Oswald Grannum, a native of Kingston, Jamaica, W.I. migrated to the United States in 1960 to begin a new life. As a young professional cyclist, he earned many accolades over the years, and used his considerable organizing talent to form the New York Bicycle Racing Association (NYBRA) in Brooklyn. The club’s mission was to develop an anti-poverty program that would inspire self-esteem, encourage discipline, and promote academic and athletic excellence for urban youth to forge a better future for themselves. Through contributions from the Rockefeller Foundation, he was able to obtain the first bikes for the club. The Association membership grew to 1500 and the organization thrived, offering young people an alternative to being on the City’s streets through their programs, cycling competitions, after-school tutorials and summer youth employment opportunities.

He moved to Rosedale, Queens in 1987, and immediately assessed the needs of his neighborhood. He was the first President of the 148th Drive and Community Block Association. Under his leadership, the Association moved quickly to create an agenda of action and community participation, including security patrol, an annual cleanup day, and park beautification. He was a visionary in his community. His leadership is dedicated to providing a context for the empowerment of his community.