Medgar Evers College, Dr. Boone has come full circle, returning to his alma mater to give back to the community that nurtured him. His passion for education and social justice is rooted in his personal experiences, fueling his dedication to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all students. Dr. Boone’s impressive academic credentials include a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California, a Master of Social Work from Hunter College, and a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College. His commitment to lifelong learning and professional growth is evident in his ongoing involvement in outreach programs, workshops, and community partnerships.

One of Dr. Boone’s most notable achievements is the founding of the Transition Academy and the Cougar Country Pantry. Under his leadership, the Cougar Country Pantry has become a vital resource for the community, distributing over 150,000 pounds of food to over 10,000 individuals each year. Dr. Boone has also fostered a critical partnership with the Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter (NCS). Through this collaboration, NCS has provided housing services to Medgar Evers College students, empowering them to complete their educational goals without the burden of homelessness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while all CUNY campuses were remote, Dr. Boone and his team worked tirelessly in-person every day to provide students and the community at large with fresh produce and other pantry items to combat food insecurity. This remarkable effort was made possible through Dr. Boone’s extensive network of community advocates and partners, demonstrating his ability to
mobilize resources and support during times of crisis.

In 2024, Dr. Boone was awarded a $255,000 grant to support students at Medgar Evers College facing short-term hardship. This grant is a testament to his tireless advocacy and commitment to providing crucial assistance to students in need. Through his work, Dr. Boone embodies the values of compassion, empathy, and social responsibility. His legacy as a champion for marginalized communities and a dedicated educator will continue to inspire and empower future generations.

Liz Elting –  Founder and CEO of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation

Liz Elting, Founder and CEO of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation, is an entrepreneur, business leader, bestselling author, linguaphile, philanthropist, feminist, and mother. After living, studying, and working in five countries across the globe, Liz founded TransPerfect out of an NYU dorm room in 1992 and served as Co-CEO until 2018. TransPerfect is the world’s largest language solutions company, with over $1.2 billion in revenue and offices in more than 140 cities worldwide. Liz’s recognitions include the Trinity College Alumni Medal for Excellence, the Charles Waldo Haskins Award for business and public service from NYU’s Stern School of Business, the American Heart Association’s Health Equity Leadership Award and Woman Changing the World Award, and the GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Award. Liz has been recognized as a NOW Woman of Power & Influence, American Express and Entrepreneur magazine’s Woman of the Year, and one of Forbes’ Richest Self-Made Women every year since the list’s inception. Elting is the bestselling author of Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business.

Josh Fox – Founder and Executive Director, The Brady Hunter Foundation

Josh Fox is the founder and Executive Director of The Brady Hunter Foundation (BHF), a non-profit dedicated to animal advocacy, protecting wildlife, and empowering our children, among various other important causes. Under his leadership, BHF has been able to effectuate meaningful change through advocacy, education, and hands-on, direct action, and it has blossomed from an aspirational idea only a few years ago to a global non-profit powerhouse with over 80 strategic charitable partners and a footprint in more than a dozen countries.

Josh is a dynamic leader with a proven ability to build diverse teams and encourage innovation. With over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, Josh combines his expertise in building teams and driving innovation with a deep commitment to social responsibility. Before founding BHF, Josh led a global consultancy firm that helped businesses recover savings so that they could reinvest in themselves and better impact the community at large.

Josh holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan, where he developed the analytical skills that have served as the foundation for his entrepreneurial and philanthropic work. His academic background, coupled with his real-world business experience, enables him to approach complex social issues with a practical yet compassionate mindset.

Through his leadership at BHF, Josh continues to drive forward the organization’s mission to advocate for the rights and welfare of animals while creating opportunities to uplift children around the world. His vision for a more inclusive, compassionate society fuels his daily work as he seeks to ensure a brighter, more just future for all living beings.

In addition to being the founder and Executive Director of BHF, Josh is a member of the Board of the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, as well as the Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation, a non-profit that serves as the financial “first responders” for federal officers and agents who are injured or killed in the line of duty.

Josh has been recognized with the 2025 Pegasus Wings Award, an award from the Pegasus Foundation that recognizes outstanding individuals and programs that have made a significant difference in Marine Animal Rescue and Protection, Wildlife and Habitat Protection, and Animal Welfare. He also received the 2025 Brian Davies Award from Network For Animals, an annual accolade given to those whose outstanding work succeeds in helping animals against overwhelming obstacles, and he was included in Dan’s Papers East End Power List in 2023 and 2024.

Finally, Josh recently earned his first Executive Producer’s credit for his work on the educational television show “Extraordinary World with Jeff Corwin,” currently airing on CBS Saturday morning television, which follows The Brady Hunter Foundation’s “extraordinary” work throughout the country, enhancing the lives of animals and children, and encouraging ordinary people to do extraordinary things through charity and philanthropy.

Ann Marie Adamson-Serieux – EmblemHealth, AVP of Community Affairs

Ann Marie has 30 plus years building experiential marketing strategies and community programming. She graduated from the University of Cambridge, Cambridge England with a degree in English Language.

Early in her career she delved into the world of music and fashion where she co-founded The Event LAB, specializing in experiential product launches, under her leadership Event LAB produced a series of international concerts, fashion events and product launches for major brands.

Driven by her passion for community and addressing their concerns, she joined the Community team at Brooklyn Borough Hall, where she worked in policy and the inter-government lead for Borough President, Marty Markowitz.

Ann Marie then joined a healthcare company, managing special projects and partner engagement in the Community Engagement department. In 2019, she moved to Emblemhealth, the city’s leader in healthcare insurance. Currently, she holds the title of AVP, Community Affairs. Satisfying her life/work mission of engaging communities, furthering understanding of the Caribbean diaspora, educating people on living their healthiest lives and her personal goal of helping her community.

Ann Marie was born in Georgetown, Guyana and raised on the island St. Lucia, both of which she gladly represents. She is the proud mother of daughter, Serieux Summer Lee.