Carlyn Cowen Named to City & State's Albany 40 Under 40 List
On September 9th, CPC Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Carlyn Cowen, has been acknowledged as one of Albany’s influential young professionals in the "Albany’s 40 Under 40" list by City & State.
In addition to their role at CPC, Cowen also serves as the board co-chair of Jews for Racial & Economic Justice while still finding time to bartend on weekends – allowing them insight into everyday New Yorkers' perspectives on politics.
During their seven years at CPC, Cowen has helped secure $30 million in state funding for Asian American and Pacific Islander community organizations. Cowen is particularly enthused about helping win a $3-an-hour wage increase for home care workers and $2 billion for laborers excluded from pandemic subsidies – both categories where Asian immigrants are heavily represented.
Originally from North Carolina, Cowen was drawn into politics while protesting immigration checkpoints during college.
“I realized that if we didn’t change the law, we’d constantly be organizing against it,” they say. “But laws and budgets can help us thrive. That’s what brought me to public policy.”