Chirlane McCray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chirlane McCray
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McCray in 2019
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| First Lady of New York City | |
| In role January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Diana Taylor (de facto) |
| Succeeded by | Tracey Collins (de facto) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Chirlane Irene McCray
November 29, 1954 Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Wellesley College (BA) |
Chirlane Irene McCray (born November 29, 1954) is an American writer and activist. She is married to Bill de Blasio, who used to be the Mayor of New York City. Many people saw her as one of his most important advisors. She also led a group called the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. Her husband also asked her to lead a big project called ThriveNYC. She has written poetry and worked in politics, helping to write speeches for leaders.
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Early Life and Education
Chirlane McCray was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. She spent her early childhood there. Her mother worked in a factory. Her father was a clerk at a military base. Her family comes from the Caribbean islands of Barbados and Saint Lucia. She also has roots in Ghana, Africa.
When she was ten, her family moved to Longmeadow, Massachusetts. They were one of the first black families in that area. Some neighbors even tried to make them leave. In high school, McCray was sometimes the only black student. She has said that facing racism and bullying made her want to write. She used poetry to express her feelings. She also wrote for her school newspaper. In her column, she spoke out against racism from her classmates.
In 1972, McCray started college at Wellesley College. While there, she joined a group called the Combahee River Collective. This group focused on the rights and experiences of black women.
Career Journey
After college, McCray moved to New York City. She worked for a magazine called Redbook. She also wrote an essay for Essence magazine. Some of her poems are in a book called Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology.
In 1991, McCray started working in politics. She became a speechwriter for David Dinkins, who was the Mayor of New York City at the time. Later, she worked for the New York Foreign Press Center. She also wrote speeches for other important leaders. These included Carl McCall, the New York State Comptroller, and Bill Thompson, the New York City Comptroller.
In 2004, McCray left her political work for a while. She worked in the private sector, which means for private companies. She spent five years at Maimonides Medical Center. She also worked briefly for Citigroup, a large bank. During her husband's campaign to become mayor in 2013, she helped him a lot. She edited his speeches and helped choose people for his team.
Working in the Mayor's Office
When Bill de Blasio became mayor, Chirlane McCray took on important roles. She was named the chair of the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. This fund helps with important city projects. It has focused on topics like mental health, helping immigrants, and creating jobs for young people.
ThriveNYC Program
One of McCray's biggest projects was called ThriveNYC. This program aimed to change how New York City deals with mental health. Instead of just reacting to problems, ThriveNYC wanted to help people earlier. It focused on making people more aware of mental health issues. It also worked on finding problems early on.
Some people praised ThriveNYC for bringing attention to mental health. However, others had questions about how well it was working. They wanted to see clearer results from the program. Some initiatives did not start as planned. Others put too much pressure on existing mental health services.
In 2021, ThriveNYC became a permanent program. It was renamed the Office of Community Mental Health. It also received more funding. Part of this money helps a program called B-HEARD. This program sends medical workers and social workers to 911 calls about mental health. This helps prevent problems with the police.
Future Political Plans
In 2018, McCray said she was thinking about running for office herself. This was for the year 2021. That was when her husband's term as mayor ended. However, she said she would not run to be the mayor of New York City.
Personal Life
Chirlane McCray met Bill de Blasio in 1991. They both worked at New York City Hall for Mayor David Dinkins. She was a speechwriter, and he was an aide. McCray and de Blasio got married in 1994. Their wedding was in Prospect Park in Brooklyn.
McCray and de Blasio have two children. Their daughter is named Chiara. Their son is named Dante. The family used to live in Park Slope, Brooklyn. In 2014, they moved to Gracie Mansion. This is the official home for the Mayor of New York City.
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