First Woman Hispanic Bronx County Clerk Wants to Arouse Curiosity and Civic Duty

Entering Hostos Community College 20 years ago, Ischia Bravo took part in the program that led her to where she is today, the first woman and Hispanic clerk in the Bronx County.

At the age of 18, Bravo participated in a mock senate session in Albany during a black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian caucus where she served as the minority whip.

“You’ll work a day as a senator. You are handed a data book, you are handed a bill, you can discuss it, and it changes your relationship with the government. It changed me,” Bravo, 38, said. “It sparked and ignited my own curiosity, and now here I am.”

Bronx County Clerk Ischia Bravo, Friday, March 10, 2023

Bravo became the Bronx County Clerk in January, after four years as Community Council 7 district manager and previous experience including serving as chief of staff for Senator Jose Serrano and executive director of the Bronx County Democratic Committee. She replaced Luis Diaz after he pleaded guilty in July to writing and filing a bogus letter to court stating that Genovese crime family member Thomas Pauly completed his community service requirements.

The lifetime appointment means that Bravo is not only jury commissioner but clerk of the Civil and Supreme Courts in the Bronx, or, as she said, “custodian of records.”

One of its main goals is to increase jury participation in the district, and by the end of the month, QR code displays will be installed in courts to register as part of the jury system.

“People come to get passports, get naturalization paperwork, go to a notary, get documents, notarized records,” Bravo said. “It creates an awareness of participation.”

Bronx County Clerk Ischia Bravo

Bravo says her experience of growing up in public housing in Kingsbridge Heights helps her understand the people she aspires to serve and those she hopes will fulfill their civic duty.

“I think when you live in an area with so many needs and so many ignored needs, people lose faith in the system,” she said. “Jury work is no different, I think a lot needs to be restructured. There must be the right messenger, and I think I can restore that faith.”

Another goal of Bravo is to provide its employees with the necessary conditions for work.

“Investing in infrastructure, providing fresh paint when needed, providing comfortable jobs, boosting morale. We went through Covid when services had to move from one place to another, everything was digitized,” she said. “It was important for me to come here to show them that new leadership means positive change.”

Bronx County Clerk Ischia Bravo

Bravo says her experience, not only as a lifelong Bronxite resident, but also as a woman and Hispanic, helps her get the job done.

“They say representation matters and I can’t help but agree,” she said. “I think someone of my background, my gender, my ability to connect with people in the area matters. When I go to the jury room and thank them for their participation, representation matters. When someone looks like you and talks like you, it matters.”

Part of Bravo’s mission may include bringing programs like the one that got her into government into schools in the Bronx to interest and engage the next generation of potential public servants.

“Imagine I’m taking some kind of juried program to a high school or college,” Bravo said. “Imagine if someone could feel this energy.”

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