Why I’ll (Probably) Never Leave New York City
About Adem
Adem T. Bunkeddeko is a Democrat running for New York State Comptroller. He's a lifelong public servant with two decades of experience across finance, government, and the nonprofit sector, dedicated to expanding economic opportunity for New Yorkers.
Adem T. Bunkeddeko is a Democrat running for New York State Comptroller. He combines lived experience with deep professional expertise across government, nonprofits, and finance — giving him both the insight and the practical know-how to help everyday New Yorkers thrive.
Born at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens to Ugandan refugees who fled the country’s civil war, Adem was raised with his siblings nearby in a rent-stabilized one-bedroom apartment, where his parents turned hardship into their own version of the American Dream. A product of the New York City public school system, he earned scholarships to attend prep school and college, becoming one of the first in his family to earn a college degree. He received a B.A. from Haverford College, where he studied political science and philosophy, and later an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Adem began his career as a grassroots organizer in Brooklyn before taking on roles at the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation and Brooklyn Community Services, where he built programs connecting residents to education, job training, and the chance to move up and build a better life.
In leadership positions at the Empire State Development Corporation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), he helped advance initiatives to expand affordable housing, support small businesses, and strengthen economic mobility across New York.
Adem later joined Coro New York as Executive Director. As Coro’s chief executive, he led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening its finances and expanding programming to a broader and more diverse group of emerging leaders.
Adem has also worked in finance, helping manage and evaluate investments anchored in strong fundamentals, long-term value creation, and public purpose.
He currently serves on the board of House of SpeakEasy and previously served on Brooklyn Community Board 8 and the board of the Center for Justice Innovation. He has twice run for Congress in Central Brooklyn.
Adem and his wife live in Brooklyn.
