Mayor Creates Chief Engagement Officer to Coordinate and Lead New Office of Engagement
Appoints Chief Democracy Officer, Re-Appoints Chair and Executive Director of Civic Engagement Commission, NYC Chief Service Officer, Executive Director of Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today took efforts to streamline the city’s civic engagement efforts by establishing the city’s first-ever Office of Engagement and appointing Betsy MacLean as its chief engagement officer. The chief engagement officer will ensure that the city coordinates community engagement efforts across agencies, systematically learns from communities to inform policy and programs, builds the capacity of all city agency outreach and engagement teams, and advances community-driven solutions. In addition to leading the Office of Engagement, MacLean will oversee the city’s primary engagement offices: the Community Affairs Unit (CAU), the Civic Engagement Commission (CEC), the Public Engagement Unit (PEU), and NYC Service.
“Community engagement is a core pillar of this administration. We are committed to ensuring that New Yorkers have the tools they need to better engage with government and access its benefits, but to also do it in a more streamlined, simple-to-use manner,” said Mayor Adams. “The newly created Office of Engagement will ensure that we continue to collaborate, coordinate, and prioritize engagement across all agencies and that New Yorkers have a say in our policies, priorities, and resources. There is no better person to lead this effort than Betsy MacLean. Betsy chaired our Civic Engagement Committee during the transition and has had a groundbreaking career in community development for over 20 years. Once again, I have an all-star team of five women leading the charge with Betsy, Sarah, Laura, Adrienne, and Kathleen, and working alongside Fred Kreizman at CAU — all heading up our city’s engagement efforts. Together, we will continue to ‘Get Stuff Done’ and engage New Yorkers in new and creative ways.”
To maximize the opportunities for New Yorkers to work hand-in-hand with government, Mayor Adams also made these key appointments and reappointments:
- Kathleen Daniel, chief democracy officer, CEC
- Adrienne Lever, executive director, PEU
- Laura Rog, NYC chief service officer, NYC Service
- Dr. Sarah Sayeed, chair and executive director, CEC
These five appointments/reappointments will work hand-in-hand with CAU Commissioner Fred Kreizman.
“The Adams administration is committed to re-structuring government to ensure that our policies and programs are aligned with the priorities of the communities we serve each and every day,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. “Betsy MacLean is a talented public servant who has dedicated her time in government to advancing community-driven initiatives and I know that there’s no one better to lead our city into this new era of participatory democracy. I’m thrilled she will be joined by our talented team of community engagement experts, including, Commissioner Fred Kreizman, Chief Democracy Officer Kathleen Daniel, Chair and Executive Director Dr. Sarah Sayeed, Chief Service Officer Laura Rog, and Executive Director Adrienne Lever.”
“I believe that democracy is a team sport,” said New York City Chief Engagement Officer Betsy MacLean. “I’m grateful to the mayor for the opportunity to work together with city agencies, community-based organizations, small businesses, and New Yorkers themselves to create the kind of civic infrastructure that will enable every New Yorker to have a say in all of the systems that shape our lives — from housing to jobs, schools to transportation, health care to parks. From my decades of experience working with residents throughout our city and beyond, I know that community engagement is not a photo op or a box to check; it is deep partnership, consensus building, power sharing, and paradigm shifting. And when we do it right, this kind of inclusive democracy builds community power, brings us closer together, and results in better policies and better outcomes. What a thrill to work alongside these inspired engagement leaders to expand our definition of civic engagement beyond elections, increase opportunities for government to work together with communities and amplify the voices of our neighbors.”
“Congratulations to Laura Rog on her reappointment as the chief service officer for New York City,” said New York City Police Department (NYPD) Deputy Commissioner Collaborative Policing Chauncey Parker. “Laura is a visionary leader and great partner. Together with Laura and her exceptional NYC Service team, the NYPD has built a Youth Leadership Council in every NYPD precinct and command — connecting hundreds of young people and police officers to serve communities across New York City.”
“Our ability to respond to emergencies is made stronger by our network of volunteers, who are ready to offer a helping hand to all New Yorkers recovering from any disaster,” said New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) Commissioner Zach Iscol. “Through the Volunteer Coordination Task Force, Laura Rog and NYC Service are active partners with NYCEM. From the COVID-19 pandemic to Hurricane Ida and many other task force activations, Laura has been a tremendous partner to us. She is an incredible champion for what volunteerism can do and does for all New Yorkers. We are thrilled to continue to get to work with her and that she will continue to be a part of NYC Service. And Adrienne Lever and her team have been fantastic partners throughout a number of critical emergency responses efforts. The work she and her team did to support asylum seekers arriving at Port Authority was nothing short of heroic, and I am very grateful to know that we will continue to have Adrienne and PEU's support as we continue to serve New Yorkers through the challenges that lie ahead.”
“I want to extend my congratulations to Betsy MacLean and all of these distinguished women who have been nothing short of extraordinary partners in city government” said New York City Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Fred Kreizman. “Our mission at CAU is to connect communities across the city directly to City Hall, and all of our agencies work together hand-in-hand to serve every neighborhood. I look forward to the continued partnership with this amazing team to continue to ‘Get Stuff Done’ for the communities we serve.”
“For decades, Dr. Sayeed has worked tirelessly to expand democracy and ensure that all New Yorkers have a direct role in shaping the future of their communities and our city. She is caring, compassionate, and focused on execution — uplifting diverse voices to spur action within government and beyond,” said New York City Mayor's Office of Equity Commissioner Sideya Sherman. “I am thrilled to continue working with Dr. Sayeed and this all-star engagement team.”
“Adrienne Lever's visionary approach to collaboration between city agencies like ours ensures that we are reaching all New Yorkers on critical issues, including health, housing, and more,” said New York City Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner James Hendon. “The Department of Veterans’ Services celebrates the reappointment of Adrienne Lever as executive director of the Office of Public Engagement and our continued collaboration, especially as we work towards expanding health insurance access to veterans.”
“We’re thrilled to congratulate Betsy MacLean on her new role as chief engagement officer,” said José López, co-executive director, Make the Road New York. “New Yorkers across the city understand that effective governance requires meeting communities where they are, engaging in good faith, and executing on community-generated strategies. Having a chief engagement officer to build out civic infrastructure and maintain connection between agencies is a step forward in that direction, and, as a long-time partner of Make the Road New York, we are confident that Betsy MacLean is the right choice to lead this effort. Betsy has spent her career working in partnership with communities — designing, managing and implementing community engagement strategies to promote racial and economic justice. We look forward to working with Betsy to ensure that New York City prioritizes the voices and ideas of our members and neighbors across the five boroughs.”
“I am thrilled to see the administration make a coordinated effort to improve interagency collaboration and public participation, and Betsy MacLean is uniquely qualified to lead that charge,” said Linda E. Johnson, president and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “I look forward to working together toward our shared mission of strengthening democracy and empowering New Yorkers to remain engaged and informed.”
“I am thrilled that Mayor Adams is creating the position of chief engagement officer to deepen community engagement and outreach across all agencies, and there is no better candidate than Betsy MacLean. I have seen firsthand the dedication, drive, and commitment to community input that Betsy brings to all her work to ensure New York City neighborhoods are informed and involved in our democracy,” said Thomas Yu, executive director, Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE).
“The designation of a chief engagement officer and the strengthening of New York City’s civic engagement and outreach infrastructure will ensure that communities that have had historically limited access will now have meaningful influence,” said Marco A. Carrión, executive director of El Puente and former commissioner, New York City Community Affairs Unit. “The combined experience, talent and commitment that Betsy MacLean, Dr. Sarah Sayeed and all the exceptional leaders appointed today bring to their roles will spur a definite shift in how our communities’ voices are centered.”
“Dr. Sayeed is one of the strongest champions for civic participation in our city. I have worked closely with her over the last four years and watched her fearlessly lead the charge to implement the impressive charter mandate of the Civic Engagement Commission,” said Anetta Seecharran, CEC commissioner and executive director, Chhaya Community Development Corporation. “Dr. Sayeed has a remarkable ability to find common ground among diverse voices and push forward for the betterment of our city and our communities. I am delighted she will be able to continue to build on the solid foundation she has established over the last four years.”
“On behalf of the staff, board, and faith-leader constituents of the Interfaith Center of New York, I celebrate the re-appointment of Dr. Sarah Sayeed as chair and executive director of the CEC,” said Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer, executive director, Interfaith Center of New York. “Under Dr. Sayeed's leadership these past few years, the Commission has flourished — providing language assistance at polls and participatory budgeting tools to congregations and community associations around the city. Dr. Sayeed’s continued leadership at the CEC is welcome news for all New Yorkers who seek to strengthen our diverse democracy.”
“During the pandemic, Laura worked closely with New York Cares to mobilize New Yorkers in volunteer opportunities pivotal in our city-wide response,” said Sapreet K. Saluja, executive director, New York Cares. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Laura and NYC Service, while championing new and innovative approaches to service throughout the five boroughs.”
“For over two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kathleen served as director of community engagement for the NYC Test & Treat Corps’ contact tracing effort, helping our program reach hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and offering critical support in their greatest time of need,” said NYC Test & Treat Corps Executive Director Dr. Ted Long. “New York City is lucky to have dedicated public servants like Kathleen, a born-and-raised New Yorker who knows how to engage our city’s diverse communities and is a champion of civic participation. I wish her luck in her new role as New York City’s chief democracy officer and I know New York City voters will be more engaged and informed because of her leadership.”
“Kathleen Daniel has been a tireless advocate throughout her career, fighting for all New Yorkers to be included and heard in the democratic process,” said Omar Khan, former executive director, Mayor's Public Engagement Unit. “In our work together at Census, she was a leading voice and strategist in organizing the effort to engage millions of residents all across the five boroughs. She has the ideal combination experience, vision, and integrity to serve as our city's next chief democracy officer.”
“It gives me great pleasure and excitement to formally pass the baton to Kathleen Daniel as our city’s new chief democracy officer,” said Laura Wood, leadership in government fellow, Open Society Foundations, and former chief democracy officer, NYC. “The chief democracy officer plays a central role in setting the priorities and strategy for engaging New Yorkers at every level of civic participation. It requires an individual with compassion and real experience building lasting relationships and centering community voice in our democratic processes. With this appointment, the Civic Engagement Commission will be even stronger in its mission to build trust in democracy in New York City and given Kathleen’s extensive experience in community engagement, there is no better person for this role.”
“As we forge forward in creating a city reflecting the diversity of New Yorkers, I am proud of Mayor Adams and his administration on the reappointment of Dr. Sarah Sayeed,” said Dr. Debbie Almontaser, CEO & founder, Bridging Cultures Group Inc. “Dr. Sayeed is no stranger to this work and she will continue to build bridges of engagement that will allow every New Yorker feel a part of the beautiful mosaic we call New York City.”
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