Her Journey from Albania

Her Work for You in the County Legislature

Her Trip to Israel

Brotherhood of Temple Israel of Northern Westchester is very pleased to welcome County Legislator Emiljana Ulaj to speak at our next Brotherhood Breakfast.  Sworn into office in January of 2024, she works for many Temple Israel members as the representative of Cortlandt, Ossining, Croton, Briarcliff and Buchanan.

Emiljana’s life story is a remarkable one which should resonate strongly with all of us at Temple Israel. She and her family fled Albania in 1997 in the midst of a civil war. After nearly a year spent as refugees, the family emigrated to the United States, where they were granted asylum. They settled here in Westchester and Emiljana’s parents worked multiple jobs to ensure a stable family life.

Seizing on the opportunities provided by her parents and this country, Emiljana began a career focused on public service, working in the State Senate and the labor movement. She now works as an organizer for NYSUT, a union representing nearly 700,000 teachers, school-related personnel, and healthcare workers. All of this has prepared her well to be the effective legislator she is today.

Emiljana currently chairs the legislature’s Intergovernmental Affairs Committee and previously was the Chair of the Labor and Human Rights Committee.

In November, the Westchester Jewish Council, a non-profit organization representing over 126 different member organizations, including Temple Israel, asked her to go to Israel. She was grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the region, and to bond with constituents in her district for whom Israel is deeply important. It is a trip she describes as “an incredibly moving experience”. 

Emiljana looks forward to talking with you about how she came to America, her life growing up, her efforts for working people, her trip to Israel and how it informs her work in Westchester today.