Leadership

Afua Atta-Mensah, NYC Chief Equity Officer & Commissioner

Afua Atta-Mensah is NYC Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice. A nationally recognized strategist, organizer, and lawyer, she brings more than two decades of experience advancing racial justice and reshaping the systems that determine who is seen, heard, and served in public life.

Under the Mamdani administration, Atta-Mensah leads New York City’s efforts to advance racial equity across municipal agencies and successfully oversaw the creation and publication of the NYC Preliminary Citywide Racial Equity Plan within the administration’s first 100 days. Her work is grounded in the belief that equity requires both structural reform and sustained partnership with communities most impacted by inequality, and that progress demands not only vision, but measurable action.

Throughout her career, Atta-Mensah has applied a contemporary lens to issues of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and economic justice. Before joining the Mamdani administration, she served as Chief of Programs at Community Change and Community Change Action, Executive Director of Community Voices Heard, and Director of Litigation and Policy at the Urban Justice Center, where she helped expand civic power, defend fair and equitable housing and strengthen movements for social and economic justice.

A Fulbright Scholar, Atta-Mensah holds a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law and a BA in sociology and Africana studies from Trinity College.

Dabash Negash, Deputy Commissioner [She/Her/Hers]

Dabash Negash is the Deputy Commissioner for the New York City Mayor's Office of Equity & Racial Justice (MOERJ), where she is committed to advancing racial equity and promoting social justice across the city. With fifteen years of experience in government and politics, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for creating equitable policies that uplift marginalized communities. 

In her previous role as Senior Advisor for Strategic Planning, Operations, and Sustainability to former NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray, Negash played a pivotal role in developing the strategy and implementation plan for the Taskforce on Inclusion & Equity (TRIE) in May 2020, a critical initiative launched during the pandemic to address systemic inequities. She also oversaw the operations and transition for Cities Thrive, a national coalition of over 220 cities and counties dedicated to improving behavioral health services and fostering inclusive support systems for all residents. 

Throughout her career in the New York City Mayor's Office, Negash has held several key positions, including Chief of Staff and Interim Chief Service Officer at NYC Service, where she advanced initiatives to enhance volunteerism and civic engagement, particularly in underserved neighborhoods. Prior to her work in the Mayor's Office, she served as Deputy Director of the Fund for Public Advocacy, supported numerous political campaigns, and contributed to the Obama White House, furthering her commitment to equity and justice. 

Negash’s leadership reflects a steadfast dedication to dismantling systemic barriers and promoting racial equity, ensuring that all New Yorkers have the opportunity to thrive. 

Maia Molina-Schaefer, Chief of Staff [She/Her/Hers]

Maia Molina-Schaefer serves as Chief of Staff to Commissioner Afua Atta-Mensah at the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice, leading strategic operations, interagency coordination, and stakeholder engagement.

Most recently, Maia was Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Amplify Her Foundation, a private grantmaking organization dedicated to supporting women and girls from underserved NYC communities. A twenty-year Marine Corps and Army veteran, her career has spanned combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, military diplomatic service in Sub-Saharan Africa, and a teaching post at West Point, where she directed the Corbin Women’s Leadership Forum.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a master’s in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School, Maia is a nationally recognized keynote speaker and featured Moth storyteller, sharing stories of leadership and breaking barriers.