EmPOWER your future with your vote.
A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT
and lifelong resident of Southeast Queens, Selvena Brooks-Powers is an accomplished, proven leader known for getting results.
She helps to put the power in the hands of community
members,
where it belongs.
Raised by immigrant parents determined to prove that hard work and dedication pays off, Selvena learned early on that it takes bold action to bring about change.
Devoted to fighting for what’s right and delivering results
for women and the working class she hit the ground running early on in her public service career as a teen volunteer for New York City Public Advocate Mark Green. An internship with the New York State Senate added to Selvena’s passion for service.
She’s held numerous leadership positions in both government and labor. Following hurricane Katrina in 2005 when hundreds of evacuees from the Gulf Coast were in desperate need of help from our community, Selvena stepped in. She organized relief efforts with local partners to prioritize and advocate for funding for organizations throughout Southeast Queens. Her advocacy led to community projects that employed local youth and provided recreational outlets for community members.
A devoted wife and mother Selvena continues to focus her public service career on issues impacting vulnerable communities including youth services and economic inequality
She’s known for rolling up her sleeves and getting the job done, having organized countless voter empowerment initiatives including a stop on the bus tour by Presidential Candidate John Kerry.
An effective leader and credible community organizer
her reputation is reflective of years of high-impact initiatives on critical issues, including education, voter empowerment, racial and economic justice, M/WBE opportunities and workers’ rights. Selvena knows how to operate effectively earning several promotions while working tirelessly to elect a Democratic Majority in the New York State Senate. After winning the majority, Selvena served as the press secretary to the Senate Majority Conference Leader and was later promoted to the role of Deputy Chief of Staff.
In 2012, she joined the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) family as Communications Director on the Fight for a Fairer Economy campaign that helped to win back the majority in the United States Congress with the successful defeat in one of the tightest Congressional. In 2013, she entered a special election for the New York City Council, running on the platform Rebuild Now, calling for infrastructure investments among a host of pressing issues.
She has since served as the Communications Director for the NYC Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence and then as the Northeast Communications Director for the SEIU as a part of the Fight for $15 campaign, covering numerous states. Selvena also helped mobilize and ultimately unionized co-workers under the United Media Guild of the Communications Workers of America (CWA). They unanimously elected her delegate for the northeast region. Currently, Selvena serves as the MWBE Compliance Project Manager on the $13 billion infrastructure program where she helped to launch the External Affairs and Community Outreach program.
Never leaving her community behind Selvena remains committed to service throughout the Queens community through her ties with local organizations. She served as an advisor to the NAACP Jamaica Youth Branch, chair to a number of committees within the Queens Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and helped raise $144,000 for scholarships and community programs. Prioritizing Southeast Queens, she led “Operation SNUG,” devoted to gun violence prevention and “Operation Everyone Works,” connecting people to real job opportunities. “Operation Protect Your Home,” a foreclosure prevention initiative and summer youth programs including “Jump & Ball Tournament” and “Biz Kids.”
Selvena currently serves as a Board member to Martin de Porres Youth and Family Services and Ocean Breeze at Arverne by the Sea. She has been recognized for her work throughout the community, including City & State’s 2018 NYC 40 Under 40 and 40, Schneps Media 2019 Power Women in Business “Dynamic Duo” and the 2020 Power Women Award.
The power is in our vote to elect a leader
whose values are rooted in our common goals. One who knows and is willing to do what it takes to work for the well-being of our community.
