Last Wednesday evening, Oct. 14, New York City politician and activist Chi Ossé visited the College as part of In the News. The program is run by the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs and occurs each week in Page Commons. The purpose of In the News is to encourage and facilitate dialogue among students, community members, and visiting speakers who are involved in politics and journalism.
Ossé grew up in Brooklyn and began his career in the entertainment industry, working as a promoter. In 2020, he rose to prominence as an organizer within the Black Lives Matter movement, and that same year he announced his campaign to run for New York City Council to represent the 36th district. He was the farthest-left candidate in the race, which also included district leader Henry Butler. His win, as a 23-year-old with less political experience and fewer traditional endorsements than his opponents, was seen as a significant upset. He retained his seat in the 2025 election.
The event was advertised with posters reading “Is the Democratic Party ready for Gen Z?” Throughout the event, Ossé emphasized his support for getting younger people into politics, and an audience member asked a question that referred to the U.S. government as a “gerontocracy.” Ossé’s win in the 2021 NYC Council election made him the Council’s only Gen Z member.
Students who attended the event felt that his youth contributed to making his perspective feel more accessible. A first-year student who preferred to remain anonymous shared, “He did feel very relatable, like, the conversation was easy, there wasn’t any crazy jargon… just a down-to-earth guy who’s trying to get younger people involved in politics, which I think is what this country needs right now.” Catie Corkery `28, another attendee, called it “engaging,” “easy to listen to,” and “entertaining” and said, “He talked a lot about how politics is kind of performance, and I think he definitely tapped into that.”
Even students who were opposed to his ideas enjoyed his communication style. Brooke McCraley `28 expressed, “I thought he was a really good speaker… I think that’s kind of natural because he’s closer to our age range… but generally he was pretty charismatic and engaging to listen to. He just knows how to talk to people, and for an audience… it was easier to listen to, but I wouldn’t say I agree with a lot of the things he said.”
Corkery was impressed with how directly he communicated his beliefs, and felt that the authentic and unyielding way he presented himself was aligned with his approach to policy. She explained, “He’s very much so going to stand and fight for what he believes in, even if that means he won’t compromise. And I think that definitely came out.”
The anonymous first-year agreed and was particularly struck by Ossé’s description of his recent arrest outside the home of a constituent who “was dealing with an alleged deed theft issue.” Ossé recounted, “the marshals ended up coming to try to evict her and her grandchild from the home, and I put my body on the line and ended up getting arrested and, like, slammed to the ground… that constituent of mine is still in her home with her family.”
The anonymous first-year said, “A lot of politicians will say stuff and they’ll be, like, ‘I stand with this,’ but not a lot is ever put on the line. I thought that was pretty admirable to be willing to go that far, especially when you have something to lose, like he did.”
McCraley felt that the audience gave him an easier time than many past In the News guests. She explained, “People were a little bit less provocative in their questions… a little bit less combative… they were clapping when he was talking; a lot of the other ones where people don’t agree, you can tell. It’s pretty silent when they’re speaking.” She felt the positive energy and engagement from the crowd may have helped him deliver his message more convincingly, and said, “He kind of knew that he was, like, more free to talk about what he believed in than a lot of the other speakers… that probably helped a lot of his confidence and the way he spoke.”
At the end of the event, Ossé was asked whether in the coming years he might consider running for a higher office, to which he replied, “Um, I don’t know what I’m doing tomorrow,” and was met with a chorus of laughter from the crowd. Then he continued, “I don’t know what my future holds and whether that’s political or otherwise. What I will say is that I am very stressed about the state of affairs within our society, within our country, and I care about this country, and I care about my neighbors, and I care about the people that I represent, my friends, the people that I love, and I know that we can be better… however I can add myself… in that fight, to make our lives a bit better, is someplace that I want to be.”
Readers who wish to learn more about Ossé may visit his page on the New York City Council website or follow him on social media. Students or community members who would like to spend time engaging in discussion about current events with knowledgeable professionals should consider attending a session of In the News. Upcoming In the News events will feature exciting speakers such as Chellie Pingree, who is the U.S. Representative for Maine’s 1st Congressional District, and Jackie Northam, who is a former International Affairs Correspondent for NPR.
~ Anna Izquierdo `29
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