Brian Cunningham

Party: Democratic

District: New York State Assembly District 43

Brian-Christopher A. Cunningham was born on December 16, 1984, in Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was raised by Jamaican immigrant parents who instilled in him values of hard work and public service. Cunningham attended New York City public schools and has remained rooted in his Flatbush community throughout his life. He is married to Stephanie Cunningham, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Museum Hue. They were married on October 11, 2012, at Lenox Road Baptist Church and continue to reside in Flatbush.

Education and Early Career

Cunningham began his professional career as an advocate counselor for CAMBA, where he assisted at-risk young people in reaching their academic goals and overcoming barriers to success. His early work focused on youth development and community support services.

Political Experience

Cunningham has extensive experience in government and nonprofit leadership before his election to the Assembly in March 2022. He served as a senior aide in the New York State Senate and the New York City Council, where he spearheaded initiatives addressing affordable housing, women's issues, at-risk youth, and small businesses. He also served as an aide to President Obama's My Brother's Keeper Alliance, mentoring underserved youth across the nation.

Prior to his election, Cunningham was the director of Neighbors in Action, a project of the Center for Court Innovation and home of Save Our Streets Brooklyn. He was also the first person elected to run a Cure Violence site in New York City, leading efforts to reduce gun violence in Central Brooklyn.

Notable Achievements and Current Positions

Since taking office in 2022, Cunningham has secured over $1 billion in state funding for Assembly District 43, supporting investments in health care, housing, education, and community development. He has been a leading voice on housing legislation, championing measures to expand faith-based affordable housing, combat deed theft, and address bad-faith landlord practices. In education, he advanced the High Impact Tutoring Act and the Caribbean Steel Pan Educational Music Program Act.

Cunningham currently serves as the First Vice Chair of the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators and previously served as the inaugural Treasurer of the New York State Black Legislative Task Force. He continues his public safety work through youth mobile crisis outreach programs and community initiatives such as the annual Central Brooklyn Classic basketball tournament.