The Common Council has named community activist Christopher Grant to represent the Sixth Ward on the Council. He will fill the seat vacated by Natasha Brown, who recently was named Common Council Chairwoman.
Grant is a City of Poughkeepsie native, a graduate of Poughkeepsie High School, Sullivan County Community College where he received a degree in legal studies and SUNY Buffalo State, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing/International Business.
After graduation, he returned to Poughkeepsie to aid in its growth and development. He is a founding member of Black Excellence Community, Inc. an organization that aims to unify, celebrate and enrich people of color and foster a positive renewal of the City of Poughkeepsie and surrounding areas. He also was founding member of Community Matters 2, an organization created to initiate communal growth by organizing events and establishing programs locally. He also opened a small business in the City of Poughkeepsie named "The Breakfast Spot" and now does marketing consulting. Grant has helped generate scholarships for high school seniors and was a key member in mobilizing the city to reclaim and rebuild the former YMCA building, a project that is scheduled to begin in 2023.
Being a parent, Grant believes it’s important to aid in developing and improving the community.
“It’s important to me to work closely with the people, families and businesses within my community,” Grant said. “This appointment affords me the opportunity to do a deeper dive into key issues that impact the 6th Ward and the community at large.”
