Chi Ossé facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chi Ossé
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| Member of the New York City Council from the 36th district |
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| Assumed office January 1, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Cornegy |
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| Born | March 18, 1998 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Relatives | Combat Jack (father) |
| Education | Chapman University (dropped out) |
| Website | |
Chi Ajani Ossé (born March 18, 1998) is a politician and activist from New York City. He is a member of the New York City Council, representing the 36th district. This area covers parts of Brooklyn, including Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights.
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Growing Up and School
Chi Ossé was born and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. His family has lived there for many years. His father, Reggie Ossé, was a well-known hip hop journalist and attorney, also known as Combat Jack. He passed away in 2017 when Chi was 19 years old.
Chi's mother, Akim Vann, is the daughter of Teddy Vann. Teddy Vann was a Grammy award-winning music producer and songwriter. Chi Ossé graduated from Friends Seminary in 2016. He then went to Chapman University in California. However, he left college after his father's death in 2017.
His Journey to Public Service
For several years, Chi Ossé worked in the entertainment world as a promoter. In May 2020, there were many protests across the country. These protests were about police actions, including the death of George Floyd. During this time, Chi Ossé became an important Black Lives Matter organizer. He also helped start an activist group called Warriors in the Garden.
Becoming a City Council Member
On Juneteenth in 2020, Chi Ossé announced he would run for the New York City Council. He wanted to represent the 36th district. The previous council member, Robert Cornegy, could not run again because of term limits. Chi Ossé admitted he didn't know much about city government before the protests in 2020. He said the protests and the Black Lives Matter movement inspired him to run. He felt the City Council and the Mayor had not done enough to change policing in the city.
Chi Ossé received support from groups like the Working Families Party. He also got an endorsement from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Courage to Change political action committee. He was seen as the most progressive candidate in the race. Other candidates included Henry Butler, Tahirah Moore, and Robert Waterman. Chi Ossé's youth and unique style also made his campaign stand out. Many non-political news outlets interviewed him.
On election night, June 22, Chi Ossé was in the lead with 37 percent of the votes. After all the votes were counted, including absentee ballots and ranked-choice votes, he won against Henry Butler. His victory was a big surprise, as his opponents had more traditional political backgrounds. Chi Ossé faced little opposition in the general election in November. He won easily and became one of the youngest members ever on the City Council.
About Chi Ossé
Chi Ossé's father was Reginald Ossé, a well-known hip hop attorney and journalist. His mother owns a small business in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, called The BAKERY on Bergen. His grandfather, Teddy Vann, was a music producer from Brooklyn. He won a Grammy for his work with singer Luther Vandross.
Chi Ossé lives in Crown Heights. He practices Nichiren Buddhism.
