a Representative from New York; born in Brooklyn, Kings County, N.Y., November 21, 1964; attended Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, 1982-1986; childcare specialist; staff, state senator Velmanette Montgomery, 1989-1991; executive assistant, New York state Workers' Compensation Board, 1992-1993; youth program director; business development director; member of the New York, N.Y., city council, 2002-2007; unsuccessful candidate for nomination for the One Hundred Ninth Congress in 2004; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Tenth and to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2007-present).