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Active Voice
Chi Ossé on Gen Z’s Stamp on Elected Office
The 23-year-old is running for the New York City Council in Brooklyn after leading an activist collective protesting anti-Black racism
Chi Ossé describes his relationship with activism and advocacy as an awakening — one that transpired last summer after the murder of George Floyd led him and his friends to protest on the streets of New York City. The 23-year-old activist became so inspired by the collective demonstrations that he and his peers attended marches and vigils almost daily. Realizing that people were listening to his voice and following his lead, Ossé organized Warriors in the Garden, a collective of activists dedicated to nonviolent protest. The collective’s efforts spread far beyond marching, with clothing drives, business fairs, and voter registration events. For Ossé, it’s been refreshing to meet so many people with a shared vision for Brooklyn’s prosperity.
Centering social justice, fighting for liberation, and holding oppressors and law enforcement accountable has always been an interest of Ossé, but after a summer of racial reckoning, he decided to make it his life mission by running for the New York City Council in Brooklyn’s 36th District, placing him as the youngest candidate ever to seek the seat. While ageism has historically held young individuals behind in positions of political power and government, Ossé views his Gen Z identification as an undeniable advantage. With his fresh approach, he hopes to dismantle the myth that young people have to wait their turn in order to get to a certain place. I caught up with Ossé to hear all about running for office, his vision for his district, and the drive that led him to be a changemaker.
GEN: You’re only 23 and running for elected office. What steps are you taking to become the best advocate possible for your district, and also how do you feel your age actually benefits you in this position?
Chi Ossé: I’m a political outsider. I’ve never run for office before and have not been a cherub to the machine. I think that’s necessary. I’m approaching this campaign and politics with a different perspective. You have a lot of individuals that have waited their turn to get to a place…
