Dr. Tyson-Lord Gray is a Harlem resident and advocate for social and environmental justice. Reared in a single parent home on public assistance, he learned firsthand the challenges posed by poverty. Yet it was the determination of his mother to provide a better life for her child and the support of the community that kept him off the streets and in school. For over 20 years he has worked to further social justice and environmental awareness with a diverse array of organizations including West Harlem Environmental Action and Harlem Grown. He currently teaches at Pace University and provides a range of pro bono services through The Legal Aid Society in New York City to their legally indigent clients. Those issues, ranging from homeless rights and public housing policy to public benefits and disability rights, are among the fundamental concerns for residents who reside within the 9th City Council District. Tyson is also the founder of Green Community Vision, Inc., a not-for-profit organization aimed at increasing environmental awareness in communities of color