CBEDC Staff

William Franklin

William Franklin is from Brownsville, Brooklyn, a US Navy veteran, and economic justice advocate with occupational goals of shaping anti-poverty policy in the language of cooperative sustainability. William Franklin is a three-time CUNY alumnus holding diplomas in Economics and Public Administration and Ph.D. candidate for Urban Education. He currently holds three intersecting positions that allow him to live out his goals.

Professor Franklin is an Adjunct Lecturer of cooperative education, teaching community and social entrepreneurship at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, he is also the Director of Equitunity, a not-for-profit organization he founded to confront poverty in the bottom 14 communities of New York City. Director Franklin is also responsible for designing curriculum and creating community investments as the Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Central Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation.

Additionally, William substitutes as a special education paraprofessional between professing and directing. He is also a tried and tested Digital Coach, People Leader, and Community Organizer. William Franklin’s life-guiding quote is, “Do not hire a man who does your work for money, but him who does it for love of it”—Henry David Thoreau.