Jamaal Bowman, Representative for New York’s 16th congressional district, will deliver the keynote address at Columbia Climate School’s Class Day ceremony, which will take place in person on Friday, May 12, 2023 at the University’s Morningside Heights campus.
In announcing the news to the Columbia Climate community, Founding Dean Alex Halliday said, “As an activist, teacher, and advocate, Congressman Bowman has brought investment to his New York district to support schools, climate change resiliency, eldercare, voter rights and civil rights. He is a wonderful speaker to recognize and celebrate our students’ accomplishments at the Climate School and will inspire us all to create our own journeys and future endeavors.”
Bowman grew up in New York City living in public housing. He began his career as a crisis intervention teacher in a Bronx public school and he went on to serve as principal for a decade at a Bronx middle school. In 2020, he was elected to the U.S. Congress where he has stood alongside communities devastated by climate change, including Hurricane Ida, by delivering relief to families, individuals, and small business owners. In 2021, Representative Bowman introduced the Green New Deal for Public Schools legislation to build and retro-fit carbon-free, climate-resilient K-12 public schools across the nation.
Representative Bowman is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus.
The graduation ceremony will be livestreamed and available to watch here.
Excellent choice!