Practicing Public Policy While Black

On September 18, NYU Wagner presented Practicing Public Policy While Black, an intimate conversation between Wagner alumni as part of our Identity and Diversity in Public Service offerings. Madina Ouedraogo (MPA 2020), Gender and Racial Equity Professional moderated the discussion between Abdulrazakh Abdirahman (MPA 2019), Research and Executive Assistant to the COO of Robin Hood, and Quintin Haynes (MPA 2016), Executive Deputy Commissioner at NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services.

Razakh and Quintin discussed how their identities as Black Americans shaped their choice to go into public service, how they support and are supported by other Black professionals in this space, how this year’s Black Lives Matter protests may have put them in the spotlight at work, and ways to diversify the talent pipeline into public service.

Madina said she was “honored to have served as the Moderator for this very timely conversation about what it looks like to practice public policy in the United States today as a Black American. Special thanks to NYU Wagner for the opportunity!”