New York, NY, August 10, 2022: On July 14, 2022, Hester Street’s Rasmia Kirmani-Frye was confirmed by the New York City Council to serve on the City Planning Commission. As a former Hester Street board member and current consultant, Hester Street is proud to support Kirmani-Frye’s service on the City Planning Commission where she will be a voice for communities too often excluded from city planning policy, particularly communities of color and low-income communities.
As Melissa E. Aase, CEO, University Settlement, observed, “Rasmia’s career has always centered New York City communities and their expertise in shaping their lives, spaces, and future — particularly communities of color. I have worked closely with Rasmia in her role as director of the Brownsville Partnership and then in her role at NYCHA and as president of the Fund for Public Housing, as a consultant specifically as she led the COVID / NYCHA Working Group, and now in her role at Hester Street. In all of these roles, Rasmia has combined her understanding of complex systems and her understanding of human aspiration and community in order to create the opportunity for all New Yorkers to thrive.”
“I applaud Mayor Adams’ nomination of Rasmia Kirmani-Frye to serve on the City Planning Commission. Through our work together at Hester Street, I have witnessed Rasmia’s commitment to building a more just and equitable New York City, and I know that her leadership will ensure that communities of color have a champion and advocate on the Planning Commission,” said Timothy Johnson, President of Hester Street’s board and Head of Portfolio Solutions, Northern Trust.
Kirmani-Frye will serve a five year term of service on the Planning Commission. Hester Street looks forward to a continued partnership with Kirmani-Frye, as she also continues her work with the Ford Foundation to transform public housing nationwide.
For press inquiries, please contact: Sarah Pritchard at sarah@hesterstreet.org.
