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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, F 28 EB. 26-MAR. 4, 2021 BTR
Community Board 12 Chairman Dr. Michael Burke
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
Honoring those whose deals turn the key to the future of our city
Virtual Event
March 25th, 2021, 7pm
Submit your nomination to
dmattone@schnepsmedia.com
or call Demetra Mattone @ 917-272-4213
BY JASON COHEN
Growing up in the south
Dr. Michael Burke never
imagined he would be living
in the Bronx. But, for the past
11 years Burke has called the
Boogie Down home.
Burke, 53, was born and
raised in Savannah, Ga., by
Cecile and Lagree Burke. His
mom, a retired math teacher
and his late father, an electrician,
taught him the values of
hard work, education, to treat
people well and not to be afraid
to ask for help
As a child he would visit
his grandmother Mattie Harris
in Williamsbridge, but his
fi rst real experience with the
Bronx was at age 20 when he
spent the summer with her.
Two years later after graduating
from Hampton University,
Burke moved in with her as he
took a job in Connecticut with
a chemical company.
He told the Bronx Times he
was not used to the fast pace
life and unfriendly people.
“It was one hell of a difference,”
Burke said.
After a while he relocated
to Connecticut, but continued
to visit Harris on the weekends.
Burke stayed there for
a couple years, yet still had a
thirst to learn.
He moved back to Georgia
and obtained his master’s in
organic chemistry from Georgia
Tech, a master’s degree
in industrial chemistry from
Clark Atlanta University and
a PhD in polymer science from
the University of Akron.
While Burke was in school
until age 35, he wanted a good
education and to be challenged.
From there, he worked
in Ohio, Chicago and Rhode
Island before returning to the
Bronx in 2009.
He taught part time at
Bronx Community College
and at Lehman and in 2015
launched ASIR Materials, a
company that makes components
for phones.
“I initially thought I
wanted to be an engineer,” he
recalled. “You couldn’t have
told me that I wouldn’t have
been working in chemistry.”
Burke lives in the same
home his grandmother resided
in. Harris was well known in
the neighborhood and served
on the community board and
precinct council and even had
a street named after her.
Her passion for helping people
and being accountable was
passed on to her grandson.
According to Burke, the
Wakefi eld he saw as a kid and
young adult does not resemble
what it is today. The area
which was once diverse is now
just developers coming in and
building.
“I see the changes that are
happening and some of the
change quite frankly I don’t
like,” he stated.
He recalled that when
he fi rst made the Bronx his
home crime was high in
Wakefi eld. In fact, one person
on his block was allegedly
harboring gang members.
Burke didn’t see white
collar workers and wondered
what made them leave the
community.
“How do I make where I
live better?” he asked. “What
can I do to impact change?”
Burke attended community
board meetings and began
to understand more of
the ins-and-outs of CB 12 and
in 2016 was appointed to the
board. Then in October 2020,
he was elected chair.
Burke noticed that in the
past there was minimal discussion
on issues and often,
it was just voting and approving
liquor licenses. He
wanted his board members
to do their homework and not
be afraid to challenge each
other or developers.
Going forward Burke
wants to improve the economic
wealth in the community,
fi nd ways to provide
better health care and have
sources for fresh quality food
like farmers markets.
“You couldn’t have told
me that I would be the chair
of the board,” he commented.
“I think now what I like about
the board is people are asking
critical questions. You
can always learn from somebody.”
Community Board 12 Chairman Dr. Michael Burke
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