Sharif Hassan is taking charge of Paterson

Sharif Hassan was nine years old and had finished buying milk at a gas station when he saw a body laying on the floor, lifeless.

The experience forever changed his view on Paterson.

Hassan grew up in the rugged area of Downtown Paterson filled with many minority groups. Many young people there drop out of high school and of the few who go to college, don’t end up finishing.

Yet his story takes a different journey. Being from a migrant family of Egypt his family struggled financially, but he was determined to have a better future and graduate from college.

He decided he should go into politics and change Paterson for the better. A place in which a nine year old boy will never witness an inhumane crime.

At just eleven years old he began to work to help his family progress. Hassan would go to work with his father. His father is responsible for instilling work ethic in him.

Working alongside his dad he experienced the everyday life of a plumber. He saw how his father worked endlessly. Hassan wanted to make sure he can provide for his family. His goal is to be able to be successful enough to where he can spend more time with his father.

Hassan once said “Every problem has a solution. You just need the right person and the right time to get it solved.” This is why Hassan believes that with his political stature he cane be the right person to solve Paterson.