Phara Souffrant Forrest

Phara Souffrant Forrest is a New York State Assembly Member representing the 57th Assembly District in Brooklyn, which encompasses Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Prospect Heights, and Crown Heights. She was first elected in 2020 and is currently serving her first term.

Born on February 5, 1989, in Brooklyn, New York, Forrest is the daughter of Haitian immigrants and a lifelong resident of her district. She is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Before her election to the Assembly, she worked as a maternal child health field nurse, caring for new mothers after childbirth. She has also worked in New York City public schools, as an Uber driver, and in youth advocacy.

Education

Forrest is a proud product of Brooklyn's public school system, attending Philippa Schuyler Middle School and Benjamin Banneker Academy for Community Development. She earned a degree in political science from SUNY Geneseo and obtained nursing credentials from CUNY City Tech, including an associate's degree in nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from CUNY School of Professional Studies.

Political Experience

Forrest's path to elected office was shaped by her work in tenant organizing and housing advocacy. She served as president of her building's tenant association and was an active member of the Crown Heights Tenant Union. Her activism around housing rights, particularly her involvement in efforts to pass the Housing Stability & Tenant Protection Act of 2019, inspired her to run for office. She was arrested during a Capitol demonstration advocating for tenant protections.

Since her election, Forrest has championed tenant rights, expanded access to healthcare, and pursued reforms to the carceral system. A notable achievement during her first term was passing the Less Is More Act, which made New York State's supervision system more just and equitable. Her legislative priorities reflect her commitment to working-class New Yorkers' access to stable housing, affordable healthcare, and resources for a good life.