{{Short description|American nonprofit executive and civil servant (born 1970)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Sheena Wright | office1 = First Deputy Mayor of New York City | 1blankname1 = Mayor | 1namedata1 = Eric Adams | term_start1 = January 1, 2023 | term_end1 = October 8, 2024 | predecessor1 = Lorraine Grillo | successor1 = Anne Williams-Isom (acting)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2024/09/executive-order-45|title=Executive Order 45|date=September 26, 2024|access-date=December 8, 2025|website=NYC Office of the Mayor}}</ref><br>Maria Torres-Springer | office2 = Deputy Mayor of New York City for Strategic Initiatives | 1blankname2 = Mayor | 1namedata2 = Eric Adams | term_start2 = January 1, 2022 | term_end2 = December 31, 2022 | predecessor2 = | successor2 = Ana Almanzar | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|1|6}} | birth_place = South Bronx, New York City, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | partner = | relatives = Tanya Wright (sister)<br> Philip Banks III (brother-in-law) <br> Terence Banks (brother-in-law) | education = Columbia University (BA, JD) | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|Gregg Walker|||end=divorced}} * {{marriage|David C. Banks|2024}}}} | image = Sheena Wright hip hop reception (cropped).jpg | caption = Wright in 2023 }} '''Sheena Wright''' (born January 6, 1970) is an American nonprofit executive and civil servant. She was the First Deputy Mayor of New York City<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/08/nyregion/sheena-wright-resigns-eric-adams.html |title=Adams's Top Deputy Mayor Resigns, Intensifying Wave of Departures|website=The New York Times }}</ref> and was previously the president of the United Way of New York City. In August 2021, she was appointed chair of New York City mayor-elect Eric Adams's transition team. On December 6, 2022, Adams named her Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives, a role she assumed in January 2023.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last1=Anuta|first1=Joe|last2=Goldenberg|first2=Sally|title=Adams selects nonprofit executive to head transition team|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/whiteboard/2021/08/15/adams-selects-nonprofit-executive-to-head-transition-team-1390076|access-date=2021-11-20|website=Politico PRO|language=en|archive-date=2022-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304033615/https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/whiteboard/2021/08/15/adams-selects-nonprofit-executive-to-head-transition-team-1390076|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Barron|first=James|date=2021-11-04|title=On the Agenda: 'Get Stuff Done'|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/04/nyregion/eric-adams-nyc-mayor-agenda.html|access-date=2021-11-20|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120020411/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/04/nyregion/eric-adams-nyc-mayor-agenda.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Voice">{{Cite web |last=Voice |first=Village |date=2013-04-17 |title=The (Very) Earthly Pursuits of Rev. Calvin O. Butts III |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2013/04/17/the-very-earthly-pursuits-of-rev-calvin-o-butts-iii/ |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=The Village Voice |archive-date=2022-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022233427/https://www.villagevoice.com/2013/04/17/the-very-earthly-pursuits-of-rev-calvin-o-butts-iii/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="thecity.nyc">{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Greg B. |title=How Eric Adams' Inner Circle Stayed Tight Through Past Arrest and Divorce Mess |url=https://www.thecity.nyc/2021/12/21/22849352/eric-adams-inner-circle-arrest-and-divorce-mess |website=thecity.nyc |date=21 December 2021 |access-date=6 December 2022 |archive-date=5 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205222249/https://www.thecity.nyc/2021/12/21/22849352/eric-adams-inner-circle-arrest-and-divorce-mess |url-status=live }}</ref> Wright later resigned amid investigations into the Eric Adams administration.
== Early life and education== Wright was born and raised in the South Bronx, the daughter of Debra Fraser-Howze, an AIDS activist who founded of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS and the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-07-27|title=40 Under 40 - Sheena Wright|url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/sheena-wright-0|access-date=2021-11-20|website=Crain's New York Business|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175447/https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/sheena-wright-0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/in-focus-shows/2023/02/17/city-s-first-black-woman-deputy-mayor-celebrates-black-history-month|title=City's first Black woman deputy mayor celebrates Black History Month|last1=Wells|first1=Cheryl|last2=Keller|first2=Kaitlyn|date=February 19, 2023|access-date=March 15, 2025|website=Spectrum News NY1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Called to Action {{!}} Moravian University|url=https://www.moravian.edu/news/magazine/spring-2021/called-to-action|access-date=2021-11-20|website=www.moravian.edu|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175426/https://www.moravian.edu/news/magazine/spring-2021/called-to-action|url-status=live}}</ref> She also established ''Choose Healthy Life'', a network of churches dedicated to providing coronavirus testing and administering vaccines.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Fadulu|first=Lola|date=September 23, 2021|title=Washington-area leaders say they're prepared for coronavirus vaccine booster shots|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/covid-booster-vaccine-maryland-virginia-dc/2021/09/23/ead7f604-1c74-11ec-8380-5fbadbc43ef8_story.html|access-date=November 20, 2021|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-date=September 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924032845/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/covid-booster-vaccine-maryland-virginia-dc/2021/09/23/ead7f604-1c74-11ec-8380-5fbadbc43ef8_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Wright’s sister, Tanya Wright, is an actress.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trail Blazer {{!}} Columbia College Today|url=https://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/archive/fall13/cover_story|access-date=2021-11-20|website=www.college.columbia.edu|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120180834/https://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/archive/fall13/cover_story|url-status=live}}</ref>
Wright attended the George School in Pennsylvania<ref>{{Cite news|date=2009-12-26|title=To Believe Despite the Odds|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/jobs/27boss.html|access-date=2021-11-20|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175426/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/jobs/27boss.html|url-status=live}}</ref> before enrolling at Columbia University, where she was a member of the varsity track and field team.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Columbia Athletics Celebrates 25 Years of Women's Sports|url=https://gocolumbialions.com/news/2009/5/5/3733702.aspx|access-date=2021-11-20|website=Columbia University Athletics|date=5 May 2009|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175428/https://gocolumbialions.com/news/2009/5/5/3733702.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> She graduated from Columbia College in 1990 and later earned her Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School in 1994.
==Career== After graduating from law school, Wright worked as a lawyer at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. She also worked in private equity firms and served as general counsel for Crave Technologies, a minority-owned software startup.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Finn|first=Robin|date=2008-08-22|title=Nurturing a New, Yet Old, Vision of Harlem|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/nyregion/22lives.html|access-date=2021-11-20|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120181558/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/nyregion/22lives.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Wright served as the president and executive director of the Abyssinian Development Corporation, the economic arm of the influential Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Williams|first=Timothy|date=2008-08-18|title=Powerful Harlem Church Is Also a Powerful Harlem Developer|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/18/nyregion/18abyssinian.html|access-date=2021-11-20|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175425/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/18/nyregion/18abyssinian.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-11-20|title=Rev. Calvin Butts seeks salvation for the church-based organization that resurrected Harlem|url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20151122/REAL_ESTATE/311229998/rev-calvin-butts-seeks-salvation-for-abyssinian-development-corp-firm-that-resurrected-harlem|access-date=2021-11-20|website=Crain's New York Business|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175435/https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20151122/REAL_ESTATE/311229998/rev-calvin-butts-seeks-salvation-for-abyssinian-development-corp-firm-that-resurrected-harlem|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 1, 2013, she was subpoenaed by federal prosecutors regarding her tenure at Abyssinian, specifically concerning the sale of a townhouse—intended for buyers earning less than $130,000—to Todd Hunter, the son of NBA union executive Billy Hunter, through an Abyssinian subsidiary.<ref name="Voice"/>
Wright's leadership at Abyssinian has faced criticism from former employees, who alleged that over $500,000 was spent on team-building and leadership events, including trips described as "junkets or vacations for favored senior staff" to destinations such as Martha's Vineyard, the Bahamas, and Jamaica.<ref name="Voice" />
In 2012, Wright became the first female president and CEO of the United Way of New York City in the organization’s 79-year history.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-07-17|title=Most Powerful Women - Sheena Wright|url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/sheena-wright|access-date=2021-11-20|website=Crain's New York Business|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175437/https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/sheena-wright|url-status=live}}</ref> During her tenure, she was actively involved in Hurricane Sandy and COVID-19 relief efforts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sheena Wright|url=https://unitedwaynyc.org/who-we-are/leadership/sheena-wright/|access-date=2021-11-20|website=United Way of New York City|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175428/https://unitedwaynyc.org/who-we-are/leadership/sheena-wright/|url-status=live}}</ref> She also led the ''ReadNYC'' initiative, aimed at improving child literacy.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Power of Diversity: Women 100|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2021/11/power-diversity-women-100/186632/|access-date=2021-11-20|website=City & State NY|date=8 November 2021|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175426/https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2021/11/power-diversity-women-100/186632/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Dishman|first=Lydia|date=2017-04-19|title=The Uphill Battle Of United Way NYC's First Female President|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40406777/the-uphill-battle-of-united-way-nycs-first-female-president|access-date=2021-11-20|website=Fast Company|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175427/https://www.fastcompany.com/40406777/the-uphill-battle-of-united-way-nycs-first-female-president|url-status=live}}</ref>
In August 2021, Eric Adams appointed Wright to lead his mayoral transition team.<ref name=":0" />
She served<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/08/nyregion/sheena-wright-resigns-eric-adams.html |title=Adams's Top Deputy Mayor Resigns, Intensifying Wave of Departures|website=The New York Times }}</ref> as the First Deputy Mayor of New York City but resigned amid investigations into the Eric Adams administration.
== Personal life == On January 5, 2013, Gregg Walker, Wright's former husband and an executive at Sony at the time, called Harlem's 30th Precinct to report that Wright had assaulted him. Both Wright and Walker were arrested; however, Wright's charges were dropped the same night, while Walker's charges were not dropped for several weeks.<ref name="Voice"/><ref name="thecity.nyc"/>
During Wright's detention, her family reportedly contacted influential New Yorkers, including Reverend Calvin O. Butts, who reached out to Phillip Banks III, then NYPD Chief (later resigned while under investigation), and his brother, David C. Banks, who is now Wright’s husband. All three served in the Adams administration.<ref name="Voice" /><ref name="politico.com">{{Cite web|last1=Goldenberg|first1=Sally|last2=Anuta|first2=Joe|title=Meet Adams' inner circle as he lays the groundwork for a potential administration|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2021/07/13/meet-adams-inner-circle-as-he-lays-the-groundwork-for-a-potential-administration-1388276|access-date=2021-11-20|website=Politico PRO|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175427/https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2021/07/13/meet-adams-inner-circle-as-he-lays-the-groundwork-for-a-potential-administration-1388276|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ny1.com">{{Cite web|title=Who will be the next schools chancellor?|url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2021/11/12/next-nyc-schools-chancellor|access-date=2021-11-20|website=www.ny1.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175427/https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2021/11/12/next-nyc-schools-chancellor|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Zimmerman">{{Cite web|last=Zimmerman|first=Alex|date=2021-11-05|title=Who is David Banks? The top NYC schools chancellor candidate already has Eric Adams' ear.|url=https://ny.chalkbeat.org/2021/11/5/22764394/david-banks-nyc-schools-chancellor-candidate-eric-adams|access-date=2021-11-20|website=Chalkbeat New York|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175428/https://ny.chalkbeat.org/2021/11/5/22764394/david-banks-nyc-schools-chancellor-candidate-eric-adams|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thecity.nyc" />
Walker’s mother alleged that Wright slapped her, scratched her arm, and pushed her.<ref name="Voice" /> Phillip Banks III admitted to contacting the 30th Precinct about Wright's arrest after being approached by his brother, David C. Banks, who was Wright's partner at the time.<ref name="thecity.nyc" />
She previously served as a trustee of her alma mater, a position to which she was elected in March 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sheena Wright {{!}} Office of the Secretary of the University|url=https://secretary.columbia.edu/trustees-columbia-university/sheena-wright|access-date=2021-11-20|website=secretary.columbia.edu|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175427/https://secretary.columbia.edu/trustees-columbia-university/sheena-wright|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-30|title=Sheena Wright Named As Trustee of Columbia University|url=https://unitedwaynyc.org/sheena-wright-named-as-trustee-of-columbia-university/|access-date=2021-11-20|website=United Way of New York City|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120175427/https://unitedwaynyc.org/sheena-wright-named-as-trustee-of-columbia-university/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Wright's husband, David C. Banks, served as the New York City Schools Chancellor from January 2022 to October 2024 in the Adams administration.<ref name="politico.com" /><ref name="ny1.com" /><ref name="Zimmerman" /> Banks and Wright married in September 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=McFadden |first1=Alyce |last2=Mays |first2=Jeffery C. |date=2024-09-27 |title=Top Adams Aides Get Married as Investigation Swirls Around Them |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/29/nyregion/adams-david-banks-sheena-wright-marriage.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241005001741/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/29/nyregion/adams-david-banks-sheena-wright-marriage.html |archive-date=2024-10-05 |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>
== References == <references />
{{Eric Adams cabinet}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Sheena}} Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:American people of Jamaican descent Category:Deputy mayors of New York City Category:New York (state) Democrats Category:Nonprofit chief executives Category:George School alumni Category:Columbia College, Columbia University alumni Category:Columbia Law School alumni Category:Politicians from the Bronx Category:American businesspeople in the real estate industry Category:Women in New York (state) politics Category:Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz people