Prior to arriving in Raleigh to attend Shaw University in 1990, Eugene grew up in an entrepreneurial and labor focused household in Brooklyn, NY where the virtues of hard-work, collaboration, and respect for others was not an option. As a true public servant, he has always given back to the community he calls home.  While in college he volunteered at the “Y” (Garner Road) as an education group leader and at a local community center “Going Places” as an after school coordinator.

After obtaining his BA in International Relations in 1994, Eugene worked within the Wake County School System in South East Raleigh and with students that were residents at Dorothea Dix Mental Health Center. He returned to Brooklyn as a Special Education and Social Studies teacher in the NYC Board of Education. He was very vocal within the teachers union (United Federation of Teachers), fighting for resources for special needs students and advocated for more funding while actively participating in school board & community board meetings. Before departing New York he also spent time working as a Community Liaison for a New York City Councilman. Eugene is a strong advocate of unions and workers rights having been a member of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and most recently the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).

Eugene has had the pleasure of living in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Pittsburgh by embarking on a dual career in education and radio production. His love for the “City of Oaks” has always brought him back to Raleigh where he calls the historic Biltmore Hills in Southeast Raleigh home. Seeing the community through a grassroots lens, Eugene believes conditions can be made better by building “community-based power” while identifying ways to amplify the voices of the traditionally unheard.  It has always been his philosophy that strong advocacy is essential when fighting for the needs of the seniors, low wage earners and legacy residents.

His proactive approach includes reaching out to politicians at all levels to address these concerns. This has fueled his determination to seek change through active civic engagement and political involvement. His hands-on experience with tenant associations and his passion for holding officials accountable make him a compelling advocate for policies that benefit both residents and the broader community.

Eugene is a results-oriented community advocate and a man of action with a proven record of achieving wins for his community.  He successfully organized residents in Brooklyn’s Remeeder and Nobel Drew Ali apartment complexes to fight for repairs, new ownership and better living conditions. He organized seniors to prevent the closure of several Senior Centers which preserved vital services. When it comes to the concerns and protecting the rights of the community, there isn’t a fight Eugene won’t take on.

He’s currently helping to revitalize the Biltmore Hills Neighborhood Association by assisting with and implementing various initiatives; including recreational and social events that has built cohesion in the neighborhood and addresses numerous quality of life issues, through block clean ups, returning trash bins and “yard of the month”. Additionally, Eugene is working to bring back the South Community Advisory Committee (CAC) in order to further empower the people of the surrounding neighborhoods. Eugene is a proud member of The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated and a proud resident in South East Raleigh’s historic Biltmore Hills neighborhood which he commits to making bigger, better, and brighter through service.