Press Release from City of Yonkers.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

YONKERS MAYOR MIKE SPANO APPOINTS AKEEM H. JAMAL AS NEW DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS.

Akeem H. Jamal, City of Yonkers Deputy Director of Communications

(Photo Credit: Maurice Mercado/City of Yonkers)

YONKERS, NY – July 9, 2019 – Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano announced this week his appointment of Akeem H. Jamal as the city’s Deputy Communications Director.

“Akeem has been a valued member of my Administration for years and has demonstrated great poise in high-pressure situations, and most importantly, has the ability to communicate effectively with the residents of our great city,” said Mayor Mike Spano. “He will certainly prove to be an incredible asset for this city, bringing a fresh new perspective to the Communications team, and we look forward to continuing working with him.”

Jamal has been a passionate public servant who has served as a member of the Mayor’s administration since January 2015. Jamal held varied positions in the Mayor’s Office including working as the liaison to the Muslim American Advisory Council of Yonkers and serving as a strong advocate on behalf of the Council for the observance of the Muslim holidays in the Yonkers Public Schools. Previously, Jamal served as a Communications Assistant specializing in crafting press releases, talking points, organizing events, handling media inquiries, and content management.

Jamal has been instrumental in successfully launching a variety of social media campaigns for Mayor Spano’s Administration including Ban The Barges, an advocacy campaign opposing a proposal by the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey and the American Waterways Operators to establish 10 or more new barge anchorage sites on the Hudson River from Yonkers stretching up 70 miles to Kingston. Jamal also played a crucial role in Mayor Spano’s Rebuild Yonkers Schools campaign which targets Yonkers Public Schools’ aging infrastructure. The social media campaign has raised awareness of the $2 billion, four-phase plan which seeks to remodel all 39 schools in the district and build three new schools. The campaign has attracted the attention of the New York State Legislature and led to the passage of the Yonkers School Construction Act funding the building of three new Yonkers Public Schools.

Jamal is a product of the Yonkers Public Schools and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Fordham University. Jamal also serves on the Board of Directors at the Yonkers-based Richmond Community Services, is a Yonkers My Brother’s Keeper Mentor and served as the President of the Yonkers Police Youth Coalition.

“I look forward to working with Communications Director, Christina Gilmartin, and the entire team,” said Akeem Jamal. “I am humbled and honored Mayor Spano has chosen me to serve in this role where I can continue to serve the residents of our booming city.”

Jamal replaces Vincent Parise, who recently left the position to  pursue other career opportunities.