Experience

Children's Defense Fund - New York

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Director

  • Sep 2021 - Present

  New York, New York, United States Lead statewide advocacy, policy, program and organizing efforts to ensure access to quality affordable health coverage and care for children and low income families; reform the juvenile justice and child welfare systems; promote educational equity; end child poverty; and improve outcomes for children of color. Supervise a 7-person team and multiple consultants. Strengthening CDF-NY’s position as the leading child advocacy organization in New York.



New York State Senate

• United States
• Government Administration
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Chief of Staff

  • Jun 2017 - Sep 2021

  163 West 125th Street, Suite 912, New York, NY 10027 Chief advisor responsible for providing leadership in the development, oversight, implementation and integration of the policy priorities and initiatives for a progressive elected official. Manage organizational development and an 11-person team that is located across two offices who are responsible for driving core goals and objectives across six departments: Community Affairs, Communications, Constituent Services, Government Affairs, Legislation and Scheduling. Secured over $8 million in… Show more Chief advisor responsible for providing leadership in the development, oversight, implementation and integration of the policy priorities and initiatives for a progressive elected official. Manage organizational development and an 11-person team that is located across two offices who are responsible for driving core goals and objectives across six departments: Community Affairs, Communications, Constituent Services, Government Affairs, Legislation and Scheduling. Secured over $8 million in state funding for the district to address health disparities, educational inequities, legal aid support for vulnerable populations, workforce development support for vulnerable populations, the digital divide, gun violence, hunger, and support for seniors and the arts community. Manage the Harlem Covid-19 Health Disparities Task Force, which works in partnership with the Mayor’s Office, NYC DOH, NYC DOE, NYPD, NYC Office of Faith & Community Affairs, NYS Office of Faith-Based Partnerships, and others to successfully address and deliver on community demands relating to expanded access to testing and vaccination sites as well as contact tracing job opportunities. Lead and manage the Harlem Community Policing Task Force, which partners with over 50 community organizations and advocacy groups as well as the Mayor’s Office, NYPD, NYC Parks, NYC Permits, and CAU to address and deliver on community-led solutions to drive critical reforms focused on reducing gun violence and providing educational, fitness-related, and fun activities for our youth and adult populations. Show less



First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC)

• Ministry Founder and Leader, Awakening the Conscience Today Ministry (ACT Ministry)

  • Jan 2012 - Sep 2018

  1912 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd., New York, NY 10026 Led in the building and development of FCBC’s – a 12,000-member congregation in Harlem - social justice ministry, the ACT Ministry. Managed the ministry’s congregational organizing efforts on city, state and national social justice issues covering: Education Justice, Economic Justice, Criminal Justice Reform, Voting Rights, and Ending Child and Adult Poverty. Represented organization in cultivating and maintaining high-level relationships with policymakers and allied partner organizations… Show more Led in the building and development of FCBC’s – a 12,000-member congregation in Harlem - social justice ministry, the ACT Ministry. Managed the ministry’s congregational organizing efforts on city, state and national social justice issues covering: Education Justice, Economic Justice, Criminal Justice Reform, Voting Rights, and Ending Child and Adult Poverty. Represented organization in cultivating and maintaining high-level relationships with policymakers and allied partner organizations, which included labor, community-based organizations, antipoverty organizations, and various coalitions. Show less



NYC Department of Social Services (DSS)

• Director of Community Relations, Office of Communications & Marketing/Legislative Affairs

  • Dec 2014 - Jun 2017

  New York, NY Responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of a strategic plan to secure community support for the opening of new shelters; advancing best practices in homeless prevention; engaging in high-impact communications; and elevating the voices of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. Represented agency in cultivating and maintaining high-level relationships with policymakers, faith leaders, community-based organizations, educational institutions, service providers, and a… Show more Responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of a strategic plan to secure community support for the opening of new shelters; advancing best practices in homeless prevention; engaging in high-impact communications; and elevating the voices of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. Represented agency in cultivating and maintaining high-level relationships with policymakers, faith leaders, community-based organizations, educational institutions, service providers, and a diversity of community leaders. Led in bringing leaders in the faith, government, and nonprofit sectors together in a borough fashion to discuss the drivers of poverty and to inspire compassion and collaborative action to address poverty and homelessness via initiatives that I started, which included: #nycHOPEday, “Care for NYC’s Homeless Training,” “I Am My Sister, My Sister is Me,” and “Homeless Awareness Month.” Managed the city’s first “Homebase Citywide Day of Action,” a 200-participant effort to raise awareness about the agency’s $42 million homeless prevention program. Managed NYC’s 2016 Homeless Outreach Population Estimate Count (HOPE Count) volunteer recruitment effort and recruited the largest number of NYC HOPE Count volunteers that the city had ever recruited for the count in a total of 11 years. Organized and managed agency staff across seven units – Prevention, Families, Singles, Street Outreach, Capacity, Planning & Development, and Communications & External Affairs – in addressing community issues, spreading awareness of initiatives, and in creating partnerships and building community relations. Show less



NY United & New York Communities for Change (NYCC)

• Community, Faith & Political Organizer

  • Mar 2014 - Dec 2014

  New York, NY Responsible for assisting in developing campaign strategies for citywide and statewide advocacy and organizing efforts for a variety of successful economic justice campaigns (Fast Food Forward, Airport Worker Economic Dignity Campaign, and #RaiseUpNY) to ensure access to a more livable wage for low-income workers. Nurtured and grew high-level community and faith partnerships that led to NY raising its minimum wage to $15/hour, which helps to improve economic outcomes for individuals and their… Show more Responsible for assisting in developing campaign strategies for citywide and statewide advocacy and organizing efforts for a variety of successful economic justice campaigns (Fast Food Forward, Airport Worker Economic Dignity Campaign, and #RaiseUpNY) to ensure access to a more livable wage for low-income workers. Nurtured and grew high-level community and faith partnerships that led to NY raising its minimum wage to $15/hour, which helps to improve economic outcomes for individuals and their families. Developed and managed the faith community’s programmatic support of various justice campaigns, including but not limited to: “Labor in the Pulpit” services; clergy sign-on letter of support for #RaiseUpNY legislation; petition signing at houses of worship to support the airport worker justice campaign; clergy and congregants lobbying in Albany for #RaiseUpNY; and clergy testifying at a Senate hearing on #RaiseUpNY legislation. Coordinated high-level community and faith participation at justice actions, including but not limited to: rallies, strikes, press conferences, a hearing, worker delegations, worker “walk backs,” a NY & NJ Port Authority board meeting, and a 10-mile march for economic justice for the airport worker campaign. Developed and managed NYCC’s Political Action Committee’s (PAC) programmatic plan for the 2014 election season and nurtured and grew member participation in the PAC. Show less



Carver Community Development Corporation

• United States
• Civic and Social Organizations

• Assistant Vice President

  • May 2011 - Sep 2013

  New York, New York Led in the drafting of highly competitive government grant applications; assisted in the management of board relations; and managed many of Carver Federal Saving Bank’s (CFSB) community initiatives and programs. Managed the design and creation of CFSB’s Community Impact Dashboard, which improved the bank’s reporting of its work in underserved communities and strengthen its grant proposals. Led in the drafting of CFSB’s Community Impact Reports for its investors and community stakeholders… Show more Led in the drafting of highly competitive government grant applications; assisted in the management of board relations; and managed many of Carver Federal Saving Bank’s (CFSB) community initiatives and programs. Managed the design and creation of CFSB’s Community Impact Dashboard, which improved the bank’s reporting of its work in underserved communities and strengthen its grant proposals. Led in the drafting of CFSB’s Community Impact Reports for its investors and community stakeholders. Assisted in the management of CFSB’s corporate contributions’ budget. Show less