Maisha Morales

Maisha is a Latina small business owner who was notified that the mall her store was located in was sold and received a nine-day eviction notice. Maisha was able to relocate at three times the rent but having incurred moving costs and the loss of her customer base, her business is now struggling to stay afloat. Disconcerted with the changes she sees in the neighborhood, Maisha joined the Downtown Brooklyn Campaign in 2007 to win concessions for independent small businesses that were priced out due to development in the area. Maisha appears in the media and fights on behalf of other small business owners as well as low-income families in public hearings, press conferences and meeting with developers. A mother of a 10-year-old son, Maisha was elected to the Board in May 2009.