![\"Latoya](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Pic-2-1.jpg\")
Latoya LeGrand, candidate for New York State Assembly District 32, during the opening of her campaign headquarters in Southeast Queens.Orlande Fleury<\/p>\nLatoya LeGrand, a Democratic candidate running for the New York State Assembly in Queens\u2019 District 32, hosted a press conference on May 11 to mark the opening of her campaign headquarters in Jamaica, Queens.<\/p>\n
LeGrand, seeking to succeed retiring Assemblymember Vivian Cook in the Queens neighborhoods of Jamaica, Rochdale Village, Locust, Hillside, South Jamaica, Baisley, Cedar Manor, and South Ozone Park, opened her campaign headquarters at 141-28 Rockaway Blvd., where she hopes to win over local voters with a campaign centered on community empowerment, education, public safety, and expanding resources for working families across Southeast Queens.<\/p>\n
Among the community leaders on hand at the press conference included New York State Senator James Sanders Jr.; Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson; and Jasmine Gripper, State Director and Chair of the New York Working Families Party (NYWFP).<\/p>\n
\u201cThis campaign is about bringing real leadership, transparency, and results to District 32,\u201d LeGrand said. \u201cI look forward to connecting with the community and sharing a path forward that reflects the voices and needs of our residents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Latoya LeGrand, candidate for New York State Assembly District 32, during the opening of her campaign headquarters in Southeast Queens.Orlande Fleury<\/p>\n
LeGrand, who previously ran for New York City Council in 2025, did not grow up with privilege and political connections. LeGrand grew up in foster care during her youth, became a teen mother, lived in a shelter, and later resided in NYCHA housing. This kind of upbringing inspired and motivated LeGrand to pursue leadership in government and public service to fight for residents facing many of the same challenges she once experienced herself. As a result, she has dedicated more than 15 years of her life to supporting and advocating for working families, foster youth, NYCHA residents, and underserved communities throughout District 32.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need somebody who is going to go fight for this community because we need a fighter,\u201d Sanders Jr. said at the press conference. \u201cWe need some new types of leadership. We need more grandeur leaders. If only I knew where to find this grandeur leadership,\u201d pointing to LeGrand as that leader. The crowd responded with applause in support of his remarks.<\/p>\n
Sanders added that he is \u201cvery proud\u201d to endorse LeGrand, reiterating his support by stating, \u201cMy stance is with LeGrand,\u201d and emphasizing her campaign momentum. He noted that \u201cnobody else has turned in the most petition signatures, nobody else has the most money in this campaign, thanks to campaign finance,\u201d referencing what he described as the strength of her early organizing and fundraising efforts.<\/p>\n
At the press conference, LeGrand spoke openly about having a brother with autism and raising a child with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), experiences that have shaped her advocacy for foster youth, children with special needs, and working families throughout Southeast Queens.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith my child having an IEP and autism, you understand the system a little bit differently as Black and marginalized children are not being provided with the resources that they are entitled to,\u201d LeGrand said. \u201cGoing through that system with my son, going through the NYC Department of Education (DOE), suing the DOE and winning those cases, in that experience I came to realize, what about those parents where English is not their first language? They don\u2019t understand what an IEP is, what their rights are as parents, and what their children\u2019s rights are.\u201d<\/p>\n
LeGrand said she intends to be a voice for those families navigating similar challenges. She is the founder and chief executive officer of Projects II Projects Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in South Jamaica, Queens. The organization provides community support services, including school supplies, backpacks, mentorship programs, and family assistance resources for children and families across Southeast Queens. Projects II Projects has become widely recognized for its work supporting NYCHA residents, foster youth, and families living in shelters. The organization also provides advocacy for families navigating Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and autism-related educational support systems.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The non-profit further\u00a0places a strong emphasis on education, youth empowerment, workforce development, and community mentorship. Through its iDrone initiative, LeGrand has partnered with local community leaders to introduce NYCHA youth to drone technology and STEM career pathways, exposing young people to industries and opportunities often inaccessible in underserved communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s always outside, always involved, always connecting with people,\u201d one supporter said at the May 11 press conference.\u00a0
\n![\"Latoya](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Pic-4-1.jpg\")
Latoya LeGrand speaks with supporters during the grand opening of her campaign headquarters in Jamaica, Queens, as residents and community leaders gathered to show support for her State Assembly campaign.\n<\/p>\n
Currently, LeGrand serves as district manager in the office of State Senator James Sanders Jr., where she supports district operations and constituent services across Southeast Queens. She also serves as chair of the Education Committee for Community Board 12 under the Office of the Queens Borough President, where she helps advance youth-focused initiatives, educational equity, and increased investment in local schools.<\/p>\n
Previously, LeGrand worked as a housing assistant with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), where she assisted residents with housing issues and public assistance navigation. Moreover, as a community liaison and constituent services representative in state government, she helped working-class families access government services and resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am grateful to be here supporting Latoya LeGrand as she opens her campaign headquarters right here in South Ozone Park,\u201d Assemlymember Anderson said as attendees applauded and cheered. \u201cWhat warms my heart this morning is seeing so many community leaders willing to fight for the future our communities deserve. We have leaders here from Rochdale Village, South Ozone Park, and South Jamaica, and that represents a candidate who is reaching across the full spectrum of our neighborhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anderson described LeGrand as a community-rooted candidate who understands the daily struggles facing working families throughout Southeast Queens. \u201cToo often, people feel leaders are selected instead of elected,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cToday, we are saying that stops here by electing Latoya LeGrand. We are saying the people are smart enough to choose their own leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also pointed to LeGrand\u2019s personal and professional experiences as reasons he believes she is prepared to represent District 32 in Albany.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is someone who has fought the Board of Education to make sure her child and family members living with autism received the services they deserved,\u201d Anderson said.\u00a0\u201cThis is someone who lived in public housing and understands the struggles facing NYCHA residents and families in government-supported housing. She understands the foreclosure crisis impacting this district and is committed to fighting for homeowners and working families across Southeast Queens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grassroots organizations such as the Working Families Party, DRUM Beats NYC, Citizen Action of New York, New York Progressive Action Network, and Eleanor\u2019s Legacy are among the community organizations endorsing LeGrand, citing her deep roots in Southeast Queens and long-standing commitment to working families. Supporters have pointed to her advocacy for housing affordability, opportunities for young people, educational equity, and stronger youth programming as key reasons behind their support.<\/p>\n
When asked what the race means to her, LeGrand said her campaign is about \u201cgiving people hope\u201d and representing every corner of the district. LeGrand stated that the campaign is \u201cabout the people, not the title,\u201d emphasizing that she has already been doing the work through her non-profit organization, much of which she said has been funded personally through her own resources.<\/p>\n
For LeGrand, the headquarters opening may represent the start of a formal campaign operation. But for many in Southeast Queens, the work itself has already been years in the making.<\/p>\n