When I spoke with Caroline, she was in the midst of another busy day, riding in the car with her family- husband, Steve, and two children, Daschel and CiCi. And even over the phone, I could tell she was full of energy, inspiration, and self-assurance. Back in April, Caroline won first out of four in the Primary Election for Civil Court Judge. Now, she running unopposed in the November General Election. She contributes this major achievement to her honest engagement with the Brooklyn community.
For the past two years, Caroline has been a trusted Civil Rights Attorney, working for a small, “Feminist Litigation Firm.” What’s that mean? Well, exactly what you would hope. A legal firm that advises and represents those that have been discriminated against in the workplace – be it sexually harassed, because of their status as a caregiver, or for their maternity status. Caroline sites this leap into law and politics as the best professional decision she has ever made.
She then quotes Gandhi, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” After the 2016 election, Caroline, like many others, felt a call to action. “I couldn’t be as mad as I was and not try to move into a position that could affect greater good.” These intimate feelings motivate many of Caroline’s personal and political engagement decisions. She continuously speaks about how she experiences issues very emotionally and takes things incredibly personally. Ironically, these are often the excuses people have for not electing women into positions of power. But Caroline is unapologetic with her feelings. Aside from showcasing a sense of humanity, she understands them as an opportunity to translate emotions into a passion and dedication for positive change. “I was filled with rage. But still, you turn that into something else. It would be a greater tragedy just to take those feelings and be like ‘Oh well, this is the world we live in now.’ No, you take it and you do more with it.”
Soon after, she called her brother saying, “Well, I guess I am running for office now.”
Similarly, Caroline’s desire to move into law came from her own mother’s inability to pursue higher education and a professional career as an attorney. Caroline states that the death of her mother, Carol, was the most defining moment of her life, because of the parallel similarities she saw between her moment of loss and her mother’s. Carol had applied to law school, but ultimately her father did not support it, saying “You have been educated enough. That’s it. Hard stop.” In the end, she moved on to be a successful businesswoman, but still, this loss was continuously prominent in the determination to pass on strength to her children. Caroline says, “She saw a lot in me what she saw in herself – a focus, and dedication, and just a belief that you can do it.”
Amongst the great values inherited from her mother is the belief that “you don’t take shit from anybody.” Caroline too wishes to deliver this energetic self-assurance to others. She speaks to me about the need to claim your identity and power. “Be fearless when you’re speaking with people who are dismissive of you.” I can image Caroline working with her clients, giving them the same spirited motivation that her words project; providing them the opportunity, access, and tools to pursue that which other’s have tried to take away. And Caroline brings this ferocious devotion to all aspects of her life.
“This cycle I hope to give to my clients, that I hope to give to my children, that I hope to give to my constituents is that if you come before me as a judge you will be heard, if you are my client I will fight for you, if you’re my child I will empower you to speak for yourself and speak for others.”
Of course, the transition has not always been easy. It continues to involve months of long days as it was never an option to take off of work for Caroline – she says, “My ladies need me.” So while holding her 9 to 5 hours, she would campaign on the subways in the morning, knock on doors in the evenings, and end her day with team meetings between 9:30 and 11 PM. An almost unbelievable work schedule for a mother raising a 6 and 4 ¾-year-old. But as Caroline states, “I am the definition of ‘It takes a village.’ And when I ask her children if they think it’s cool to see their mom talking with all these people and doing this big job for the city, rising pre-schooler CiCi replies, “Pretty much.”
In the same way that the community has supported her, as Civil Court Judge, Caroline is focused on giving back and engaging the community. “And not just during the campaign, I think that’s a bunch of garbage. You have to be dedicated to reach out to all the corners of the community if you are going be a public servant and seek to represent them.” Caroline has made a major effort to connect with Brooklyn individuals in order to understand the nuances of each community. For example, providing comprehensive relief to the multi-decade affordable housing crisis or directly dealing with Islamaphobia in the Muslim community. She has been endorsed by Brooklyn Young Democrats, LGBTQ organizations- the Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn and the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, and the Shirley Chisholm Democratic Club. “What I can bring [to Civil Court Judge position] is a perspective and understanding of whom my constituents are. And it comes from living here. I have lived in Flatbush for 10 years. It’s a great joy to me and my family to continue to be involved in the community.”
As part of her community engagement Caroline co-founded Ditmas Art, a mixed media arts organization focused on political discourse. So, we wrapped up our conversation with a question that as a media creator I often ask others: What do you believe the goal of art and media should be? For me, the goal is to create work the provokes empathy. Caroline began by telling me a story of a former Art History professor who hated Steven Speilberg films, because “They told you how to feel.” However, she finds a distinction between this control and engaging one’s audience to make them think in a new way. She states, “It’s all about opening up dialogue. And that was really the point of opening up this art salon in our house. Because we were a community who were bereft from the 2016 election. And I use that word purposefully.”
She again recalls the night of the 2016 election with the deeply personal memory of retreating to her upstairs bathroom, so her son would not have to see her cry. In those moments, fear took hold equivalent to that when she learned her mother had stage four metastatic cancer. “It felt like the world had shifted under my feet. So I wanted to create a space for people to bring their ideas… And to allow them to begin to formulate thoughts. Because people were grieving. And it was an opportunity for people to grieve.”
“So, I think, in its best form art is just an opportunity for people to allow their thoughts to flow.”
Caroline’s thoughts, too, flow from her with purpose and energy as she speaks with me about these challenges, accomplishments, and sentiments. All which motivate her to bring that same confidence to others- confidence not only that she will fulfill her role as Civil Court Judge, but promise that in doing so every individual will gain a stronger, louder, and recognized voice. In our conversation, again and again, Caroline would proudly proclaim, “I love what I do!” Indulging in stories of the people, places, and experience that brought her to where she is today.
“I am very aware that I am indebted to the community. I owe everything to this community. It is helping me raise my children. It provided me a platform to meet my boss- who I met in my oldest child’s moms group. It has given me a spiritual stronghold in moments of political disbelief. And that love and dedication will translate to love and dedication on the bench.”
To learn more about Caroline’s Campaign go to cohenforjudge2019.com
Sofia Pipolo
Sofia Pipolo is an independent filmmaker and writer, graduated from Marymount Manhattan College. Her interest in both media and social outreach allows her to think and create diversely. She covers stories on art, culture, and community businesses for Park Slope Reader, Give Me Astoria, AFTRPRTY, and other publications. Her portfolio can be found at sofiapipolo.wordpress.com.