Biography

Senator Kevin S. Parker is committed to restoring the overall quality of life for the constituents of the 21st Senatorial District in Brooklyn. A lifelong Brooklyn resident, Senator Parker has been a Flatbush resident for more than 27 years. Having been nurtured, schooled and employed in the district, Senator Parker is intimately familiar with the needs of this ethnically diverse community that consists of 311,000 constituents in several communities which include: Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington and Borough Park. A product of the New York City Public School system, Senator Parker attended P.S. 193, Andres Hudde J.H.S. 240 and Midwood High School.

Senator Parker's professional background reflects a wide range of public service and commitment to better New York. As the Special Assistant to former New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall, Senator Parker managed intergovernmental relations in New York City and was the liaison between the Comptroller and city, state and federal elected officials. He performed similar functions with unions, community-based organizations and constituents. In addition, he tracked city legislation and monitored City Council activities for the Comptroller.

As a New York City Urban Fellow, Senator Parker also has served as a Special Assistant to Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger. Additionally, he was Legislative Aide to former New York City Council Member Una Clarke and Special Assistant to Assemblyman Nick Perry. As Project Manager with the New York State Urban Development Corporation, Senator Parker financed women-and minority-owned businesses and promoted community business redevelopment. Senator Parker worked at UBS Painewebber on government affairs issues in the Chairman's office working on broad issues of importance to the financial service industry.

Senator Parker, at age 41, brings his leadership and legislative acumen to the Conference as the Democratic Whip and as the ranking member of the Energy and Telecommunications Committee. His standing committee assignments include: Finance, Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business, Higher Education, Insurance and Environmental Conservation. Senator Parker's commitment to his community is reflected in his leadership in civic organizations. His is the former 2nd Vice Chairman of the Board and chairperson of Community Board 17's Education Committee; a member of the Community Service Society's Associates program and the Children's Defense Fund's Community Crusade for Children. Most recently, Senator Parker was a member of the Coro Foundation's Leadership New York XI class where he examined public policy, budget and infrastructure, race relations, education and health care issues.

Senator Parker's commitment to education has taken him into the classroom as a professor of both African-American Studies and Political Science at several colleges including: Baruch College – CUNY, SUNY-Old Westbury, John Jay College-CUNY, Medgar Evers College – CUNY, City College and Long Island University Brooklyn Campus. Overall, Senator Parker has done most of his teaching at Brooklyn College – CUNY, where he also was a faculty advisor to student organizations and activities. Senator Parker also taught graduate courses at Brooklyn College's Center for Worker Education.

Senator Parker received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Service from Penn State University, where he organized students to fight racism and encourage diversity at the University. He holds a Master's of Science Degree from the New School for Social Research Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy, and currently is pursuing a doctoral degree in Political Science at the City University of New York Graduate School and University Center. Senator Parker is committed to working with people of varied ethnic and religious backgrounds to realize his ultimate aim to ensure adequate representation for all New Yorkers.