Julie Won represents the 26th Council District in Western Queens covering the neighborhoods of Long Island City, Sunnyside, Astoria, and Woodside. She is the first woman and immigrant to represent this district in the city’s history. As a tenant and activist, Julie has committed to a new vision for her community with a deep focus on creating and preserving affordable housing, increasing access to city resources for all New Yorkers, ensuring that access to quality and affordable internet is guaranteed, and many other issues that are top of mind for her constituents. At the age of eight, Julie immigrated to New York City with her family looking for a new beginning, an experience she shares with over half of the constituency she represents.
Lashea Woodson
Director of Operations, Connective Strategies
Lashea Woodson began her political career as a canvasser at 14. Now, Lashea works as the director of operations for Connective Strategies where she is the leader of a diverse team. Throughout her career, Lashea has worked in many influential races as a field organizer/manager, some races include Donovan Richards for Queens Borough President, Jeff Aubry for Assembly, and Katz for DA. Lashea holds a degree in sociology and business administration from the SUNY University at Albany
H.D. Wright
Youth Representative, Education Cannot Wait, United Nations
H.D. Wright is a youth representative at the United Nations fund for education in emergencies. Serving on the fund’s Executive Committee and High-Level Steering Group, he is the first young person democratically elected to the governing body of a global humanitarian fund. Since his election, Wright has been a leading voice in support of the democratization of the humanitarian sector, intergenerationality, and the protection of human rights, with a focus on refugees.
What is your biggest accomplishment in 2022?
This year, after a tireless mobilization of the youth constituency at Education Cannot Wait, we collectively called on all humanitarian funds to introduce youth constituencies. We may be the first in the sector, but it is our hope that we are not the last.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out their careers?
If there is a problem you hope to address, do not focus on the people who created it. Focus on the systems of power holding them hostage, and the discourse that imagined them into existence.
Was there something or someone who inspired you to start your journey on your current career path?
My journey began at fifteen, with NY Times Economics correspondent Jack Ewing on the streets of Berlin. I was moved to action by the Syrian families I met there and in Rome. They were kind to me when the continent was turning on them, generous when they had so little. I wanted to give back.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I hope to be atop a horse in the forest of Lavizan outside Tehran. US-Iran tensions will have eased and the humanitarian sector will have reasonably conceded to all of our demands. Whether or not this occurs is entirely up to us.
