19. Richard C. Iannuzzi

As head of an organization made up of more than 600,000 members and 1,200 local unions all focused on improving the quality of education and health care for New Yorkers, Iannuzzi wields power way beyond the numbers. He’s gone from drawing on the blackboards of an elementary school to tracking politicians through the corridors of the state Capitol on a grassroots mission to tackle issues such as school budgets, standardized testing and tax caps. Iannuzzi can often be found speaking at rallies, furthering social justice and fighting to maintain quality public education.