Ahmed Tigani, New York, NY
Assistant Director of Land Use, Planning and Development, Office of the Manhattan Borough President
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Born and raised in New York City, Ahmed first received his start in local government at the Department of Cultural Affairs as Director of Material Donations for the Materials for the Arts (MFTA) program from 2007 to 2011. While at DCLA Ahmed contributed to expanding the program’s external communication tools, donor-to-recipient connection ratios and technical assistance to the organizations served by MFTA. Ahmed went on to pursue a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning with a concentration on community development. As a graduate student, Ahmed took on several prominent appointments that included NYS Sen. Krueger’s Affordable Housing Fellowship during the 2011 rent-stabilization laws renewal effort, Community Planning Fellow for then-Borough President Scott M. Stringer at Manhattan Community Board 6, and worked on comprehensive planning projects examining the future of industrial sections along North Brooklyn’s waterfront and racial and socioeconomic relationships in Northern Staten Island.
Shortly after graduation and managing a successful campaign during the 2013 NYC Council elections Ahmed joined Council Member Helen’s Rosenthal’s staff as her Director of Housing Policy and Advocacy and then later as the Director of Legislation. His portfolio included economic development, housing preservation, worker cooperatives, social service delivery, and election reform. In 2015 Ahmed joined the staff of the Manhattan Borough President as the Community Development Officer and later becoming the Assistant Director of the Land Use Division. In addition to individual land use applications and small business preservation efforts, Ahmed oversees the office’s engagement strategy and policy development for neighborhood-scale rezoning initiatives and climate resiliency planning.
Ahmed’s political involvement began as a volunteer for the 2008 Obama campaign. Since then, he has managed or consulted on four state and city races. Other professional associations include volunteer leadership or board positions with the Manhattan Young Democrats, The Tank NYC, Greater NYC for Change and the American Planning Association NYC Chapter. Notable achievements Ahmed has contributed to include the passage of NYC's Fair Wage for All Act in 2013 and managing a borough-wide campaign for 67 candidates under the age of 35 to run for positions with the Democratic Party in New York County during a single election cycle.
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Community organizing / civic engagement
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Advocacy
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Storytelling/Public Speaking
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Sharing economies
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Leadership development / organizational strategy
- Activating vacant lots / vacant spaces