Al Vann Passes the Baton, Says 'Goodbye' to His Days in Politics

On Friday, April 19, at 10:30 a.m., Bedford-Stuyvesant will say goodbye to City Councilmember Albert Vann.

Oh, let me clarify: He’s not leaving Bedford-Stuyvesant.

But on this day, on the steps of Restoration Plaza, Councilman Vann will endorse Robert E. Cornegy, Jr. as his successor in the New York City Council, signaling the end of his more than 40 years of service to the community.

This is not a political endorsement of Vann. Because he’s done campaigning. However, as the community grows and more and more newcomers settle in, it’s only fitting to acknowledge the work and achievements of those who have made the greatest impact in not only preserving the culture, beauty and rich history of the community but also helping it to grow and continually improve.

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Council Member Albert Vann was born and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant. At age 18, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he rose to the rank of sergeant. He then went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Toledo University, a master's degree in education from Yeshiva University and a master's degree in guidance and counseling from Long Island University.

After college, he began a long career as an educator at P.S. 256, JHS 35 and JHS 271, where he founded the African American Teachers Association, before serving as an instructor at Vassar College's Urban Center for Black Studies. As a community board member, he played an instrumental role in the creation of Boys & Girls Memorial High School and Medgar Evers College.

He then went on to serve as a New York State Assemblyman from 1974 – 2001, where he led the U.S. Supreme Court fight that prevented the racial gerrymandering of the New York City Council-- a court case led to increased representation of communities of color in the Council. In addition, Vann also filed a 1982 lawsuit that forced the New York State Legislature to significantly increase representation of communities of color on the state and federal levels. His landmark victory led to the creation of two additional Congressional Districts, three additional State Senatorial Districts, and six additional Assembly Districts for communities of color in New York State.

In November of 2001, Vann was elected to represent the 36th Council District of Brooklyn in the New York City Council where he championed education, home ownership, employment and senior care—issues most impacting the residents of his district. Also in that role, he founded the 36th Council District Katrina Relief Effort, the Black Brooklyn Empowerment Convention, and New York City Works, which provides resources to reduce the disproportionally high unemployment rate in Black and Latino communities.

Additionally, Councilman Vann has been instrumental in establishing the following Taskforces to give residents of the 36th Council District an opportunity to improve their community: Education Taskforce; Senior Taskforce; Community Safety Taskforce; Youth Taskforce; and the Coalition for the Improvement of Bedford Stuyvesant, formerly known as the Housing & Economic Development Taskforce, Vannguard.

Here’s what a few residents have to say about Albert Vann and his impact on the community of Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Robert E. Cornegy, District Leader, incoming City Council Member:
“I’ve read that you can measure a person’s impact on society by his or her ability to go into the history books. But an even better measure is to look at the people a person has mentored and influenced and enabled to go into the history books as well. 

“It’s important for people to understand that, because of Al Vann’s legacy and his legislation in Albany, the amount of seats that are now held by people of color have increased exponentially. If it weren’t for Al Vann’s advocacy from the assembly level, that seat for Jeffries would not have existed. The amount of people that sit as judges of color on the Supreme Court have been increased through Vann’s advocacy when he was in the state legislature.  Also, because of his struggle with the education system in Ocean Hill/Brownsville, more teachers of color were brought into the BOE and into our classrooms.

“I can’t say enough about his institution building, from Vanguard to Jackie Robinson, to Bridge Street to Restoration Development Corporation, and his understanding of our necessity to build those institutions… He also had a way of identifying people’s strengths and finding ways to assist them in helping to empower themselves and their community. Some may not know the history of Al Vann, but the history books will show it.”

Oma Hollaway, 44, founder of AZENA Consulting Group, co-chair of the Youth Education Safety Task Force of Bed-Stuy, vice-chair of the Education and Youth Committee for CB3:
“There are two areas where Vann should be given a lot of credit: As a champion for youth issues and laying the groundwork for how a community can best organize.”

“He’s responsible for the organization of so many programs that try to empower the youth in this community— everything, from how crime was impacting young people, supportive services that were being made available, quality programming, making sure they have jobs to enter into the workforce or making sure they get additional enrichment opportunities.

“How I first got connected with Vann was after Hurricane Katrina, when many people were displaced and ended up in hotels across the country. And they ended up in New York. He did a call to community leaders in Bed-Stuy to bring together our resources and a comprehensive plan on how we were going to meet their needs. It was amazing. Before, we were organizations that worked in our own silo. 

“But we all came together to ensure sure they had benefits, mental health services, medical services, employment. And over the course of three years, we were able to help them get back on their feet. And that was a great model in how we can respond to crises. He was very committed and really created the platform on how to come together as a unit. It was amazing. He showed me that if there is leadership, commitment and resources, change-- positive change-- can happen in any community.”

L. Joy Williams, 34, Founder of LJW Strategies, president of NAACP, Brooklyn Chapter:“
I started working with Al Vann through VIDA. And what I’ve learned as far as the technical aspects of running a campaign, I owe all of that to Al Vann and Annette Robinson. I think what people often don’t give Vann accolades for is what VIDA has done as far as cultivating leadership to support the message and the mission of a community. I also look at all of these young people that he brought together to create a movement and a force in the community-- He has the leadership capacity to cultivate people to be the best they can be.

“The second piece I always talk about is how he so responsible for the makeup of the council today and the representatives we have, because he brought the law suit to expand representation for people of color. And that was something he did for the entire city, and not just Central Brooklyn.

“I think Vann’s been a great example, if you look at his entire career and his leadership, of how this community is put together and its cohesiveness. And anyone looking to represent this community has to take into account the leadership style he and people like Annette and Velmanette have demonstrated over his tenure. They embody what the Bed-Stuy community is. Even people who don’t always agree with him, still embody and model their organizational structure from what he has created.”

The Community is invited out Friday, April 19, at 10:30 a.m., on the steps of Restoration Plaza, as history is made in Central Brooklyn when Albert Vann will pass the baton on to Robert E. Cornegy, Jr. as his successor in the New York City Council.