New York State Assemblymember Amanda Septimo visited LION High School for a powerful conversation rooted in community, resilience, and advocacy. A proud South Bronx leader, she shared her journey, speaking honestly about losing her first assembly race and finding the strength to run again. “That gave me the energy to run again and to cross the finish line,” she told students.
Throughout the visit, she emphasized that our borough is “at the core, a community of people who care about each other and show up for each other,” highlighting issues deeply impacting the Bronx, including food insecurity, gun violence, and equitable school funding. She spoke about treating food as a basic need, not a commodity, and the importance of policies like universal school meals and food rescue programs. She also discussed violence interrupter initiatives and the need to frame community violence as a public health issue.
Assemblymember Septimo closed by encouraging students to trust their knowledge and voice, reminding them, “You know a lot. You know your community. You know yourself. You know the life you want to live.” The visit was an inspiring reminder of the power of representation and what it means to lead with heart for the South Bronx.
