About - The New Majority NYC

The New Majority NYC
If we did it once, we will do it again
if we did it, you can too

Our Mission

The New Majority NYC builds political power for all women. We achieve this by electing candidates running for office in New York City, identifying as women, and aligning with our values and bottom-line issues. Our diverse, inclusive, and active membership endorses and supports our candidates.

Check out the HERstory of our organization

Our Values

These values drive The New Majority NYC. The determine how we work, who we work with, and the world that we want to make.

EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY

ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AND CONDUCT

POLITICAL POWER
Off the bench, into the game

RACIAL, ECONOMIC & SOCIAL JUSTICE

JOYFUL, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY

TRANSPARENT, COLLABORATIVE DECISION MAKING

MENTORSHIP & SUPPORTIVE NETWORKS

Leadership

We’re a group of women who work tirelessly for gender equity, are passionate for politics, and are obsessed with sending the elevator down to lift other women up.

The New Majority NYC’s Board of Directors

Yvette Buckner

Board Chair

Yvette Buckner

Board Chair

Yvette Buckner serves as the organization’s Board Chair. She is a Partner at AdamsBuckner Advisors where she utilizes her knowledge and experiences in government and community organizing to help clients navigate the ever-changing New York City and State political landscape. She has been recognized by Crain’s Business New York as a “Notable Black Leader and Executive” and City and State Magazine as one of NY’s top “Black Women Power Brokers.” She was also named a Top 50 NY Lobbyist in 2020 and 2021. Buckner earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia University.

Teresa Gonzalez

Vice Chair

Teresa Gonzalez

Vice Chair

Teresa Gonzalez co-founded DalyGonzalez, a minority, and women-owned boutique government and community relations company. She is also currently a partner at Bolton-St. Johns, a government relations consulting firm. In addition to her work at 21 in ’21, Teresa is also on the boards of the New York Immigration Coalition and the New York Women’s Foundation. She received her bachelor's degree from Kutztown University (PA) and a master's degree in Nonprofit Management from Milano - The New School.

Amelia Adams

Treasurer

Amelia Adams

Treasurer

Amelia Adams is a native New Yorker and Babson College alumna, class of 2006. As a seasoned government affairs specialist, Amelia has successfully coordinated internal and external lobbying and legislative efforts by working with state, local, and federal governments to further the objectives of numerous organizations. Most recently, Amelia has effectively lobbied New York City and State officials on transportation and infrastructure needs on behalf of the Partnership for New York City and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Through the Win Company, Amelia has recently advised on several campaigns, from Shaun Donovan’s Mayoral bid in 2021 to Kathy Hochul’s gubernatorial campaign in 2022.

Dr. Debbie Almontaser

Dr. Debbie Almontaser

Dr. Debbie Almontaser is an internationally recognized, award-winning educator, entrepreneur, and author of Leading While Muslim: The Experiences of American Muslim Principles After 9/11. Dr. Almontaser is the Founder and CEO of Bridging Cultures Group Inc., a business that provides professional development and coaching for companies, nonprofits, firms, universities, and K-12 education personnel. She has received a Bachelor's degree from St. Francis, a Master's degree from Adelphi University, and an Ed.D from Fordham University.

Sharon Lee

Ebony Meeks-Laidley

Ebony Meeks-Laidley is a Partner and head of New York at Empire Consulting Group, an African American-owned and operated public policy consulting firm specializing in government relations and corporate/regulatory law and public affairs. She has spent her career dedicated to public service and enhancing government to effectively serve its constituents. She recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff to New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. Previously, she was Deputy Press Secretary to New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and worked as Regional Surrogate Director for Hillary for America 2016. The Queens, NY native also served as a Presidential Appointee at the Department of Energy under President Obama. Ebony has worked in government and politics at the federal, state, and local levels in addition to her national labor work with AFSCME. Ebony is a proud graduate of Howard University’s School of Communication and is a member of the National Urban Fellowship Program, where she earned her Master’s in Public Administration from the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College. She enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, traveling, and listening to NPR quiz shows.

Kassandra Perez-Desir

Camille Rivera

Camille Rivera

As a Partner at New Deal Strategies, Camille Rivera draws on deep ties to the labor movement and years of experience with issue campaigns in NYC and across the country. As an Afro-Latina born and raised in the Bronx, Camille understands the importance of bringing lived experiences to campaign leadership. Since joining New Deal, Camille has served as Senior Advisor on the NY operation for Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 presidential campaign, worked with SEIU to build out the National Latino Civic Engagement Table, and overseen the SEIU Latino independent expenditure program in key battleground states. Camille has also served as a consultant for Charles Booker's first run for U.S. Senate in KY, and her team secured some of the biggest progressive NYC council victories of 2021 with Sandy Nurse, Tiffany Cabán, and Pierina Sanchez. She also serves as an advisor to the National Working Families Party and has offered political commentary on CNN, NY1, BBC, and WNYC’s The Takeaway. Camille previously held political and legislative leadership roles at RWDSU and SEIU. She is a proud mother of 3 children and lives in Brooklyn. Camille also serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia University.

Juanita Scarlett

Juanita Scarlett

Juanita joined the Board in October 2021, bringing her vast experience in government, political strategy, PR, public policy and government affairs. Since February 2019, Juanita has been a partner at Bolton-St.John’s, a leading government relations and public affairs consulting firm where she advises clients in various sectors such as healthcare, energy and education on public policy objectives. Juanita began her career in public service in the Administration of Governor Mario Cuomo and has served three governors and two Attorney Generals in New York. She has been recognized by the city and state as the 100 Most Influential New Yorkers and Top 50 Public Affairs Consultants.

Risa Shoup

Risa Shoup

Risa Shoup (they/them/theirs) is a Co-Executive Director of the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York, a non-profit cultural services organization representing non-profit theaters throughout New York City and State. Risa has worked as an administrator, curator, and leader in the arts in New York City since 2005, focusing on the development of affordable artist workspace. They have extensive experience executing high-level public-private partnerships for project-based work focusing on the intrinsic and instrumental impact of the arts on community development. Risa was a consultant on CreateNYC, New York City’s first-ever cultural plan, developed in concert between a team of consultants led by Hester Street Collaborative and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. They studied City and Regional Planning at Pratt Institute and are also on the boards of the Invisible Dog Art Center, Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts—NY, and the American LGBTQ+ Museum. Additionally, they serve as a core community member of the Breaking the Binary Theatre Festival.

Beatrice Sibblies

Beatrice Sibblies

Beatrice Sibblies is a managing partner of BOS Development, an urban real estate development company. Prior to founding BOS, Sibblies served as Vice President of Structured Finance at JPMorgan Chase as well as Assistant Vice President of Economics for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, which was formed to lead the redevelopment of the World Trade Center. Sibblies graduated from Yale University and received a Master's in Business Administration from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Heidi Sieck

Heidi Sieck

Heidi joined the Board in 2017 and is the co-founder/Chief Empowerment Officer (CEO) of #VOTEPROCHOICE, the political home of the nation's pro-choice majority. She is an award-winning civic entreprener and a leader at the intersection of technology, political power, and feminism for over 30 years. She served as the founding Chief Operating Officer of both Civic Hall and Democracy.com in New York City and interim Chief Operating Officer of Rock the Vote in Washington, D.C. Arriving in NYC in 2013, she previously was the President of the San Francisco Women's Political Committee where she collaborated with her mentor Vice President Kamala Harris to create the Women's Policy Summit and Women's Collaborative. Heidi has worked on eight presidential campaigns and countless state and local races across the country and is a sought after speaker, coach and mentor with a particular passion for Ranked Choice Voting strategy.

The New Majority NYC's Staff

Jessica Haller

Executive Director

Jessica Haller

Executive Director

Inspired by the challenges of the climate crisis on local communities in the Bronx, Jessica was a candidate for NYC Council in 2021 on a platform of equity, resilience, and sustainability. As an entrepreneur, Jessica founded a climate-data venture, mentored socially-responsible entrepreneurs to scale their ideas, and later co-founded a fin-tech start-up to help companies move into the 21st century. She earned a BS in economics from the Wharton School and an MPA in environmental science and policy from Columbia University. She is a mother of four children and lives in the Bronx.

Jacquelyn Smiley

Membership Fellow

The New Majority NYC's Founders

Margaret Chin

Co-Founder

Margaret Chin

Co-Founder

Margaret is a former city council member and was the first Asian-American woman to serve on the council. She served for the 1st district from 2010- 2021. She is the former chair of the committee on Aging and a founding member of the Progressive Caucus. Margaret was also the Chairperson of the NY Immigration Coalition (NYIC), and was a founding member of Chinatown Partnership Local Development Corporation (CPLDC).

Elizabeth Crowley

Co-Founder

Elizabeth Crowley

Co-Founder

Elizabeth is a former City Council member for the 30th district from 2009 to 2017. Her experience in government and her passion for women’s equality is the reason this organization was started. She is currently running for State Senate to fight for safe, clean and livable communities.

Melissa Mark-Viverito

Co-Founder

Melissa Mark-Viverito

Co-Founder

Melissa was the former speaker of the City Council from 2014 to 2017, and a council member for the 8th district from 2006 to 2017. Being an equity-centered activist and seeing the decline in women in the council she fought to create a coalition to help women get into office. She has also been director at Power 4 Puerto Rico and is currently Chief Policy Officer at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center.

The New Majority NYC's Interns

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The New Majority NYC's Young Leadership Council

Founded in 2023, the Young Leadership Council is made up of new and mid-level professionals who bring passion and philanthropic power to The New Majority NYC.

Young Leadership Council

Abigail Martin

Development Consultant

Julie Jursik

Chair

Jesse Aman

Vice Chair

Ludy Thenor

Secretary

Evie Pope

Social Chair

The New Majority NYCIf we did it once, we will do it againif we did it, you can too

Our Mission

The New Majority NYC builds political power for all women. We achieve this by electing candidates running for office in New York City, identifying as women, and aligning with our values and bottom-line issues. Our diverse, inclusive, and active membership endorses and supports our candidates.

Our Values

EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY

ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AND CONDUCT

POLITICAL POWEROff the bench, into the game

RACIAL, ECONOMIC & SOCIAL JUSTICE

JOYFUL, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY

TRANSPARENT, COLLABORATIVE DECISION MAKING

MENTORSHIP & SUPPORTIVE NETWORKS

Leadership

The New Majority NYC’s Board of Directors

Sharon Lee

Kassandra Perez-Desir

The New Majority NYC's Staff

Jacquelyn Smiley

The New Majority NYC's Founders

The New Majority NYC's Interns

The New Majority NYC's Young Leadership Council

Young Leadership Council

Abigail Martin

Julie Jursik

Jesse Aman

Ludy Thenor

Evie Pope

Alina Agusti

Alexa Arecchi

Isabelle Chandler

Hanah Gonzalez

Andrea Gordillo

Breeana Mulligan

Kristina Naplatarski

Chantelle Nasri

Naomi Pena

Monica Sibri

Ebonie Simpson

Cierra Smith

Join the Movement

The New Majority NYC
If we did it once, we will do it again
if we did it, you can too

POLITICAL POWER
Off the bench, into the game