United States-nationally recognised community organiser and racial justice advocate, Afua Atta-Mensah, has been appointed as Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice (MOERJ) by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Atta-Mensah brings extensive experience to the role, having previously served in senior positions at Community Change, Community Voices Heard, and the Urban Justice Centre. Throughout her career in New York and internationally, she has focused on building political power for working communities, advancing racial justice initiatives, and promoting fair and equitable housing.
In her new role, she will lead the administration’s efforts to advance racial equity across all city agencies. A major early priority will be the development and release of a Preliminary Citywide Racial Equity Plan, which the Mamdani administration has committed to publishing within its first 100 days in office.
The renewed focus on the equity plan marks a significant shift in direction. Although New York City voters overwhelmingly approved the creation of a Racial Equity Plan in 2022, the previous administration failed to release it within the timeline mandated by the City Charter.
Under the new administration’s approach, the preliminary plan will be made available for public review and comment before a final version is released later this year.
Mayor Mamdani said Atta-Mensah’s long-standing advocacy for communities historically excluded from power made her the right choice to lead the city’s equity agenda. He emphasized that delivering the preliminary racial equity plan on schedule is a cornerstone of his administration’s commitment to justice and accountability.
Atta-Mensah said she is honored by the appointment and ready to pursue citywide equity and accountability on behalf of all New Yorkers. She added that she looks forward to working with community leaders, MOERJ staff, and the Commission on Racial Equity to develop and implement a comprehensive, citywide strategy.
Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su also welcomed the appointment, noting that economic justice cannot be separated from racial justice. She said Atta-Mensah’s leadership would help transform the city’s equity goals into tangible outcomes for communities across New York City.
Written by Kweku Sampson
This article is published by either a staff writer, an intern, or an editor of TheAfricanDream.net, based on editorial discretion.
