Richard David was born in a rural village in Guyana, the youngest of three brothers, and came to the United States at the age of 10. He is successful in his professional career while being deeply engaged with his immediate New York community as well as the Indo-Caribbean community.
David worked for eight years at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), most recently as a vice president. In this capacity, he managed billions of dollars that were invested in global and local institutions that directly improved the quality of life for residents across the five boroughs.
One example is the modernization of the buildings at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, an engine for community development in Central Brooklyn. His work at NYCEDC directly impacted New Yorkers from all walks of life, touching many neighborhoods. Its programs provide vital services such as feeding the hungry, afterschool programs and cultural access.
David also co-founded the Indo-Caribbean Alliance, an organization that provides direct services and advocacy. In its five years, it has become the largest Caribbean organization in Queens. The organization nurtures the community. It educates and mobilizes new voters. It helps students with after-school tutoring,mentoring, SAT exams prep and informs them about college access programs. It provides students with opportunities to develop leadership skills and become involved with community service.
“One of the Alliance’s proudest accomplishments is the creation of an Indo-Caribbean Special Collection of literature and media in partnership with Queens Library,” he says. “Today, the collection has hundreds of materials that are enabling students, researchers and residents to develop a greater understanding of the history and identity of the Indo-Caribbean community.”
At age 29, David is also one of the youngest members of Community Board 9 where he has served for more than seven years.
He is involved in several organizations and events across the city and regularly conducts workshops to organize people to get involved in their own communities.
On the professional side, he is proud of being able to help many nonprofit organizations build facilities — senior, health, and community centers and cultural spaces — so they can provide human services to their clients.
A Hunter College graduate, he has a Master’s in Public Administration from New York University.
For a current project he says, “I am working to launch a citywide benefits program to save employers and workers on the cost of public transportation.”
