Melissa Wyner

Reed is a graduating senior at Colgate University, where he is currently completing two honors theses for his double major in Political Science and Theater. He is a lifelong resident of Central New York and a firm believer in the American Creed of hard work, fair play, and individual liberty. He concurrently serves as the Development Director for the College Democrats of New York and intends to pursue graduate studies in public administration. He is committed to pushing the Democratic Party and its agenda down a more equitable, inclusive, and compassionate path, particularly for those who have been alienated and disillusioned from politics.

Kathleen, who also goes by Kat, started her journey in politics in 2017, working on a Judicial re-election Campaign for Buffalo City Court Judge Betty Calvo-Torres, the first Latina to serve on the Buffalo City Court bench appointed by Mayor Byron W. Brown. During her time in politics, Kathleen has worked on numerous political campaigns in Western New York at the Federal, State, and Local level. As a political staffer, she has worked for New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer. She is now a Senior Associate at Bolton St. Johns LLC.

Kathleen was raised in Syosset, NY, and is a graduate of the University at Buffalo. She is the WNY VP of the New York State Young Democrats and serves on the Eleanor’s Legacy Innovation Council.

Justin A. Westbrook-Lowery is a sophomore at Fordham University, who is majoring in political science. He is a graduate of Xavier High School, which is a Jesuit Catholic institution located in Manhattan, where he was the first openly gay president of the student body. He has been an intern for NYC Council Member Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx), Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner (D-Bronx), and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio. Justin has participated in nearly every election cycle, since Bill Thompson’s 2009 mayoral campaign, as a proud volunteer. He currently serves on the boards of several clubs and institutions. He has been the youngest member of Bronx Community Board 9, since he was appointed in 2015, and is the Vice Chair of the Social Services and Housing Committee. He serves on the boards of the Stonewall Democrat Club of NYC, the Bronx Borough President’s LGBTQ Policy Task Force, and is the First Vice President of the Bronx Young Democrats. He is also the recipient of the 2017 NYSYD Rookie of the Year.