Meet Rita
Council Member Rita Joseph is an educator, immigrant, organizer, and proud Brooklynite serving Flatbush, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Kensington, Ditmas Park, and Southern Crown Heights. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Rita immigrated to New York City as a child and was raised in Flatbush. Her commitment to justice began early. At just 19 years old, she co-founded Haitian Enforcement Against Racism and organized a historic rally of more than 150,000 people to challenge the FDA’s discriminatory “bad blood” policy, which banned people of Haitian descent from donating blood based on stigma and misinformation about HIV. The campaign succeeded, and the federal government rescinded the policy. It was an early lesson in the power of community organizing and collective action.
As a teen mother who refused to let circumstances define her future, Rita pursued her education while raising her children and earned a full college scholarship. She balanced school, work, and motherhood, building a career rooted in service to working families like her own. She went on to teach for more than 20 years in New York City public schools, including at PS 6 in Brooklyn. As an educator and union member, she fought tirelessly for her students, securing hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for technology and school improvements that benefited thousands of children.
Elected to the City Council in 2021, Rita has served as Chair of the Committee on Education and is currently the Chair of the Committee on Higher Education. She has been a leading voice in protecting public school funding and strengthening support for students and families. As a member of the City’s budget negotiating team, she helped defeat proposed cuts to education and secured more than $600 million for New York City schools, including major investments in early childhood education, mental health services, Pre-K, and afterschool programs.
Throughout her life, Rita has fought to ensure government works for working families. From organizing against injustice as a teenager to leading on education policy at City Hall, she brings lived experience, resilience, and results-driven leadership to the communities she serves.
Rita lives in Prospect Lefferts Gardens and is the proud mother of four children.
Rita delivers for
New York City
Families.
Secured over $28 million in capital funding for District 40 schools, parks, and community spaces, delivering technology upgrades, auditorium and playground renovations, major improvements to Parade Grounds and Wingate Park, Prospect Park restoration projects, and investments in neighborhood institutions.
Protected over $600 million in citywide education funding as a member of the City budget negotiating team, defeating proposed cuts and securing critical investments in early childhood education, Pre-K, mental health services, and afterschool programs.
Served as Chair of the Committee on Education, leading oversight of the nation’s largest public school system and holding the administration accountable for student safety, transparency, and academic outcomes.
Passed legislation establishing a food waste diversion pilot program in public schools, reducing waste and promoting sustainability education.
Passed legislation requiring annual reporting on disciplinary reviews for students with disabilities, strengthening transparency and accountability in school discipline practices.
Expanded mental health resources in public schools, advocating for stronger supports for students and families.
Protected and expanded early childhood education, safeguarding Pre-K and 3-K seats for working families.
Advanced participatory budgeting and community engagement, ensuring residents have a direct voice in how public funds are allocated.
Fought for affordable housing and tenant protections, advocating for policies that help longtime residents stay in their homes and strengthen housing stability.
Strengthened public safety through community-based solutions, supporting youth programming and neighborhood investments that address root causes of violence.
Secured environmental and climate resilience investments, including tree planting, green space improvements, and park restoration.
Delivered funding to local nonprofits and cultural institutions, strengthening organizations that serve families, seniors, and youth across District 40.
Organized a historic rally of more than 150,000 people at age 19 to overturn the FDA’s discriminatory “bad blood” policy, successfully pressuring the federal government to rescind a rule that barred people of Haitian descent from donating blood.