John McCarten
John McCarten
From Spelman to the Speaker of the New York City Council: The Life and Leadership of Adrienne Adams
From Spelman to the Speaker of the New York City Council: The Life and Leadership of Adrienne Adams
Visitors who came to Speaker Adrienne Adams’ (C ’82) office at the New York City Council are greeted by a vibrant oil painting of civil rights activist Ruby Bridges as Dorothy poised at the threshold of the Yellow Brick Road, flanked by Deputy U.S. Marshals. For Adams, the luminous Yellow Brick Road epitomizes her pursuit of self-realization and fulfillment. Much like Dorothy and Ruby Bridges, Adams’ journey to the highest legislative office in New York City has been shaped by challenges, guided by friendship and defined by resilience.
Born on Dec. 9, 1960, Adams was raised by two proud union workers in Hollis, Queens. Her early experiences shaped a path of thoughtful choices, and while she eventually found her way to Spelman College, it was not her first destination. Like many students, Adams transferred to Spelman College in her sophomore year from York College.
Much of Adams’ college years were devoted to singing with the Atlanta Gospel Movement, a collaborative group of gospel singers from Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and Morris Brown College. In the Spring of 1982, Adams was initiated in the “Sweet” Mu Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Surrounded by women who reflected her own experience as a young Black woman, she found a sanctified sisterhood at 350 Spelman Lane. For Adams, Spelman College was not just an academic institution; it was a transformation ground. She found something she had not known she was searching for: freedom. The freedom to speak, to question, to lead and to be herself.
“It was where we felt free, where we were emboldened, where we were always encouraged to be our organic self,” Adams said.
Adams’ journey to public service, like many unyielding politicians, was anything but traditional. She spent two decades in corporate America, working as a corporate trainer for several Fortune 500 companies, with a brief tenure at Goldman Sachs. Still, the corporate titles and achievements could not silence the growing voice inside of her, asking: “What will you do with your God-given gift?”. She began to realize her gift for advocacy was not meant to lie dormant. Rather, it was meant to be shared with purpose and intention.
Ultimately, Adams plugged into her community and found her purpose. She joined the Queens Community Board 12 in 2009, and later used her minor in early childhood education to become the Chair of the Education Committee. In this role, Adams witnessed the pronounced gap between school resources in southeast Queens, a community of color and the rest of New York City. Witnessing these inequities propelled Adams into the life of a public servant, where she remains committed today.
“I started to become very vocal, very angry. I got a lot of attention in the media because of it. It was a good thing, because I put a spotlight on those issues that some people might have been afraid to talk about or didn’t know how to talk about,” Adams said.
Adams’ tireless dedication to her constituents did not go unnoticed amongst her peers. She joined her local community board and was elected three times to be chair of Queens Community Board 12, where she led efforts to improve city services and played a key role in major revitalization initiatives like Jamaica NOW, helping secure millions in investments for housing and economic development in Southeast Queens.
It was through her work that others began to recognize her potential for elected office, even before she saw it in herself. Adams was reluctant, candidly expressing her hesitation.
“I immediately said no. I said, ‘I hate politicians, I hate politics, I would never be one of them.’ And yet, almost ten years later, here I am,” Adams said.
Despite her initial resistance, the encouragement Adams received prompted her to run for office. After falling short in a state senate race in 2016, she successfully won the New York City Council seat representing District 28 in a special election. Adams went on to win the general special election and took office in November of 2017.
Adams served two full terms in the City Council, during which she garnered a record level of funding for her district, directing millions of dollars towards affordable housing, education, and community programs. Through her reputation as a principled leader, Adams earned the trust of her colleagues and was elected Speaker of the New York City Council in 2022, making history as the first Black person to hold this venerated role.
As Speaker of the New York City Council, Adams is a voice for the voiceless.
She has overseen the construction of 80,000 new homes, obtained $5 billion to expand housing affordability, and spearheaded the passage of over 10 laws safeguarding and expanding reproductive justice healthcare access in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Above all, Adams launched New York City’s first municipally-funded guaranteed basic income program, allocating $3 million to provide direct cash grants to expecting mothers and foster youth facing housing insecurities.
With a well-earned reputation for transformative leadership, Adams was encouraged to launch her bid for the 2025 NYC Democratic mayoral primary. Given the unprecedented intensity of the 2025 primary, which saw the highest voter turnout since 1989, Adams was again hesitant to enter the race for mayor..
New York elections are closely watched, reflecting broader national trends and shaping the political trajectory of the United States. All eyes were on this June 2025 Democratic primary, where incumbent Mayor Eric Adams chose to sit out the primary and run as an independent, New York State political heavyweight former governor Andrew Cuomo re-entered the fray in his bid to become NYC mayor, and constituents and politicians alike were focused on electing a candidate who could embody a stronghold of resistance against the growing concerns over authoritarianism nationwide.
Prior to Adams’ candidacy, the race featured an all-male field. These circumstances did not deter Adams, who lives by Shirley Chisholm’s famous quote, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” She announced her candidacy on March 6th, 2025, but she did not enter the race alone. She stood on the shoulders of the pioneering Black female politicians who came before her.
Adams recounted the warnings she received about her candidacy, echoes of concerns that carried both caution and bias.
“We don’t want what happened to her [former Vice President Kamala Harris] to happen to you,” Adams said.
However, the warnings carried an undercurrent of something larger, a narrative that painted Black women’s political ambition as overreaching and unelectable. Some even suggested her campaign would be a “Kamala 2.0”, a slogan that reduced her candidacy to a cautionary tale rather than an attainable path to City Hall. This comparison revealed a recurring reality where Black women’s ambitions are expected to lie idle out of fear that their failure will confirm damaging stereotypes.
Instead of succumbing to the doubts, Adams turned to former Vice President Harris herself. The two spoke, and former Vice President Harris encouraged her to run. As the only Black woman in the race, she embraced the weight of her historic representation.
“I had to own being a Black woman and everything that means– the good, the bad, everything in between,” Adams said. “Don’t run away from it. Just own that thing.”
Adams has long viewed representation as essential, fueling her commitment throughout her political career.
“You have to start thinking about your shoulders– the ones someone will stand on one day. It might be tomorrow, or maybe five years from now. And when that time comes, young children will look up to you and be proud, because you’ll be those shoulders,” Adams said.
Adams’ commitment to representation and her prideful ownership of her identity resonated deeply with those who worked alongside her. Volunteer Anakhu Heru, a junior Economics major, described how Adams’ mission grounded herself through the long, sweltering days of canvassing New York City.
“What kept me grounded was her mission: In it for us. To see Spelmanites as mayors of New York City is what motivated me to join her campaign,” Heru said.
For Heru, Adams’ presence as the only Black woman in the race was a powerful symbol of possibility. Reflecting on what representation meant, Heru recalled a lesson from her mother.
“It wasn’t about what the end goal was, it was about seeing ourselves in that position– knowing we can run,” Heru said.
The collective sense of purpose that was felt amongst the members of Adams’ campaign was reflected in the swift surge in grassroots support. She raised over $130,000 in five days, an early affirmation of Adams’ decision to run.
“It showed me that the decision wasn’t a mistake, and I was supposed to be in that race. It showed me that I did have support out there, and people really did want change for the city. But more than that, they actually believed in me to make that change,” she said.
Adams gained key support from leaders such as the Attorney General of New York, Letitia James, and United States Representative Jasmine Crockett. She was backed by groups like the Working Families Party and the Higher Heights for America PAC, which believed in her progressive vision.
Ultimately, the Democratic nomination for NYC mayor went to Zohran Mamdani, a young and visionary leader. However, Adams’ bid for mayor was not in vain. Her run cemented her role as a leading lady in New York City politics, a role model to young Black women across the nation, and a steadfast advocate for equity whose influence will continue to shape the city’s political landscape for years to come.
Speaker Adrienne Adams has long steered clear of political gamesmanship, gaining motivation solely from her immovable devotion to her constituents. Even now, as Speaker, she makes it clear that her identity is rooted in service, rather than politics. Reflecting on her journey, Adams offered a simple yet powerful affirmation.
“I was born to do this work. I wake up everyday on purpose, with a purpose,” Adams said.
Visitors who came to Speaker Adrienne Adams’ (C ’82) office at the New York City Council are greeted by a vibrant oil painting of civil rights activist Ruby Bridges as Dorothy poised at the threshold of the Yellow Brick Road, flanked by Deputy U.S. Marshals. For Adams, the luminous Yellow Brick Road epitomizes her pursuit of self-realization and fulfillment. Much like Dorothy and Ruby Bridges, Adams’ journey to the highest legislative office in New York City has been shaped by challenges, guided by friendship and defined by resilience.
Born on Dec. 9, 1960, Adams was raised by two proud union workers in Hollis, Queens. Her early experiences shaped a path of thoughtful choices, and while she eventually found her way to Spelman College, it was not her first destination. Like many students, Adams transferred to Spelman College in her sophomore year from York College.
Much of Adams’ college years were devoted to singing with the Atlanta Gospel Movement, a collaborative group of gospel singers from Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and Morris Brown College. In the Spring of 1982, Adams was initiated in the “Sweet” Mu Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Surrounded by women who reflected her own experience as a young Black woman, she found a sanctified sisterhood at 350 Spelman Lane. For Adams, Spelman College was not just an academic institution; it was a transformation ground. She found something she had not known she was searching for: freedom. The freedom to speak, to question, to lead and to be herself.
“It was where we felt free, where we were emboldened, where we were always encouraged to be our organic self,” Adams said.
Adams’ journey to public service, like many unyielding politicians, was anything but traditional. She spent two decades in corporate America, working as a corporate trainer for several Fortune 500 companies, with a brief tenure at Goldman Sachs. Still, the corporate titles and achievements could not silence the growing voice inside of her, asking: “What will you do with your God-given gift?”. She began to realize her gift for advocacy was not meant to lie dormant. Rather, it was meant to be shared with purpose and intention.
Ultimately, Adams plugged into her community and found her purpose. She joined the Queens Community Board 12 in 2009, and later used her minor in early childhood education to become the Chair of the Education Committee. In this role, Adams witnessed the pronounced gap between school resources in southeast Queens, a community of color and the rest of New York City. Witnessing these inequities propelled Adams into the life of a public servant, where she remains committed today.
“I started to become very vocal, very angry. I got a lot of attention in the media because of it. It was a good thing, because I put a spotlight on those issues that some people might have been afraid to talk about or didn’t know how to talk about,” Adams said.
Adams’ tireless dedication to her constituents did not go unnoticed amongst her peers. She joined her local community board and was elected three times to be chair of Queens Community Board 12, where she led efforts to improve city services and played a key role in major revitalization initiatives like Jamaica NOW, helping secure millions in investments for housing and economic development in Southeast Queens.
It was through her work that others began to recognize her potential for elected office, even before she saw it in herself. Adams was reluctant, candidly expressing her hesitation.
“I immediately said no. I said, ‘I hate politicians, I hate politics, I would never be one of them.’ And yet, almost ten years later, here I am,” Adams said.
Despite her initial resistance, the encouragement Adams received prompted her to run for office. After falling short in a state senate race in 2016, she successfully won the New York City Council seat representing District 28 in a special election. Adams went on to win the general special election and took office in November of 2017.
Adams served two full terms in the City Council, during which she garnered a record level of funding for her district, directing millions of dollars towards affordable housing, education, and community programs. Through her reputation as a principled leader, Adams earned the trust of her colleagues and was elected Speaker of the New York City Council in 2022, making history as the first Black person to hold this venerated role.
As Speaker of the New York City Council, Adams is a voice for the voiceless.
She has overseen the construction of 80,000 new homes, obtained $5 billion to expand housing affordability, and spearheaded the passage of over 10 laws safeguarding and expanding reproductive justice healthcare access in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Above all, Adams launched New York City’s first municipally-funded guaranteed basic income program, allocating $3 million to provide direct cash grants to expecting mothers and foster youth facing housing insecurities.
With a well-earned reputation for transformative leadership, Adams was encouraged to launch her bid for the 2025 NYC Democratic mayoral primary. Given the unprecedented intensity of the 2025 primary, which saw the highest voter turnout since 1989, Adams was again hesitant to enter the race for mayor..
New York elections are closely watched, reflecting broader national trends and shaping the political trajectory of the United States. All eyes were on this June 2025 Democratic primary, where incumbent Mayor Eric Adams chose to sit out the primary and run as an independent, New York State political heavyweight former governor Andrew Cuomo re-entered the fray in his bid to become NYC mayor, and constituents and politicians alike were focused on electing a candidate who could embody a stronghold of resistance against the growing concerns over authoritarianism nationwide.
Prior to Adams’ candidacy, the race featured an all-male field. These circumstances did not deter Adams, who lives by Shirley Chisholm’s famous quote, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” She announced her candidacy on March 6th, 2025, but she did not enter the race alone. She stood on the shoulders of the pioneering Black female politicians who came before her.
Adams recounted the warnings she received about her candidacy, echoes of concerns that carried both caution and bias.
“We don’t want what happened to her [former Vice President Kamala Harris] to happen to you,” Adams said.
However, the warnings carried an undercurrent of something larger, a narrative that painted Black women’s political ambition as overreaching and unelectable. Some even suggested her campaign would be a “Kamala 2.0”, a slogan that reduced her candidacy to a cautionary tale rather than an attainable path to City Hall. This comparison revealed a recurring reality where Black women’s ambitions are expected to lie idle out of fear that their failure will confirm damaging stereotypes.
Instead of succumbing to the doubts, Adams turned to former Vice President Harris herself. The two spoke, and former Vice President Harris encouraged her to run. As the only Black woman in the race, she embraced the weight of her historic representation.
“I had to own being a Black woman and everything that means– the good, the bad, everything in between,” Adams said. “Don’t run away from it. Just own that thing.”
Adams has long viewed representation as essential, fueling her commitment throughout her political career.
“You have to start thinking about your shoulders– the ones someone will stand on one day. It might be tomorrow, or maybe five years from now. And when that time comes, young children will look up to you and be proud, because you’ll be those shoulders,” Adams said.
Adams’ commitment to representation and her prideful ownership of her identity resonated deeply with those who worked alongside her. Volunteer Anakhu Heru, a junior Economics major, described how Adams’ mission grounded herself through the long, sweltering days of canvassing New York City.
“What kept me grounded was her mission: In it for us. To see Spelmanites as mayors of New York City is what motivated me to join her campaign,” Heru said.
For Heru, Adams’ presence as the only Black woman in the race was a powerful symbol of possibility. Reflecting on what representation meant, Heru recalled a lesson from her mother.
“It wasn’t about what the end goal was, it was about seeing ourselves in that position– knowing we can run,” Heru said.
The collective sense of purpose that was felt amongst the members of Adams’ campaign was reflected in the swift surge in grassroots support. She raised over $130,000 in five days, an early affirmation of Adams’ decision to run.
“It showed me that the decision wasn’t a mistake, and I was supposed to be in that race. It showed me that I did have support out there, and people really did want change for the city. But more than that, they actually believed in me to make that change,” she said.
Adams gained key support from leaders such as the Attorney General of New York, Letitia James, and United States Representative Jasmine Crockett. She was backed by groups like the Working Families Party and the Higher Heights for America PAC, which believed in her progressive vision.
Ultimately, the Democratic nomination for NYC mayor went to Zohran Mamdani, a young and visionary leader. However, Adams’ bid for mayor was not in vain. Her run cemented her role as a leading lady in New York City politics, a role model to young Black women across the nation, and a steadfast advocate for equity whose influence will continue to shape the city’s political landscape for years to come.
Speaker Adrienne Adams has long steered clear of political gamesmanship, gaining motivation solely from her immovable devotion to her constituents. Even now, as Speaker, she makes it clear that her identity is rooted in service, rather than politics. Reflecting on her journey, Adams offered a simple yet powerful affirmation.
“I was born to do this work. I wake up everyday on purpose, with a purpose,” Adams said.