Last week on Monday, Councilman David G. Greenfield and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr co-hosted a highly successful summer networking event in Manhattan. The event, held at Design by FMC, was intended to strengthen the relationship between the Jewish and Latino communities. From elected officials to representatives of advocacy groups, over 150 people attended the standing-room only event. Councilmembers Andrew Cohen, Vanessa Gibson, Rafael Espinal, Corey Johnson, Dan Garodnick, and Mark Levine were in attendance, as well as Kingsborough Community College President Farley Herzek, Hostos Community College President Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, New York Board of Rabbis Executive Vice President Joseph Potasnik, New York Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Director of Events Sulma Arzu-Brown, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Northeast Regional Director Roberto Frugone, and Governor Cuomo’s Deputy Secretary of Legislative Affairs Mark Weprin and Special Assistant for Jewish Affairs David Lobl.

“I am so thrilled with our successful summer networking event. The purpose of this event was simple: to have people connect and get to know each other. Jews and Latinos have a lot in common—from a shared immigrant history to valuing education and religion to deep ties to our respective homelands. I am so grateful for the overwhelming response we received and I look forward to continue working closely with my friend Borough President Diaz, Jr., on more events like this and fighting together at City Hall and in Albany for our communities,” said Councilman Greenfield.

“There’s a strong and rich history when you speak of Latinos and the Jewish community,” said Borough President Diaz. “That history is one that we need to celebrate, and I am proud to be able to partner with Council Member Greenfield and so many leaders from across the city to engage in discussion and develop meaningful partnerships between these two populations. I want to thank Council Member Greenfield for help making this happen, showing how both communities can come together as one.”

Greenfield and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., have been working together on this event, among other things, for a while. This is the first Jewish-Latino networking event that they held simply to build bridges between the two communities. Greenfield and Diaz plan on working together on legislative items in the future.

(YWN Desk – NYC)