Are we okay?

Okay, so are we gonna do Donna or not?

Are we gonna have her on or not?

And you make it with her, we're good, but you know you let us know, okay, if she needs to good morning, everybody.

Thank you for joining us and being joined.

Okay, here we go.

But um Hannah Erin Ray Aaron Rake.

Counselor Rasita uh Counselors, Rashida Scoutwell, Show Majok, Mimi Monto, and Corey Williams.

Thank you for joining us.

Uh we are about to start our interviews for the vacancy that's available.

What we're gonna do is we're gonna go around the table.

Each counselor we're ask will ask two questions.

And if we have enough time at the end and you still want to ask a third question, then that'll be the time to do that.

Um we do have one of our counselors, if we are able to figure it out on a Zoom call, so you let us know if she when she's ready.

Okay.

So do I have time for table setting in the beginning?

Just an introduction.

Absolutely.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, so then this will be your time.

Oh okay.

Well, there we are.

Um good afternoon, or I should say good morning.

I'm getting ahead of myself.

Um, counselors, many of you I know I've worked with or been in community with in the past and been in conversation with over the last couple weeks, and I appreciated all those conversations.

Um speak into the mic, understood.

I should know this.

I'm in the arts and culture.

Just move it right in front of me.

Got it.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um, so yeah, so my name is Chaila Sarat.

I grew up here in Syracuse, New York.

I'm a proud alum of the Syracuse City School District, and I also uh graduated from the College of Vigil and Performing Arts at Syracuse University.

I've spent the past 25 plus years working in arts and culture um with various arts organizations across Syracuse, New York, as my pride and joy.

Um also I've had the privilege of serving on various boards.

So um the Interface Works Community Folk Arts Center, New York's Council on the Arts.

I currently serve on the CNYCF Black Equity and Excellence.

I am the um program committee chair for the Gifford Foundation, and I also serve on the downtown committee and for a statewide commission uh focused on um uh advancing APC for the creative sector.

I have notes here in front of me.

One thing you'll know about me is I do a lot I do a lot of homework.

Which high school did you graduate from?

Which high school did you graduate from?

Well, Nottingham High School.

Go bull, go bulldoze all the way.

Um I wasn't gonna put that in, but I appreciate the question.

No barking, I'm just gonna throw that out.

No, not this early in the morning.

Um so uh you know, the question I know you have a lot of questions for me, but um want to start with one that was asked.

I'm smiling because I know my mother is here, and it's one that she posed to me is why?

Why run?

Why now?

Why pursue this common council seat?

Um my approach to governance is shaped by both experience and family legacy.

My grandmother, Ruth McCray, was a ship fitter in Norfolk, Virginia in the 1970s, and she was the first black woman president of the boilermaker union local 684.

She organized for fair wages, safer work conditions, and contrast reflecting workers' needs.

Her leadership taught me that equity is realized through collective action, collective action, policy, and accountability.

A lesson I bring to public service.