04/01/2026
I'm Camara Jackson, CEO of Elite Learners, and I am so glad to be here with all of you today to celebrate a leader who has made District 40 not just a better place to live — but a safer one.
Councilmember Rita Joseph, on behalf of Elite Learners and the families we serve, we want to present you with these flowers. They're a symbol of the growth, resilience, and beauty that your leadership has helped cultivate right here in the heart of Brooklyn.
Since Councilmember Joseph was elected in 2021, the numbers really do tell a powerful story. Murder in this district is down over 28%. R**e is down nearly 19%. Burglary has dropped by 22%, and grand larceny by more than 10%. And her successful push against violent crime was instrumental in the Kings County DA's office declaring that 2025 marked a historic low in overall violent crime. Shooting incidents dropped 15%, and shooting victims declined by 11%.
That is not an accident. That is leadership.
We at Elite Learners are proud to have been a part of that progress. Our violence interrupters walk the same streets your children walk every single day. They patrol the crime hotspots near our schools — not with fear, but with purpose. They build real relationships with young people who just need to be seen, heard, and guided. And when tensions start to rise, our team steps in, to diffuse conflicts before they ever have a chance to become tragedies.
Here's what we believe: safety is not just the absence of violence. It is also the presence of people who care. And in District 40, we are so fortunate to have a councilmember who cares deeply – and a community that flat-out refuses to give up on its young people.
Councilmember Joseph, thank you for your partnership, your vision, and your unwavering commitment to this district. These flowers are beautiful – but they are not nearly as beautiful as the future you are helping us build together.
We are proud to stand with you.