Shahana Hanif

Shahana K. Hanif (born February 5, 1991) is an American politician, activist, and community organizer. Since 2022, she has represented the New York City Council's 39th district which includes the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Kensington. Hanif became politically active after a lupus diagnosis as a teenager exposed her to problems with the healthcare system and began her career as a community organizer with the Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence. She worked with City Councilman Brad Lander starting in 2017, and ran to fill his seat in 2021. She won the election, becoming the first Muslim woman and first Bangladeshi American on City Council. She co-chairs the Council's Progressive Caucus and is associated with the Democratic Socialists of America.