A conversation with Michael Partis and Bobby Derival

Webinar link

What can the growing movement for economic democracy in the Bronx teach us about mobilizing the next generation of social justice leaders? Join us for an engaging conversation between Michael Partis, Executive Director of the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI), and Bobby Derival, Executive Director of the Master in Public Administration (MPA) Program at CCNY. BCDI is collaborating with a broad network of organizations in the Bronx to promote economic democracy: collective ownership and democratic governance of key productive assets and economic policies, including land, finance, the workforce, economic zoning, and public contracts. The MPA Program at CCNY prepares students to lead and manage social-mission-driven organizations with an emphasis on social justice, interdisciplinary thinking, practical management skills, and hands-on learning through community engagement. 

Together we explore how leadership development programs can support social movements working to deepen democratic structures and disrupt inequality through community ownership and self-determination.

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SPEAKERS:

Michael Partis is the Executive Director of the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative: a nonprofit focused on advancing economic democracy through shared wealth strategies and community-based planning with working-class Bronx residents. He is also the co-founder of The Bronx Brotherhood Project, a volunteer-based college success & mentorship program for Black and Latino teens at New Settlement College Access Center. Formerly, he was the Director of South Bronx Rising Together (SBRT): a collective impact initiative dedicated to improving health, grade-level reading and math, and post-secondary outcomes in the neighborhoods of Morrisiana and Crotona Park West. And for 8 years prior, Michael led community-informed policy development and partnerships at Young Movement - a New York-based, grassroots nonprofits focused on social entrepreneurship. He is also a Researcher at the Bronx African American History Project, where he and Professor Mark Naison are editing “After The Fires:” a collection of post-1970s South Bronx oral histories.

Bobby Derival is a trained public health practitioner with over nine years of experience in dynamic, multi-disciplinary environments. After receiving a BA in Sociology from Fordham University, Bobby went on to earn a Masters in Public Health and a Master of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from Arcadia University. Bobby’s passion for the social sciences informs his steadfast belief in the power of the collective to achieve better outcomes and overcome society’s most persistent challenges.

Prior to joining the CCNY community, Bobby held positions in both the public and private sectors, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer for a state licensed home care services provider. A proud first generation Haitian-American, Bobby considers service as the guiding principle animating his life. He currently serves as an executive board member forHands up for Haiti, supporting in-country capacity building health initiatives in Northern Haiti.

As Executive Director of the MPA program at the Colin Powell School, Bobby is honored to carry the torch of civic engagement and global leadership, translating his diverse experiences into mission focused results that elevate the program, enrich the student experience, and meaningfully engage our communities.