Reverend DÃaz was decisively elected to the New York City Council in 2001, representing the 18th District in the Bronx, including the communities of Bronx River, Castle Hill, Clason Point, Crotona Park, Harding Park, Parkchester, Soundview, and parts of Crotona Park East, Ferry Point, Hunts Point, West Farms, West Tremont, and Zerega. During his swearing in ceremony, Reverend DÃaz conducted the first Pentecostal religious service ever held inside City Hall. The sermon was delivered by Bishop Ephrain Navas Gonz´lez, Superintendent of the Northeastern District of the Church of God.
Senator DÃaz has made New York City his home since 1965. He attended Herbert H. Lehman C. College, obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in 1976, and became the Pastor of the Church of God located on Seward Avenue in the Bronx. He attended the Damascus Bible Institute, graduating with a Theological Degree and, in 1978, became an ordained Minister of the Church of God, headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee.
In 1977, Reverend DÃaz decided to pursue his interest in working for the betterment of his community by helping the less fortunate. As a result, in 1977, in the basement of the Church of God on Seward Avenue, Reverend DÃaz founded, and was until recently Executive Director of, the Christian Community Benevolent Association, Inc. That organization is a non-profit CBO geared toward helping the elderly and the needy. The C.C.B.A. presently employs 1000 people and serves more than 5000 senior citizens residing in Bronx County. Senator DÃaz also founded, and is the Pastor of, the Christian Community Neighborhood Church.
In 1993, Reverend DÃaz was appointed to serve on the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board. In that capacity, he served the people of the City of New York for three years, investigating allegations of police brutality and misconduct.
