December 27, 2022
Appoints Jasmine Ray as Director of Mayor’s Place of work of Athletics, Wellness, and Recreation
Appoints Karen Ford as Executive Director of Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Solutions
New York – New York Town Mayor Eric Adams currently announced the appointment of Jasmine Ray as director of the recently developed Mayor’s Office environment of Athletics, Wellness, and Recreation and Karen Ford as executive director of the Mayor’s Business of Nonprofit Companies. Ray provides many years of knowledge as a neighborhood chief, mentor, and athlete focused to using sports activities to reinforce and develop healthier communities across New York City. As the Mayor’s Office of Athletics, Wellness, and Recreation director, Ray will oversee creation and implementation of sporting activities and wellness initiatives to establish a healthier and a lot more active town for all New Yorkers.
Ford delivers just about 30 many years of expertise in social and non-earnings solutions to metropolis federal government. At the Mayor’s Office environment of Nonprofit Providers, Ford will make the office’s initiatives to engage and talk vital details to nonprofits, build and provide a potential-developing method to help nonprofits to agreement with the city more simply, and coordinate things to do to progress the suggestions of the Joint Task Drive to Get Nonprofits Paid on Time.
“Jasmine Ray and Karen Ford are two passionate general public servants who have committed their occupations to empowering and advocating for New Yorkers across the five boroughs,” mentioned Mayor Adams. “These two new appointees will make the most of these newly made offices to link New Yorkers to an energetic way of life, construct much healthier communities, and generate a smoother method for our nonprofit partners. Jasmine and Karen will deliver not only a deep enthusiasm to their roles but also a wealth of working experience to our workforce, and I am happy to have them sign up for our administration.”
“New Yorkers are fortunate that two extremely experienced people today like Jasmine Ray and Karen Ford are signing up for the ranks of metropolis govt, all set to roll up their sleeves,” explained Main of Team Frank Carone. “By harnessing the energy of sports and recreation, we can establish stronger, more healthy, and a lot more equitable communities. Jasmine has introduced the transformative electrical power of sports to many New Yorkers, and I know she will convey that exact abilities to her job major the freshly produced Mayor’s Business office of Sports activities, Wellness, and Recreation. And Karen will bring her experience from serving as COO at Aid United states to build and produce a potential-developing place of work to support our city’s nonprofit associates. Her appointment will make it much easier to assist New Yorkers by supporting us cut red tape in the deal procedure with the town and aid us ‘Get Stuff Done’ additional immediately.”
“The new Mayor’s Business of Nonprofit Companies is a crucial stage toward the Adams administration’s long-expression vision for supporting nonprofits by cross-sector collaboration, improved coordination throughout town organizations, and typical communication with the sector,” stated Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. “Karen Ford’s wealthy nonprofit and govt knowledge will be an unbelievable asset as she addresses the requires of our nonprofit partners. We are excited to have her on board and know that she is the correct person to push ahead this essential do the job to assistance nonprofits and the communities they provide.”
“Nonprofits are so typically our reliable partners across the city, delivering providers inside of the communities they know finest,” mentioned Deputy Mayor for Wellbeing and Human Products and services Anne Williams-Isom. “With Karen’s appointment, our administration adds an professional chief to elevate the voices of nonprofit companies. Importantly, Karen delivers a man or woman-centric technique to her get the job done and her eyesight for how we can serve our nonprofits much better and therefore serve every New Yorker that encounters those nonprofits in a richer, more productive, and a lot more powerful way. I am grateful to Karen for using on this role.”
“Well-currently being starts with a wholesome life-style, and sporting activities and bodily exercise play a key part in constructing wholesome communities,” reported Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Jasmine’s appointment sends a apparent concept to New Yorkers: Everybody in this metropolis justifies access to everyday living-shifting alternatives to enhance their individual perfectly-currently being as a result of sports and recreation. I know Jasmine will supply that to New Yorkers across the 5 boroughs, and I am grateful for her service on behalf of our city.”
“As a minority, female company operator, and as a human being who grew up in an underserved local community, I know, firsthand, that athletics are not only a automobile to encourage wellbeing and wellness, but also a resource that can be used for crime avoidance, and I share Mayor Adams’ eyesight for a safer, much healthier, and much more equitable New York Metropolis,” mentioned Mayor’s Business of Athletics, Wellness and Recreation Director Ray. “My journey into public service was a private calling brought on by the tragic death of my youngest brother, Jonathan Ray. The following year, I produced a athletics group and labored tirelessly to supply alternate options for at-chance youth — that was 13 a long time back. That is the passion, conviction, and dedication that I am bringing to this new business. For me, this is not a job it is a mission-driven existence determination, and I look forward to environment a typical of excellence as the 1st director for the Mayor’s Office of Sporting activities, Wellness and Recreation.”
“It is an honor to be appointed the city’s to start with government director of the Mayor’s Business of Nonprofit Products and services,” mentioned Mayor’s Business of Nonprofit Expert services Govt Director Karen Ford. “Mayor Adams’ dedication to flourishing communities facilities the worth and value of potent nonprofit partnerships. I am fired up to work alongside Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom to have out this motivation by amplifying and addressing the needs of nonprofit businesses. The nonprofit sector is a critical source in supporting communities, and we will be intentional in our initiatives to be certain this administration is supporting their attempts.”
“Jasmine is a committed, dedicated New Yorker who leveraged her passion for wallball to inspire and empower a lot of younger people,” said New York Town Office of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) First Deputy Commissioner Iris Rodriguez Rosa. “Over the years, I witnessed, firsthand, Jasmine’s persistence and perseverance as she labored with hundreds of metropolis youth, aiding them explore their capabilities on our parks’ courts. I applaud her appointment as director of the Mayor’s Workplace of Sports, Wellness, and Recreation, and I know the administration and our city will profit from her yrs of prosperous grassroots athletics advocacy.”
“We are delighted to see Karen Ford appointed as executive director the Mayor’s Office environment of Nonprofit Companies. Karen’s in depth knowledge in the general public and nonprofit sectors, which include her time with the Office of Homeless Providers, make her uniquely capable for this essential part,” explained New York Town Division of Social Products and services Commissioner Gary P. Jenkins. “Our service provider associates are essential to our attempts to serve New York’s most vulnerable populations, and we look forward to working closely with Govt Director Ford to extra efficiently and effectively guidance these partners via improved partnership, coordination, and contracting.”
“Karen is the excellent particular person for the position,” said Mayor’s Office of Deal Expert services Director Lisa Flores. “The freshly fashioned Mayor’s Office environment of Nonprofit Solutions requires a passionate govt director who understands and appreciates the essential obligations that occur with the workplace and, much more importantly, understands the inner workings and desires of our nonprofit sector. In the far more than 30 years Karen has been committed to public services, she has had a hand in shaping each and every element of the sector — from housing to veteran products and services to welfare reform and all the things in among. The Mayor’s Place of work of Nonprofit Solutions has thrilling do the job forward, and her experience will without doubt guide the business in meeting its mission of strengthening the marriage in between our nonprofit company partners and the city. Congratulations on your appointment, Karen! I very a great deal search forward to collaborating with you and the Mayor’s Workplace of Nonprofit Products and services to ‘Get Stuff Completed.'”
“Anyone who has been lucky to get the job done with Jasmine is familiar with how passionate she is to harness the power of sports activities to improve life,” explained Steven Matteo, executive director, United Things to do Limitless and former New York Metropolis Councilmember. “I experienced the chance to see her in action by way of her advocacy for the sport of wallball, and I know she will provide the exact same persistence and determination to her new position. Thank you to Mayor Adams for producing this new business that will make improvements to the well being of New Yorkers.”
“Jasmine is a passionate leader and advocate for health and fitness, wellness, and recreation,” said Mitchell J. Silver, former commissioner, NYC Parks. “Her lifelong mission to elevate wallball into an inclusive and available sport is just a person instance of Jasmine’s determination to producing New York Metropolis a healthier, much better spot to live. Jasmine is tenacious, centered, intentional, goal-pushed, and inspirational. In her part as the newly appointed director of the Mayor’s Business of Sports activities, Wellness, and Recreation, I am self-confident Jasmine will transform New York City to be a extra lively position for all.”
“The Mayor’s Office environment of Nonprofit Expert services can reset the partnership amongst governing administration and the nonprofit sector, and Karen Ford is an superb selection to direct it,” reported Michelle Jackson, govt director, Human Providers Council. “As pointless administrative burdens extend New York City’s nonprofit sector to a breaking position, I know Karen understands the strain points, bottlenecks, and prospects facing our sector. I’ve seen her deal with the issues of COVID-19, mentor her peers on essential operations concerns, and husband or wife with the Human Expert services Council in our time of need to have. She is prepared for the undertaking ahead of her, and I’m thrilled to combat alongside her for our users and communities.”
“Karen Ford is a transformational expert who excels at leading powerful, talented groups and setting up consensus to outcome true adjust,” claimed Tom Hameline, Ph.D., president and CEO, Enable United states of america. “Karen’s success at Support has remaining us effectively-positioned to continue on our everyday living-transforming attempts without interruption. We congratulate her on this richly deserved chance and anticipate doing the job carefully with her and the Adams administration to deal with New York City’s housing disaster.”
“I are not able to feel of a far better particular person to fill the new posture of executive director of the Mayor’s Place of work of Nonprofit Expert services than Karen Ford,” explained Mitchell Netburn, president and CEO, Samaritan Daytop Village. “Karen’s stellar achievements led her to rise through the ranks at Samaritan Daytop Village — from frontline staff members to the government administration staff. She has labored straight with shoppers, managed along with nonprofit executives, and collaborated with metropolis and point out officers. Karen understands effectively the struggles and desires of the two the nonprofit and governing administration sectors. She provides a distinctive 360-diploma standpoint to the situation and will absolutely hit the floor running.”
“I am thrilled to assist Karen Ford’s appointment as the new govt director the Mayor’s Office environment of Nonprofit Providers,” reported Dr. Darlene Williams, president and CEO, Possibilities for a Much better Tomorrow. “Karen is a visionary chief with deep perception into the requires of nonprofit companies and our essential partnership with New York City governing administration. She is uniquely positioned to advocate, guidance, and assist in navigating cross-agency initiatives and handle emerging concerns to be certain that we are effectively-outfitted to provide the New York City neighborhood. Thank you to the Adams administration for creating the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Companies and appointing a imagined partner to assistance us ‘Get Things Accomplished.'”
“Congratulations to Karen Ford on her appointment to direct the Mayor’s Workplace of Nonprofit Providers! Nonprofits are the backbone of this town, providing vital expert services that New Yorkers depend on,” reported Catherine Trapani, government director, Homeless Products and services United. “We require a leader that understands the sector, our strengths, and our challenges, and who is completely ready and in a position to husband or wife with us to make New York more powerful than at any time. Karen is that leader. She understands the worth of working in local community and lifting up other folks to aid them arrive at their entire possible. Karen’s skills performing with the two individuals and units in and out of govt can make her uniquely capable to direct this workplace. We are thrilled to go on to function with her in this new potential.”
“On behalf of City Useful resource Institute (URI), our staff, and our shoppers, I applaud the appointment of Karen Ford to the situation of executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Expert services,” explained Nathaniel M. Fields, CEO, URI. “The overall nonprofit sector, such as the locations of domestic violence and homeless households products and services in which URI performs, faces both problems and options to boost our effects. Karen provides a wealth of knowledge and know-how to aid direct the nonprofit sector in New York City, and we search ahead to performing with her in this new job.”
About Jasmine Ray
Jasmine Ray is a devoted general public servant, avid athlete, entrepreneur, former recording artist, and community speaker. As founder of Wallball Planet LLC and the U.S. Wallball Affiliation Inc., Ray — impressed by the tragic demise of her little brother, Jonathan Robert Ray, in 2009 — has worked tirelessly to motivate youthful folks in underserved communities to keep in faculty, embrace healthful existence, and pursue alternate options to drug use and violence. Ray’s operate has contributed to the evolution of wallball from what was after deemed a “road activity” into just one now staying performed in about 45 countries.
As the former govt director of Cornerstone Daycare, located in Brooklyn, and an government board member of the Black and Minority Chamber of Commerce, Ray has committed her career to serving New Yorkers and has been recognized as one of El Diario’s “Most Influential Latinas in New York Metropolis,” NY1’s “New Yorker of the Week,” and a CNN “Girl of the 7 days.”
Also a gifted singer, Ray was a member of MVP (Most Precious Playas), a hip-hop team signed to Casablanca/Universal Documents that scored hits in Europe in 2005 and 2006. A licensed fourth diploma black belt in Shotokan Karate, Ray has been a volunteer martial arts teacher in Sunset Park, Brooklyn for more than 15 years.
Ray will report to Chief of-Workers Frank Carone.
About Karen Ford
Karen Ford has served New Yorkers for around 30 several years, across quite a few places in the social support sector, which include housing, well being care, veterans, habit, domestic and personal associate violence, and welfare reform. Most a short while ago, Ford served as the main running officer of Support Usa, a national homeless support and housing firm dependent in the metropolis. At Support, Ford led a crew that served tens of 1000’s of unhoused and housing insecure people and people each individual calendar year — furnishing them with homelessness prevention, transitional housing, and supportive solutions.
Ford’s get the job done fighting homelessness began at the New York City Section of Homeless Services’ Street Outreach Staff. Two decades later, Ford returned to the office as the deputy commissioner for spouse and children products and services, overseeing DHS’s Relatives Ingestion Heart and the Loved ones Transitional Companies Device. Ford’s experience in authorities support also included doing work as the New York Town Housing Authority’s borough administrator and as method administrator for the New York Point out AIDS Institute.
She is an adjunct professor and advisory board member of Alliance College University of Social Work. Ford was beforehand honored by the National Association of Social Personnel. She is a U.S. Housing and Urban Progress group builder fellow and New York leadership fellow at Baruch College and the Metropolis College of New York Middle for Nonprofit Technique and Administration. She is a graduate of Adelphi University and Fordham University.
Ford will report to Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright.
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