For residents of Canarsie and surrounding Southeast Brooklyn neighborhoods, State Senator Roxanne Persaud is one of the elected officials representing the community in Albany and helping shape legislation and funding decisions that impact everyday life.
Persaud has represented New York’s 19th Senate District since 2015, serving for more than a decade in the New York State Senate. The district includes Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Starrett City, Ocean Hill, Cypress Hills, Bergen Beach, and surrounding communities.
Before serving in the Senate, Persaud represented Brooklyn’s 59th Assembly District in the New York State Assembly. Born in Guyana, she immigrated to Brooklyn with her family and later worked in education administration at both Pace University and St. Francis College before entering public service.
Supporting Community Organizations
One of Persaud’s ongoing focuses has been securing funding for organizations serving residents throughout the district. In 2024, she announced more than $500,000 in funding for community-based organizations supporting seniors, youth programs, legal services, food assistance, violence prevention, education, and healthcare access. Organizations receiving support included JCC Canarsie, The Campaign Against Hunger, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Legal Services, NYLAG, and several youth and violence prevention initiatives connected to the 69th and 75th Precincts.
Focus on Seniors and Families
Persaud has also remained active in senior-focused programming and resource events throughout the district. She regularly hosts community distributions, resource fairs, and outreach events for older adults and families in Canarsie and surrounding neighborhoods. In 2026, her annual Pre–Mother’s Day Clothes & More Distribution served more than 180 residents with clothing, household items, and personal care support.
She has also hosted senior resource events connecting residents with housing, legal, healthcare, and support services.
Chair of the Senate Social Services Committee
Since 2019, Persaud has served as Chair of the New York State Senate Social Services Committee, giving her a leadership role on issues impacting low-income New Yorkers, seniors, children, and working families.
As part of the 2025-2026 state budget process, Persaud advocated for funding tied to housing vouchers, youth employment, diaper banks, SNAP outreach, child care programs, and hunger prevention initiatives.
Her legislative record has also included bills related to healthcare equity, anti-bias training in medical education, child caregiver support, cultural districts, illegal dumping enforcement, and public assistance reform.
Representing Southeast Brooklyn in Albany
While local city issues often receive the most attention, state government decisions impact schools, transportation, social services, healthcare, housing programs, and funding for community organizations throughout Brooklyn.
For more than 10 years, Senator Roxanne Persaud has continued serving as the State Senator representing Canarsie and much of Southeast Brooklyn in Albany.