Sheena Wright created history when she became the first woman president of the United Way of New York City, an international network of non-profit fundraising affiliates. She had yet again marked another milestone by becoming the first Black woman to have been appointed as the First Deputy Mayor of New York City.
Sheena will take charge of the office as the First Deputy Mayor in January 2023. Lorraine Grillo, who served as the First Deputy Mayor announced her departure from the position in November and it was on December 6, 2022, Tuesday that New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the appointment of Sheena Wright to fill in the vacancy.
About Sheena Wright
Sheena Wright was born on January 6, 1970, as the daughter of Debra Fraser – Howze. There is not much information available about her father but there are many reports that suggest that she went to jail for some unknown reasons and that her mother raised Sheena alone.
Sheena was a native of The Bronx. She joined the George School in Pennsylvania for her high school education. Upon graduating high school Sheena Wright joined Columbia University when she was just 16 years old and she made it into the track and field team of the University.
In 1990, Sheena Wright graduated from Columbia College, and in 1994, she completed her studies at Columbia Law School. In March 20121, Wright was elected as a trustee of Columbia University.
Upon completing her graduation in law, Sheena started working as a lawyer at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, a law firm based in New York which is famous for corporate law. It is also regarded as the most profitable law firm in the world.
Political Career
Before being elected as the First Deputy Mayor of New York City, Sheena Wright served as the Transition Chair for the mayor-elect Eric Adams. She also has a lot of experience in engaging with people, finance, law, and different such areas from the prior positions that she handled.
After her career in the law firm, Sheena Wright served her time in the Advisory Council of Education sector for Mayor De Blasio and also with the New York Forward Re-Opening Advisory Board for Governor Cuomo.
Wright also worked alongside the Abyssinian Development Corporation and she took up the positions of CEO and president with the corporation The Abyssinian Development Corporation, which is based in Harlem, is a non-profit organization that aims at building the human, social, and physical capital of Harlem.
It was in October 2012 that Sheena Wright was chosen to lead United Way of New York City and she became the first-ever woman to do that in the 75-year-long history of the organization. She was very successful in working for the betterment of many things like health, income, and education along with the organization.
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Sheena Wright’s Personal Life And Relationship
Sheena Wright was brought up by her mother Debra Fraser-Howze. Just like her daughter, her mother is also known for the contributions that she had made to society. Sheena’s mother is known for her works as an AIDS activist. She is also the founder of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. Shena also has a sister named Tanya Wright, who is an actress.
Sheena Wright was earlier married to a man named Gregg Walker, who was an executive at Sony at that time. The exact date or details of their marriage is unavailable as of now, but it is known that the couple got divorced eventually and are not together. The feud between Wright and her husband had been quite serious and Wright was arrested multiple times for it.
In January 2013, Sheena Wright was arrested for the complaint given by her husband who accused Sheena of assaulting her husband. Her charges were dropped and Walker was arrested by the police because of a counterclaim made by Sheena.
Sheena was again arrested on the next day in January 013, this time for attacking the mother of Gregg Walker. The complaint accused her of drilling the door of Walker’s mothers’ room and then physically attacking her.
She is currently in a relationship with David C. Banks, who is an attorney and also works for Mayor Eric Adams.
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