NEW YORK — Rep. Jamaal Bowman on Tuesday announced his congressional and district staff, representing a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences from within the district, Capitol Hill, and activism and advocacy. Bowman’s team is more than 50% women and 80% people of color, and his leadership team is all women.

“I’m proud that, despite dealing with an insurrection and the impeachment of a president in our first two weeks in office, we are fully staffed and ready to serve the 16th District,” Bowman said. “We’re humbled that the district has entrusted us with this responsibility and are prepared to work each day to disrupt a political, social, and economic status quo that has failed marginalized people for too long.”

Please see below for names and biographies of Bowman’s staff.

Sarah Iddrissu, Chief of Staff. Sarah began her career as a special education teacher in NY-16. She was most recently the founder and executive director of an education policy and advocacy organization. Sarah is also a community organizer and activist, mobilizing Black mothers in the Black Lives Matter movement.

Georgia Parke, Communications Director. Georgia brings previous Hill experience from Senator Bernie Sanders' communications office to Rep. Bowman’s team. On the Bernie 2020 campaign, she directed the social media and design teams and most recently served as Sanders' digital communications director and press secretary.

Liz Lee, Legislative Director. Liz is grateful to bring previous Hill experience from the offices of Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Barbara Lee, and Keith Ellison. A beneficiary of programs like Head Start and public housing, Kaozouapa is passionate about enacting policies that uplift all families and unraveling harmful systems that were enacted to only further institutionalized racism.

Jordan Evans, Deputy Communications Director. Jordan will bring his background in design, digital communications, and social media to lead the Congressman’s digital communications. He most recently spent time at the Democratic National Committee.

Malia Blake, Staff Assistant/Press Assistant. Malia began her time working in Congress with Rep. Nanette Barragán. Malia is passionate about civil rights and Black issues including but not limited to education, housing, health care, reproductive rights, and the digital divide along with other prevalent social issues. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and is honored to spend her time serving the people.

Jaime Cobham, Legislative Assistant. Jaime was born and raised in Brooklyn to Panamanian immigrants. His father spent most of his life working for the Board of Education in New York while doubling as a Catholic Deacon, and his mother is a clinical research nurse focusing on finding new treatments for breast cancer. He is a proud graduate of Regis High School, former home of Dr. Fauci, where the Jesuits instilled in him a deep sense of our moral obligation to be men for others.

Ruthy Gourevitch, Legislative Correspondent. Ruthy grew up in NY-16 and volunteered on Rep. Bowman’s campaign, where she became inspired to help craft bold legislation that centers the needs of district residents. She previously worked on federal and local housing policy, researching and developing policies related to homelessness and racial segregation.

Lucia Rodriguez, Operations Manager. A Maryland native and Towson University graduate (go Tigers!), Lucia worked as a scheduler for Rep. Barragán, and before that, as a scheduling assistant for Senator Ben Cardin. As the daughter of immigrants and first of her family to attend college, she is excited to fight for the working class and cause problems for the status quo.

Rajiv Sicora, Senior Policy Advisor. Rajiv has spent the last decade working to advance transformative climate action, as primary researcher on Naomi Klein's This Changes Everything and most recently at The Leap. Rajiv is thrilled to be fighting with Rep. Bowman and his new colleagues for racial, economic, and climate justice.

New York 16th District Staff

Ashley Torres, District Director. Ashley is a Bronxite who is eager to assist marginalized communities in the Bronx and Westchester. She has spent most of her career serving the most vulnerable New Yorkers. Ashley is grateful to be able to work alongside an amazing Congressman and team that will fight to change the lives of residents in NY-16.

Quantel Bazemore, Deputy District Director. Quantel has been a housing advocate for seven years and is a former Newburgh Organizer for Community Voices Heard. He is a lifelong resident and former trustee of the village of Ossining and brings experience in housing advocacy, housing preservation, youth development, and health care to Team Bowman.

Edili Espaillat, Congressional Aide. Edili recently served as a congressional assistant to retired Rep. José Serrano, focusing on immigration, Department of State-Bureau of Consular Affairs, housing, and Social Security assistance to the community.

Jesse Lerer, Congressional Aide. Jesse comes to Rep. Bowman's office after many years with Patagonia as a district environmental coordinator and retail manager in NYC. He is motivated by a passion for service and environmental justice.

Brandon Lloyd, Congressional Aide. A Westchester native, Brandon spent his first few years in politics serving the County of Westchester and Federal Government as a committee coordinator at the Board of Legislators and a district representative for Congresswoman Nita Lowey. With experience in issue areas including environmentalism, economic development and energy policy, Brandon looks forward to fighting for the economic and social parity for the residents of NY-16.

Nikolas Vasquez, Field Representative and Operations Coordinator. Nikolas was blessed with the opportunity to attend Cornerstone Academy For Social Action (CASA) Middle School, and fortunate enough to meet the Congressman as an amazing principal. He is a former EOP student at the University at Albany, majoring in human development with a minor in social work. He founded the first foster youth advocacy organization in Albany, Fostering Leaders of Our World (FLOW), participated in a research experiment on the struggles of foster youth in college, and was a former Fostering Youth Success Alliance Advocate. He believes we were put on this earth to not just live, but to help others.