On Monday, June 26, Brooklyn Borough Hall welcomed the addition of a new portrait of the Honorable Shirley Chisholm, a political pioneer with Brooklyn roots and international impact. Borough President Marty Markowitz and Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham joined Congressman Edolphus Towns and a host of elected officials and community leaders on the steps of Borough Hall to celebrate the life and achievements of Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress and the first woman and African-American to launch a serious presidential campaign, in 1972.

Adding Chisholm’s portrait to the permanent Borough Hall collection fulfills a commitment made by Borough President Markowitz to ensure that Brooklyn’s central civic building reflects the borough’s unrivaled diversity.

The portrait was installed as a result of a partnership between Borough President Markowitz, The Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute for Children, Inc., The Portrait Project, and renowned artist Al Johnson. Institute Vice President Bill Howard provided the leadership to turn the dream of Congresswoman Chisholm’s portrait into a reality.