Yusef Salaam's journey from being one of the Central Park Five to an influential figure in politics and social justice is a testament to his resilience and determination. Wrongfully convicted in the Central Park jogger case in 1989, his conviction was finally vacated in 2002. This harrowing experience fueled his passion for justice, leading him to author the bestselling "Better, Not Bitter: Living on Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice" in 2021. His story was also brought to life in Ken Burns's film "The Central Park Five" and Ava DuVernay's television miniseries "When They See Us."

Following his exoneration, Salaam made significant strides in advocating for the wrongly convicted. He served on the board of the Innocence Project, an organization dedicated to exonerating the wrongly convicted through DNA testing. In 2016, his efforts were recognized at the highest level when then-president Barack Obama presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. His advocacy work addresses issues such as false confessions, police brutality, press ethics, and racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

In 2023, Salaam took his advocacy to the political arena, announcing his run for the New York City Council. He won the race and has represented the city's 9th council district since 2024.

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