Former NYCHA Executive Appointed Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner of the New Office of Equity & Racial Justice

On October 26, Mayor Eric Adams announced the appointments of Sideya Sherman as the City’s Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner of the newly created Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice (MOERJ) and Linda Tigani as Chair and Executive Director of the NYC Commission on Racial Equity (CORE). Both Ms. Sherman and Ms. Tigani currently serve in leadership roles in the Adams administration, advancing equity and racial justice for New Yorkers. MOERJ and CORE were created by voters as part of the 2022 racial justice ballot proposals, which voters overwhelmingly approved to advance racial justice and equity for all. Ms. Sherman previously served as NYCHA’s Executive Vice President for Community Engagement and Partnerships and its Director of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability.

“New Yorkers spoke clearly at the voting booth – and this administration listened. The fight for racial equity and justice still continues, and I am proud to have Commissioner Sideya Sherman and Linda Tigani on the frontlines,” said Mayor Adams. “With this new office and leadership, we are tackling the root causes of racism to transform systems, address historic injustices, and deliver equity to our city.”

“With the appointment of Commissioner Sideya Sherman and Linda Tigani, we are taking bold steps towards a future where every voice is heard, every perspective is valued, and every New Yorker’s rights and dignity are upheld – regardless of their background,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “This administration is proud to ‘Get Stuff Done’ and deliver on our promise to voters by establishing this new office and commission, marking a pivotal moment in our commitment to a more inclusive and just community.”

“This administration is thoroughly committed to progress and innovation, which is made evident by the creation of the Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice and the Commission on Racial Equity,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar. “As we embrace this historic chapter in our city’s journey to equity for all, we are thrilled to entrust Commissioner Sideya Sherman and Linda Tigani with the authority to build a path to a brighter future for New York City.”

“I am deeply honored to continue working alongside Mayor Adams and leaders across this administration to root out inequities and help level the playing field for all New Yorkers,” said Chief Equity Officer and MOERJ Commissioner Sideya Sherman. “We have made great strides in addressing inequities through policies and programs, but there is structural work we must undertake to repair the harms of the past and bring about lasting change. I look forward to partnering with newly appointed Chair and Executive Director Linda Tigani and the commission to engage New Yorkers and ensure our city fulfills its promise.”

“Our nation stands at a critical juncture, where regressive policies are eroding the progress made in advancing racial equity,” said Commission on Racial Equity Chair and Executive Director Linda Tigani. “I am honored to work on behalf of New Yorkers, specifically communities who experience the impact of longstanding racial oppression, to bring their perspectives into the decision-making process. I look forward to working with Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner Sherman to ensure that community priorities inform racial equity planning and action in New York City.”

The appointments of Ms. Sherman and Ms. Tigani, along with the launches of the new office and commission, fulfill the City’s promises made to New Yorkers last year. In November 2022, New York City voters overwhelmingly passed all three racial justice measures on the ballot: adding a statement of values to guide the City’s charter; requiring the City to establish a racial equity office and commission, as well as racial equity plans; and calling for the City to measure the true cost of living for residents.

The Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice – established as the City’s Racial Equity Office – will lead implementation of these measures and start by producing the City’s first citywide racial equity plan. The office will work closely with the Commission on Racial Equity, an independent commission charged with engaging New Yorkers, to ensure community voice and racial equity priorities shape the City’s plan.

About Sideya Sherman 

Sideya Sherman has served as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Equity, which she has led since its inception in 2022, and will now expand its scope to become MOERJ. In her new role, she will lead the implementation of groundbreaking racial justice amendments to the City Charter and continue to oversee the New York City Young Men’s Initiative, the New York City Unity Project, and the New York City Commission on Gender Equity, as well as multiagency entities like the New York City Pay Equity Cabinet and the New York City Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity.

Ms. Sherman brings nearly two decades of equity-focused community and economic development experience to the role, after serving as Executive Director of the New York City Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity (TRIE) and Executive Vice president for Community Engagement and Partnerships at NYCHA.

In her time at TRIE, Sherman worked across over 60 City agencies and offices to advance new programs, policies, and initiatives that center equity in the City’s ongoing pandemic response and recovery. At NYCHA, she implemented new, high-impact resident programs; established innovative, cross-sector partnerships; and garnered new resources to support resident health, social services, youth, economic opportunity, and community engagement initiatives.

Prior to her career in government, Sherman served diverse communities in the nonprofit sector, working at the Municipal Art Society of New York, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and the Lower East Side Business Improvement District.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Utica College and a master’s degree in urban affairs from Hunter College.

About Linda Tigani

Linda Tigani served as acting Chief Equity and Strategy Officer for the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) since 2022 and will now serve as Chair and Executive Director of the Commission on Racial Equity. With a proven track record of strategic planning and extensive experience in implementing programs, Ms. Tigani has served as a critical force on moving racial justice forward across the city, driving key interagency efforts and effectuating change citywide. Ms. Tigani was jointly approved by Mayor Adams and New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, and will serve as Chair of the commission, leading the efforts of this new body and its 15 commissioners.

While at DOHMH, Ms. Tigani led the “Race to Justice” team and reforming the agency internally in line with the principles of anti-racism. She worked with DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan and across the agency to implement an equity-focused strategic plan in all agency programming and operations.

She has also served as Senior Director for Children, Youth, and Families in the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health and as an Education Policy Advisor for former First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan.

Ms. Tigani holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Bard College and a master’s degree in social work from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.