LORI CITRON KNIPEL
MEMBER, COMMUNITY BOARD 14
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Lori Knipel, a lifelong resident of Flatbush, has always been involved in community, civic and political issues.
One of her proudest achievements involved founding the Flatbush Renaissance Committee. “It brought together everyone in the community at a pivotal time,” said Knipel. “We joined forces to work together to develop the local neighborhood associations to make our areas safer, stronger and a more desirable place to live.”
Knipel and company continue to make great strides in helping the commercial streets, like Cortelyou Road and Newkirk Plaza. “We have had many of our neighborhoods in Victorian Flatbush designated as Historic Landmark districts, had new street lamps installed, new trees planted, and overall upgraded the quality of life for everyone in the community,” Knipel said.
A longtime member of Community Board 14, Knipel also serves as the New York State committeewoman and as the Democratic district leader for the 44th Assembly District. She also served twice as a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention. She was also a member of the National Platform Committee where she got Universal Pre-K included in the Democratic National Platform. “Working hard to get children the education they deserve for all families has always been a priority,” she stated.
CAREER: Knipel is also admitted to practice law before the New York State Bar, The Washington, D.C. Bar, two Federal District courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.
PERSONAL LIFE: Knipel graduated from Midwood High School. She then received Cum Laude honors in Political Science from Brooklyn College, and her JD Law Degree from CUNY School of Law. She currently lives in Flatbush with her two children, Richard and Rachel, as well as her husband, Justice Lawrence Knipel.
MOTIVATION: Despite the hard work and inevitable hardships, Knipel’s motivation has always been receiving satisfaction in making a difference in people’s lives.
“Often, there are bureaucratic hurdles and obstacles that many people find difficult to navigate. If you help one person, it is as if you have saved the world. I have helped many from the very young to the very old and everyone in between,” she said.
Some tasks may sound more significant than others, but to Knipel, they all carry equal significance, “From special programs for students on the autistic spectrum to helping the elderly get appropriate care to mentoring young adults looking for the right career path to helping families find a way to bury a loved one when they could not afford it. Simply the satisfaction that you have improved one life is enough to keep you motivated to continue helping others.”