Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson announced on Jan. 24 the launch of the Bronx’s first-ever online community board application process, available in English and Spanish, adding that the launch was an effort to prioritize fairness, equity, and broader participation that, according to Gibson, mirrors the diversity in all 12 Bronx community boards.

 

Each year, the Office of The Bronx Borough President accepts applications from city residents who reside, work, and/or have professional or other significant interests in the borough. According to Gibson, the new digital application process should make applying easier, more accessible, and should ensure the Office reaches a wider and more diverse applicant pool.

“Our community boards play such a vital role in decision-making processes throughout our city, and it is important that membership reflects the rich diversity of the neighborhoods they represent,” said Gibson. “We hope by making the application process digital, and available in English and Spanish, we are eliminating unnecessary barriers for Bronxites to participate.”

 

She added, “Now, more than ever, it is important to have our residents` voices heard and represented on important issues in our borough. We encourage everyone eligible to apply to do so, and to share the information with their friends and family.”

 

In addition, the borough president is also encouraging youth aged 16 and older to apply for community board membership, as her office is working to ensure greater youth participation. According to the most recent demographic report by the borough president`s office, Bronxites aged 16-24 made up only a small percentage of community board members in the borough.

 

“For some of our youth, their first interaction with government is attending a community board meeting and it can spark an interest for them to be civically engaged in their neighborhood,” Gibson said. “We need to be in our schools, at the community centers, afterschool programs, and anywhere else youth congregate, and encouraging them to apply. Our young people have great ideas, but we need to give them the platform to express themselves.”

 

As stated in the borough president`s September 2022 Strategic Policy Statement, The Office of the Bronx Borough President will also work with the New York City Department of Education (DOE) to provide guidance and information to eligible students aged 16 and over in Bronx high schools to apply to their local community board.

 

Like many community meetings which are attended by volunteer members of the community, for the most part, Bronx community board meetings are usually held weeknights from around 6.30 p.m. While this schedule probably suits many who, as part of their job, work the conventional 9 to 5 shift, it may not be so convenient for residents / students who work split-shifts or evenings, or for those who work weekends, whose days off fall during the week.

 

In any case, applications are now open and can be completed online on the office of the borough president’s website https://bronxboropres.nyc.gov/community-boards/. The deadline for submission of applications for the next round of appointments to the all Bronx community boards has been extended to March 15. 

 

In other community board related news, as previously reported, Yajaira Arias was elected chair of Bronx Community Board 7 at the November 2022 board meeting and Ruth Caraballo was recently elected secretary at the January 2023 general board meeting. Bronx Community Board 7 is currently recruiting for a district manager to replace Ischia Bravo, who started her new role as Bronx County Clerk at Bronx Supreme Court in early January.

 

The deadline for submission of applications for the role of Bronx Community Board 7 district manager is Feb. 27.