Jabari Brisport ‘05 has a message for Poly students.

“If you have a passion, follow it. Don’t let anyone tell you there’s a prescribed path. I was an actor, then a teacher, and now I’m a politician. I feel like I’ve made a difference at every step, albeit in different ways.”

Poly congratulates Brisport, who won election to the New York State Senate from District 25, which stretches through downtown and central Brooklyn. He ran unopposed. In his election victory, Brisport also made history when he became the first Black openly gay member of the New York State Legislature.

Brisport described his first priority upon election to the NYS Senate. “We need to raise taxes on the wealthy in order to avoid a budgetary crisis.” he said. “We’re at risk of losing billions of dollars for healthcare, education, transportation, and housing.”

When asked what change he would like to see, he said, “I’d like to see us treat climate change with the same urgency that we gave to the coronavirus. It’s not too late.”

“You have no idea how proud I was to fill in the circle next to Jabari Brisport’s name in my district. I’ve known Jabari since our 8th grade year at Poly Prep, graduating class of ’05, and even then he was such a warm spirit, extremely wise, witty, and poised for greatness.”

Amaany Clarke ’05

According to his campaign website, “Jabari is a 3rd-generation Caribbean-American from Prospect Heights. He is from this community and knows its struggles. He has spent his life working with and for his neighbors as both an activist and educator. Whether it is working with his students as a public school teacher, advocating for teachers and students with his union, or organizing his neighbors to fight for progressive legislation, he has always fought for his community. Jabari’s experiences as a queer, black, public school teacher, union member, and child of immigrants, have shaped his drive to make his community and all New York communities more just and equitable. He wants to fight to provide a home for every New Yorker, to guarantee quality healthcare to all, and to empower workers.”

“Just as Jabari’s dramatic presence dominated the stage, he brightened AP U.S. history with a ready smile and ebullience.”

History teacher Susan Beiles P’88, ’90, ’95 recalled, “Just as Jabari’s dramatic presence dominated the stage, he brightened AP U.S. history with a ready smile and ebullience.  His curiosity and eagerness to learn made him excited to absorb all new material. Jabari’s considerable academic ability, broad knowledge base, and intellectual curiosity demonstrated that considerable success would be his.”

“You have no idea how proud I was to fill in the circle next to Jabari Brisport’s name in my district,” said Amaany Clarke ’05. “I’ve known Jabari since our 8th grade year at Poly Prep, graduating Class of ’05, and even then he was such a warm spirit, extremely wise, witty, and poised for greatness. Not only was he an amazing friend, but he was also a talented leading man in many of the Poly Prep theater productions we were in together. He was always a pleasure to work with and I truly look forward to continuing to see him lead on the political stage, standing as the strong voice that his constituents need.”