by Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy on Apr 27, 2017
BROOKLYN, April 27, 2017 — The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy (Conservancy) is pleased to announce the election of Ayanna Behin and John Kline to the organization’s Board of Directors. The election took place at the Conservancy’s April 27 Board meeting.
“We’re excited to have elected two new members today — both of which bring something unique to the Board,” said Mark Baker, Chairman of the Conservancy’s Board. “Ayanna’s legal expertise and passionate activism, and John’s commitment to the Brooklyn community will be great assets to the Conservancy.”
Ayanna Behin has been an attorney for 15 years having worked for Thelen Reid & Priest LLP, Schwartz & Thomashower LLP and other NYC-based firms. She is a mediator, trained by the New York Peace Institute, and actively engaged in conflict resolution between individuals and within organizations.
Behin is a member of Brooklyn’s District 13 Community Education Council and has been a PTA officer and/or member for the past 6 years at Arts & Letters K-8 public school.
She is an environmentalist and has worked as a lobbyist at Greenpeace USA in the 1990’s, as well as a community organizer focusing on women’s health and the environment. Since 2013, Behin has worked with Beautycounter, helping to provide safe and effective skin care and cosmetics to women, men, and families.
She received her B.A. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.
Behin is the wife of David Behin, the Executive Managing Director of Capital Markets in Brooklyn for real estate firm Newmark, Grubb, Knight & Frank. She is the mother of two public school students, and is the proud product of the New York City public school system. Behin is an advocate for peace and equity worldwide, starting at home.
“I look forward to working with the Board of Directors to advance the Conservancy’s mission, and serve the wider public,” said Behin. “As a member of District 13’s Community Education Council, I’m especially energized by the robust educational programming that has served thousands of public school students in Brooklyn and beyond.”
A veteran of the magazine industry, John Kline most recently served as Managing Editor of Us Weekly for the better part of a decade. He previously worked as the Managing Editor of MBA Jungle and JD Jungle magazines, and as Assistant Managing Editor at New York Magazine, following previous stints at other publications including The Chicago Reader.
Kline has focused his recent volunteer efforts on youth empowerment, education and leadership endeavors. For several years he has assisted Phillips Academy — a needs-blind residential secondary school in Andover, Massachusetts — currently serving on its Annual Giving Board, Development Board, and Alumni Council. He also contributes locally to the Red Hook Initiative — a community partnership that supports young people in Red Hook facing systemic inequities toward envisioning themselves as co-creators of their lives, community and society, as a member of its fundraising committee.
Originally hailing from Fargo, North Dakota, Kline received his B.A. from Northwestern University. He has lived in Brooklyn Heights since 1998.
“I have been following Brooklyn Bridge Park’s creation, design, and progress from an idea to a world-class park with tremendous enthusiasm for many years, and it is an honor to join the Conservancy’s Board of Directors,” said Kline. “I’m excited to get to work assisting with the group’s commitment to creative and dynamic educational, cultural and recreational programs and events in the Park for all New Yorkers, and I look forward to helping expand its presence in the community at large.”