Crystal Hudson
35th Council District - Brooklyn
Crystal is a public servant and community organizer committed to advancing change for the neighborhoods of Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Bed-Stuy.
Crystal's commitment to public service is personal and began in 2013 when her mother started exhibiting signs of what would later be diagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease. As the only child of a single mother, Crystal quickly became the primary caregiver for her mother and experienced first-hand how difficult it is for working families to navigate complex, bureaucratic systems and access services and resources needed to keep older New Yorkers safe and healthy at home, where they can age in place and maintain their dignity. Crystal is a fierce advocate for seniors and families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease, and is unwavering in her commitment to serving families who are caring for loved ones.
Before entering public service, Crystal spent over a decade working in marketing and advertising — first, with the WNBA’s Washington Mystics & NBA’s Washington Wizards; and then at Amtrak, where she managed a portfolio of sports, entertainment, and multicultural marketing campaigns for the nation’s passenger rail service. In this capacity, Crystal led an effort to further diversify Amtrak’s advertising where she fought for the inclusion of marginalized communities in national advertising campaigns. From there, Crystal went on to senior roles in the City Council and the NYC Public Advocate’s office.
Most recently, in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Crystal created Greater Prospect Heights Mutual Aid (GPHMA), and rooted the group’s work in core principles of mutual aid learned from people of African descent and those who are indigenous and native to the United States. GPHMA works to meet the needs of neighbors experiencing food access issues — especially seniors and those with underlying health conditions — as well as provide up-to-date information and resources, and build community with weekly Community Calls. Crystal recently led an effort to reclaim her neighborhood’s streets from the NYPD’s excessive presence and illegal ID checks by writing a community letter to the Mayor, which has 1,000 sign-ons from local neighbors, community groups, and civic organizations.
Crystal previously served on Community Board 8, and has held positions on the boards of Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, North Prospect Heights Association, and New Leaders Council. She is a proud graduate of Spelman College and holds a Master’s Degree from the George Washington University.
Crystal lives in Prospect Heights, where her family has been for three generations, and is deeply committed to the residents of the 35th District — and all New Yorkers. If elected, Crystal would be the first openly gay Black woman elected to the New York City Council.