A biology student at CUNY, a mother of two, a citizen of New York.. and in her spare time, a New York City mayoral candidate! These are the titles that describe Frances Villar who ran for the position of NYC mayor on November 3, 2009. She represents the party for Socialism and Liberation whose aim is to build a movement that will last beyond election day. Villar is the first woman of color to run for the position of NYC mayor and has taken on this position with determination and courageousness. Along with her team, Villar was able to raise $19,000 for her campaign by reaching out and appealing to the communities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Harlem. While she could not raise the $15,000 necessary to be invited into the mayoral debates, this has not dampened the voice of Villar who has begun to create waves in New York City.  As students studying in International and Public Affairs, we have a lot to learn from Villar’s spirit and enthusiasm as she proves that it’s never too early to start making changes.

Video by: Elizabeth Day and Jennifer Fong