In July 2002, Sheena Wright was named the President and Chief Executive Officer of Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC). A native New Yorker and long-time Harlem resident, Ms. Wright previously served as Chief Operating Officer of ADC.

As CEO of ADC, Ms. Wright leads one of the most successful community and economic development entities in the nation. Since 1989, ADC has been at the helm of improving the quality of life of Harlem residents by providing comprehensive social services, increasing the availability of affordable housing and homeownership opportunities, fostering economic revitalization through small business development and large-scale commercial investments, enhancing educational opportunities for Harlem youth, and increasing the community’s awareness on a myriad of issues through a far-reaching civic engagement unit. In the last five years, ADC has doubled in size, and currently has an operating budget of $12.4 million. Moreover, ADC’s capacity to comprehensively serve community residents has significantly increased. Among the initiatives under Ms. Wright’s leadership, ADC completed the Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change’s permanent site, a state-of-the art facility and the first high-school built in Harlem in over 50 years, and launched The Abyssinian Neighborhood project, a model community development initiative in the blocks immediately surrounding The Abyssinian Baptist Church. Additionally, Ms. Wright initiated and oversees a Displacement Prevention campaign designed to prevent displacement of low and moderate income families from the Harlem community through civic engagement and preservation purchases of at-risk buildings.

Prior to joining ADC, Ms. Wright served as the General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Business Development for Crave Technologies, a minority-owned software company based in New York City and Baltimore, Maryland. From 1999 to 2000, she was a Senior Associate at the law firm of Reboul, MacMurray, Hewitt, Maynard and Kristol, specializing in structuring private equity funds and private equity investments. From 1994 to 1999, Ms. Wright was an Associate at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz, where she participated in negotiating, structuring and executing complex mergers, acquisitions and securities transactions.

Ms. Wright received a law degree from Columbia Law School in 1994 and was named a Stone Scholar for outstanding academic achievement. She completed her undergraduate work at Columbia College in 1990, distinguishing herself athletically as well as academically, lettering in varsity track & field and cross-country. At Columbia, Ms. Wright was a founding member of the Pan-African House, a Black student cultural institution and residence on the school's campus. After graduating, she worked for The New York Times Washington bureau as an Editorial Assistant.

Ms. Wright is a member of the New York State Bar. She serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Advisory Board, Bank of America’s National Community Advisory Committee, Housing First! Strategy Committee, Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD) Board and Policy Committee, and Community Board 9. She is also a member of the Boards of Citizens Union Foundation, the Albert G. Oliver Program and the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation. In addition, she is the Chair of Sustained Excellence Alliance Corporation.

Ms. Wright was born in Bronx, New York. Her mother, Debra Fraser-Howze, is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. Ms. Fraser-Howze's pioneering achievements, devotion to her community and legendary advocacy have inspired and guided Ms. Wright throughout her life. Throughout Ms. Wright's impressive career, she has been motivated to inspire her own generation through community involvement and empowerment just as her mother did before her.

To Book for Speaking Engagements:

Ms. Wright welcomes speaking engagement request. We ask that you submit your request in writing via email or fax.

Please provide the following information in your request:

• Date
• Time
• Location
• Topic

If possible an alternative date
A list of other confirmed speakers if engagement is for a Panel/Roundtable Discussion/Town Hall Meeting