From the first time she stepped onto the Columbia campus in 1986, Ms. Sheena Wright knew there was work to be done. Active and Involved, she worked countless hours and aligned herself with organizations of service such as Rho Chapter which she became a member of in 1987 . She never strayed too far from home graduating in 1990 at the age of 20 with a BA in History and Sociology from Columbia College and in 1994 with a JD from Columbia Law School.
Leaving the nest, Ms. Wright has been nothing short of exceptional. In 2002, she became the President and CEO of Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC) where under her leadership, they developed an award winning workforce program which has helped 200 young high school drop-outs obtain their GED or high school diploma and secure gainful employment. The organization built 785 units of residential housing in 78 buildings, adding almost 500,000 square feet of community, commercial and retail space. There is much more, but you get the point. A lawyer by training, In 2012 she became the first woman to be the CEO of United Way of NYC in its 75-year history, a role she assumed on the day Hurricane Sandy hit the Northeast. On that day, Ms. Wright said:
“ I am thrilled to be embarking on this new chapter as President and CEO of United Way of New York City. I look forward to continuing and strengthening United Way's work to improve the lives of low income New Yorkers through initiatives in health, education and income. I grew up in the South Bronx with a teen mother who raised my sister and me by herself. The strength and fortitude of my mother combined with the help of community programs allowed me to accomplish everything I have today. I have seen first-hand how profound United Way's impact is in our City, and I'm thrilled to have the chance to extend that impact day in and day out on behalf of all of New York's communities."
Leaving the nest, Ms. Wright has been nothing short of exceptional. In 2002, she became the President and CEO of Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC) where under her leadership, they developed an award winning workforce program which has helped 200 young high school drop-outs obtain their GED or high school diploma and secure gainful employment. The organization built 785 units of residential housing in 78 buildings, adding almost 500,000 square feet of community, commercial and retail space. There is much more, but you get the point. A lawyer by training, In 2012 she became the first woman to be the CEO of United Way of NYC in its 75-year history, a role she assumed on the day Hurricane Sandy hit the Northeast. On that day, Ms. Wright said:
“ I am thrilled to be embarking on this new chapter as President and CEO of United Way of New York City. I look forward to continuing and strengthening United Way's work to improve the lives of low income New Yorkers through initiatives in health, education and income. I grew up in the South Bronx with a teen mother who raised my sister and me by herself. The strength and fortitude of my mother combined with the help of community programs allowed me to accomplish everything I have today. I have seen first-hand how profound United Way's impact is in our City, and I'm thrilled to have the chance to extend that impact day in and day out on behalf of all of New York's communities."