By: Maria Williams
At the heart of Khalid Bey’s story lies an insatiable passion for empowering others. With that goal inspiring his ventures, Khalid has been a prominent member of his local community for over 20 years, with hands-on experience working in governmental institutions. Leveraging his academic accolades in Social Sciences and his innate gift for storytelling, he drives positive change through authorship, public speaking, and entrepreneurship. As a culmination of his skills, Khalid founded Bekworx Capital – an insurance firm dedicated to safeguarding clients’ futures.
Now a trusted persona renowned for his dedication to amplifying the voices of underrepresented citizens, Khalid’s professional journey started in the entertainment realm, specifically music, where he attained significant success as a hip-hop artist. Despite record deals, frequent appearances, magazine features, and numerous professional photoshoots, the young artist couldn’t shake off the persistent sense of unfulfillment.
With his motivations blurry, fluctuating between a pure love for music and the validation he received from fans, Khalid walked away from the industry. “I didn’t like the direction music was taking me. I couldn’t decide why I kept performing, so I challenged myself—I walked away to see if I would miss it. Surprisingly, I never felt the urge to go back. I have always been creative, but the industry dynamic wasn’t for me.”
The pursuit to find a new path transformed into a discovery: Khalid’s true passion was empowering others. That mission roots back to his adolescence when Khalid would get involved in social matters, participate in local leadership programs, travel cross-state to testify before the State Legislature Committee or other governmental bodies, and engage with the public. “Since my first socio-political interaction, a disdain for injustice stuck with me, always illuminating my next steps,” he reminisces.
2004 marked the pivotal moment Khalid shifted from a ‘sideline complainer’ to a proactive member of society. With little to no support and an unquenchable thirst to guide society toward equality, he ran for the 2005 office elections. “I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I knew I was advocating for issues that were relevant and needed addressing,” he adds. Despite his best efforts, Khalid was far from winning at the time.
Though unsuccessful, that experience helped Khalid see the full picture of politics, significantly enriching his perspective. “Truly, it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I have never walked into so many rooms where people purse their lips immediately and judge your every step,” Khalid shares. “There might be value to their over-aggressive scrutiny, but back then, it was too much. The media would misquote my words, my message would get lost amidst controversy, and there was a palpable tension everywhere. I didn’t understand the politics game yet, but, at the time, I also didn’t want to learn it.”
Equipped with first-hand experiences in the political realm, Khalid returned to hands-on community involvement. His life gained a clearer direction when Khalid was approached by an executive of the Southside Community Coalition (SCC), who invited the activist to join the organization’s leadership. There, at the helm of SCC, Khalid focused on economic and cultural revitalization in the Salina Street corridor – a mission he fulfilled from 2005 to 2009.
In May of 2009, Khalid accepted a position with the State Senate. For two years, as a regional coordinator, he assisted two districts comprising over 300,000 people, acting as a liaison between the Senate members. He describes that experience as an ‘absolute crash course in legislative government and political guerilla ground game.’
As soon as his Senate role ended in 2011, Khalid was asked to consider running for office, specifically the 4th District Council seat—the same one that he ran for a loss in 2005. The people who tried convincing him ranged from the Council President at the time and a former 4th District Councilor to local entrepreneurs; despite their position, Khalid’s answer remained the same: a resounding no.
What changed his decision was a realization sparked within him during these conversations—there is no better platform to implement change than the government. Determined to improve his community, he won the elections, took the seat in January 2012, and began his decade-long journey, eventually becoming an at-large councilor and president pro tempore for the City of Syracuse.
Now, still at the heart of his local community, Khalid Bey is also a successful entrepreneur and a passionate author. At Bekworx Capital, he serves individual clients, families, and businesses, helping them safeguard the future. In his literary works, such as Love Under Will, The African American Dilemma, and Necessary Adjustments: My Opinion on Government, Khalid explores themes relevant to modern society, shatters stigmas and misconceptions, and shares insights that are as thought-provoking as they are empowering.
From the tainted music industry to becoming a catalyst of change in Syracuse, the story of Khalid Bey is one of self-discovery, empowerment, and constant improvement. “I wasn’t born with this knowledge, but over the years, I found I had a passion for empowerment,” he shares. “What makes me the happiest is seeing people win. The political game is a tough one, but if you know the rules, it’s like striking a Full House in poker. And that’s what my life is all about—playing my best hand to help suppressed voices be heard.”
Published by: Holy Minoza
