BetaBagels 013: Your Community Boards, PIT, and Power in Local Politics
January 30 @ 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM EST
BetaBagels returns in January 2026 for a breakfast-time conversation about your Community Boards, Public Interest Technology, and power local politics ☕🥯
Community Boards are where New York City’s local political decisions take shape, and right now is the moment to get involved. In BetaBagels 013, we’ll discuss why civic engagement at the neighborhood level matters.
We’ll also explore how data and Public Interest Technology help drive funding and service decisions, and how Community Board service can be a pathway into further civic leadership and local politics.
This event will take place on Zoom on January 30 at 9:30 am. After a short presentation, we’ll open up the floor for discussion and your questions!
About the Speakers
Celeste León, Brooklyn Community Board 4 District Manager
Celestina León, known as Celeste, was elected as the Brooklyn Community Board 4 district manager, representing the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwick, in February 2017. She is the founder of the Future of Community Boards working group, which includes district managers citywide, and has helped elevate both district and citywide priorities. She previously worked for the New York City Council and New York State Assembly in various roles.
Teon L. Brooks, Ph.D, Brooklyn Community Board 1 Member
Teon has recently returned to Brooklyn Community Board in May 2025 after having previously served his first term from May 2020 to May 2022. He currently serves on the Parks and Waterfront Committee as well as the Economic Development Committee. He is the President of the Gotham Data Clinic, a nonprofit focused on computing and data science education to train the next generation of scientists and technologists here in New York and beyond.
Zhi Keng He, Queens Community Board 7 Member
Zhi just finished his first year as a community board member. He has previously worked at the Manhattan Borough President’s Office and BetaNYC modernizing the CB application process, service delivery tracking, and virtual/hybrid meetings. He currently is an applications developer at the CUNY Graduate Center, building tools for civic engagement.
Austin Pferd, Brooklyn Community Board 1 Member
To be updated