Appoints Jasmine Ray as Director of Mayor’s Office of Sports, Wellness, and Recreation
Appoints Karen Ford as Executive Director of Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of Jasmine Ray as director of the newly created Mayor’s Office of Sports, Wellness, and Recreation and Karen Ford as executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services. Ray brings years of experience as a community leader, coach, and athlete dedicated to using sports to strengthen and build healthier communities across New York City. As the Mayor’s Office of Sports, Wellness, and Recreation director, Ray will oversee creation and implementation of sports and wellness initiatives to build a healthier and more active city for all New Yorkers.
Ford brings nearly 30 years of experience in social and non-profit services to city government. At the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services, Ford will make the office’s efforts to engage and communicate critical information to nonprofits, develop and deliver a capacity-building program to support nonprofits to contract with the city more easily, and coordinate activities to advance the recommendations of the Joint Task Force to Get Nonprofits Paid on Time.
“Jasmine Ray and Karen Ford are two passionate public servants who have dedicated their careers to empowering and advocating for New Yorkers across the five boroughs,” said Mayor Adams. “These two new appointees will utilize these newly created offices to connect New Yorkers to an active lifestyle, build healthier communities, and create a smoother process for our nonprofit partners. Jasmine and Karen will bring not only a deep passion to their roles but also a wealth of experience to our team, and I’m proud to have them join our administration.”
“New Yorkers are lucky that two highly qualified individuals like Jasmine Ray and Karen Ford are joining the ranks of city government, ready to roll up their sleeves,” said Chief of Staff Frank Carone. “By harnessing the power of sports and recreation, we can build stronger, healthier, and more equitable communities. Jasmine has brought the transformative power of sports to countless New Yorkers, and I know she will bring that same expertise to her role leading the newly created Mayor’s Office of Sports, Wellness, and Recreation. And Karen will bring her expertise from serving as COO at HELP USA to develop and deliver a capacity-building office to support our city’s nonprofit partners. Her appointment will make it easier to support New Yorkers by helping us cut red tape in the contract process with the city and help us ‘Get Stuff Done’ more quickly.”
“The new Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services is a crucial step towards the Adams administration’s long-term vision for supporting nonprofits through cross-sector collaboration, increased coordination across city agencies, and regular communication with the sector,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. “Karen Ford’s rich nonprofit and government experience will be an incredible asset as she addresses the needs of our nonprofit partners. We are excited to have her on board and know that she is the right person to drive forward this crucial work to support nonprofits and the communities they serve.”
“Nonprofits are so often our trusted partners across the city, delivering services within the communities they know best,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “With Karen’s appointment, our administration adds an experienced leader to elevate the voices of nonprofit providers. Importantly, Karen brings a person-centric approach to her work and her vision for how we can serve our nonprofits better and thereby serve every New Yorker that encounters those nonprofits in a richer, more efficient, and more effective way. I am grateful to Karen for taking on this role.”
“Well-being begins with a healthy lifestyle, and sports and physical activity play a key role in building healthy communities,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Jasmine’s appointment sends a clear message to New Yorkers: Everyone in this city deserves access to life-changing opportunities to improve their personal well-being through sports and recreation. I know Jasmine will deliver that to New Yorkers across the five boroughs, and I am grateful for her service on behalf of our city.”
“As a minority, woman business owner, and as a person who grew up in an underserved community, I know, firsthand, that sports are not only a vehicle to promote health and wellness, but also a tool that can be used for crime prevention, and I share Mayor Adams’ vision for a safer, healthier, and more equitable New York City,” said Mayor’s Office of Sports, Wellness and Recreation Director Ray. “My journey into public service was a personal calling triggered by the tragic death of my youngest brother, Jonathan Ray. The following year, I created a sports organization and worked tirelessly to provide alternatives for at-risk youth — that was 13 years ago. That is the passion, conviction, and dedication that I am bringing to this new office. For me, this is not a job; it is a mission-driven life commitment, and I look forward to setting a standard of excellence as the first director for the Mayor’s Office of Sports, Wellness and Recreation.”
“It is an honor to be appointed the city’s first executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services,” said Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services Executive Director Karen Ford. “Mayor Adams’ commitment to thriving communities centers the value and importance of strong nonprofit partnerships. I am excited to work alongside Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom to carry out this commitment by amplifying and addressing the needs of nonprofit organizations. The nonprofit sector is a vital source in supporting communities, and we will be intentional in our efforts to ensure this administration is supporting their efforts.”
“Jasmine is a dedicated, committed New Yorker who leveraged her passion for wallball to inspire and empower many young people,” said New York City Department 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 worked with hundreds of city youth, helping them explore their abilities on our parks’ courts. I applaud her appointment as director of the Mayor’s Office of Sports, Wellness, and Recreation, and I know the administration and our city will benefit from her years of successful grassroots sports advocacy.”
“We are delighted to see Karen Ford appointed as executive director the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services. Karen’s extensive experience in the public and nonprofit sectors, including her time with the Department of Homeless Services, make her uniquely qualified for this critical role,” said New York City Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary P. Jenkins. “Our provider partners are essential to our efforts to serve New York’s most vulnerable populations, and we look forward to working closely with Executive Director Ford to more efficiently and effectively support these partners through enhanced partnership, coordination, and contracting.”
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