NEW YORK January 15, 2026 – In a move aimed at advancing racial and social justice, New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointment of Afua Atta-Mensah as the Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice (MOERJ) during a press conference at the Harlem Community Justice Center on January 15.
Atta-Mensah, a seasoned organizer and movement lawyer with a history of advocating for low-income communities of color, will lead efforts to develop and implement a preliminary citywide racial equity plan within the first 100 days of the administration. The announcement underscores Mamdani’s commitment to addressing systemic disparities and fulfilling campaign promises on equity.
In his remarks, Mayor Mamdani praised Atta-Mensah’s dedication, stating, “The people of this city held a belief that City Hall holds as well: that New York should do everything in its power to build a city where racial disparities are identified and eroded, one where every person who calls the city home is treated fairly and equally.” He described her as “one of my most trusted advisors, a friend, someone who immediately inspires trust in the hearts of many civic leaders who have been fortunate enough to work alongside her.” Under her leadership, the mayor pledged the creation of the equity plan as a foundational step.
Atta-Mensah, addressing the audience, expressed her honor at the role while acknowledging the challenges ahead. “I’m both honored and deeply humbled by the responsibility before us,” she said. “Reshaping systems that for far too long have erected barriers instead of building on-ramps for opportunity will not be easy. But as the mayor has made clear, this administration is committed to doing big things and to do them boldly.”
She emphasized collaboration with community leaders and the MOERJ team to “create a New York that embraces every person who lives here, that works to knock down the walls of prejudice wherever they appear, and that celebrates the diverse fabric of our city.”
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