The Grand Street BID is proud to announce the arrival of our new Executive Director, Francesca Bruce!
Francesca Bruce, Executive Director
Yaz and Francesca
Francesca, a native New Yorker, is passionate about empowering communities. After college and several years teaching abroad, she returned to pursue a Master's in Urban Planning at CUNY Hunter College, to further the cause of social and environmental justice. While studying, she managed a small business, worked with the Port Authority of NY NJ, and finally with the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, providing pandemic assistance to under-resourced small businesses. In 2022, she became a Borough Planner at NYC Department of City Planning, to develop a deeper understanding of the policies that shape our neighborhoods.
Missing hands-on community work, however, she leapt at the chance to serve the Grand Street BID alongside a rich tapestry of friends, neighbors, and small businesses. She looks forward to lending her passion to Grand Street's mission, and to helping build a safer, more beautiful and inclusive community.
In her spare time, Francesca practices yoga, painting, pottery, cooking, volunteers in her local community garden, and is a devoted dog parent. She loves meeting new people, and hopes you'll stop by the office and say hello!