Jack Friedman
President of Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council
Bellerose Manor
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Jack Friedman is the president of the Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council (NEQJCC) and sits on the board for Services Now for Adult Persons (SNAPS). As president of the NEQJCC, an association of synagogues and other religious, education, fraternal and community organizations in the northern part of the borough that work together for the betterment of the community.
Friedman is also on the board of the Lifeline Center for Child Development, Inc., where he is involved with making decisions about the programming, funding and activities. He specifically contacts government officials to spread the word about awareness and support of programs and events. He also sits on the Board of Visitors at the Queens Children Psychiatric Center and “sees that the clients are taken care of well; taken care of in a safe environment.”
PERSONAL: Friedman is married with two children, who have both recently graduated from college. “Now,” he joked, “We have to get them through grad school.”
JOB: Friedman works full-time as the executive vice president of the Queens Chamber of Commerce where he is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the business organization that has more than 1,300 members. Under Friedman’s leadership, the Chamber has expanded the number of events, seminars and services it provides to Queens business, and the organization has adopted the motto: “A better Queens is our business.” Prior to working at the Chamber, Friedman served as chief of staff to City Councilmember David Weprin.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Friedman encountered his biggest challenge concerning school funding for District 29 in Queens. He believed that the schools in District 29 were being treated unfairly because schools that did not do well were receiving extra funds and grants, but District 29, as a top performing school district, did not qualify for the same grants. It was “punished for its excellence” instead of rewarded as Friedman believes it should have been. However, despite the disadvantage, Friedman is proud to say that the school district remained at the top of the list in quality performing schools.
FAVORITE MEMORY: “I’m a big, big Mets fan,” said Friedman. When the Mets won the World Series Championship in 1969 and1986, it gave Friedman “pride to come from Queens.”
INSPIRATION: Friedman’s biggest inspiration was his father. Even though he passed away when Friedman was a teenager, he showed Friedman the importance of certain qualities such as being ethical, moral and honest; “things I try to live by.” – Maya Orr
