Rafael Espinal Email & Phone Number

Rafael Espinal is a proud Brooklyn native from a family of Dominican immigrants. He was raised in Cypress Hills and graduated from local New York City public schools.In September 2011, Espinal made history by becoming the first Dominican elected to state office in Brooklyn and the youngest member of the state legislature when he was elected as the state representative of the 54th NYS Assembly District. He later campaigned to serve in the New York City Council in 2014. In his first term, Espinal championed unprecedented investments exceeding $250 million for East New York, Brooklyn, addressing long-standing socioeconomic challenges, infrastructure issues, and affordable housing. He also secured over $5 million in social service funding to support Holocaust survivors living in poverty. Espinal concluded his first term by establishing the Office of Nightlife and creating the position of "Night Mayor" to support and foster NYC's iconic nightlife, leading to his recognition as a New Yorker of the Year by Time Out Magazine in 2017. During his second term, Espinal focused on socioeconomic, food policy, and climate issues, most notably requiring Green Roofs on all of NYC's buildings and creating the city’s first Office of Urban Agriculture, further solidifying his commitment to improving the quality of the lives of his constituents through enviromental initiatives.In his current role as Executive Director of the Freelancers Union, Rafael Espinal oversees the organization's umbrella and brings his wealth of experience and dedication to advocacy to support and champion the rights of freelancers and independent workers. Under his leadership, the organization has expanded its reach and impact, providing valuable resources, support networks, and lobbying for policy changes that benefit the growing independent workforce. Espinal's relentless commitment to ensuring fair treatment and equal rights for freelancers highlights his ongoing passion for creating a more inclusive and just labor market, making him a respected and influential figure within the freelance community.

Listed skills include Public Policy, Community Outreach, Political Campaigns, Politics, and 30 others.