Councilmember Reed was born in New York City and raised in Harlem and on the Upper West Side. He was named for A. Philip Randolph, a mentor of his father's and a leader in the fight for worker's rights. From the beginning, the Civil Rights movement dominated Councilmember Reed's household and his life. Councilmember Reed's parents encouraged him to become involved and taught him the one ideal that has dominated his life: everyone has a responsibility to fight injustice and intolerance whenever and wherever it is found. Councilmember Reed began his fight against prejudice by organizing voter registration drives, youth boycotts, and protests with Dr. Martin Luther King.

Councilmember Reed left New York to pursue studies in political science and history at colleges in California and Ohio while supporting himself by working in construction. While in California, Councilmember Reed became involved in the fight for union representation for farm workers. After college Councilmember Reed began working for Otis Elevator, first in California, then in New York, where he worked his way up to Senior Sales Representative.

Councilmember Reed continued his commitment to community activism in New York. He became a member of the 24th Precinct Community Council, was appointed to Community Board #7 by then City Councilmember Carolyn Maloney, and was elected President of the NW Central Park Block Association, where he obtained a desperately needed $300,000 grant to clean up the north end of the park. Councilmember Reed's involvement in Democratic party politics led to him serve three terms as a Democratic District Leader. Councilmember Reed continues to volunteer his time tutoring children after school through the Children's Aid Society.

Councilmember Reed ultimately decided to combine his professional management skills with his life-long commitment to community involvement by earning his Master's Degree in Non-Profit Management from the New School for Social Research in 1988. In 1989, Councilmember Reed became the Project Director for the East New York HIV/AIDS Project. Councilmember Reed worked tirelessly to meet the service needs of the HIV positive population and to obtain private and public sources of funding for the project. He also directed the project's program of prevention education, technical training, public awareness, and community outreach.

In 1995, Councilmember Reed became Director for Public Affairs for the Hetrick-Martin Institute. The Institute fights discrimination, as well as providing education and counseling for gay and lesbian youth. Councilmember Reed has also received a number of commendations and awards for his work on behalf of his community, especially for his civil rights work on behalf of African-Americans and the Gay and Lesbian community.

Reed was elected to the Council in November 1997 and began serving his first term on January 1, 1998. In the Council, Councilmember Reed serves on the Aging, Governmental Operations, Health, and Parks, Recreation, Cultural Affairs & International Intergroup Relations Committees.

Entered City Council January 1998
Represents:
Upper West Side, East Side, part of Mott Haven
Committees:
Aging; Governmental Operations; Health; Parks, Recreation, Cultural Affairs & International Intergroup Relations