Maya Wiley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maya Wiley
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Wiley in 2015
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| President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights | |
| Assumed office May 2, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Wade Henderson |
| Chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board | |
| In office July 2016 – August 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Emery |
| Succeeded by | Frederick Davie |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 2, 1964 Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Harlan Mandel |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | George Wiley (father) |
| Education | Dartmouth College (BA) Columbia University (JD) |
Maya D. Wiley (born January 2, 1964) is an American lawyer, professor, and activist who works for civil rights. She has been the president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights since May 2022. Before that, Wiley was an advisor to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. She also led the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) from 2016 to 2017. From 2018 to 2021, she was a legal expert on MSNBC. In 2021, Wiley ran to become the mayor of New York City.
Wiley also works as a senior vice president for social justice at The New School. She is a professor at the Milano School of Policy, Management, and Environment.
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Early Life and Education
Maya Wiley was born on January 2, 1964, in Syracuse, New York. She grew up in Washington, D.C.. Her father, George Wiley, was a civil rights leader and a chemist. Her mother, Wretha Frances Wiley, encouraged her to care about important social issues.
Wiley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Dartmouth College in 1986. She then studied law and received her Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School.
Career Highlights
After law school, Maya Wiley worked for the U.S. Attorney Office for the Southern District of New York.
Before becoming an advisor to Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2014, she worked for several important organizations. These included the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Open Society Institute. These groups work to protect people's rights and promote fairness.
Wiley worked as an advisor to Mayor de Blasio for two and a half years. During this time, she helped the mayor with many important decisions. She also started and led the Center for Social Inclusion. This group worked to end unfairness in society.
Wiley has taught at The New School, where she started the Digital Equity Laboratory. She also appeared on MSNBC as an expert on politics and law. In November 2023, Wiley was given a special position at the District of Columbia School of Law Foundation. This role focuses on civil and human rights.
Running for New York City Mayor
In 2021, Maya Wiley ran in the Democratic election to become the mayor of New York City. Many people and groups supported her campaign. These included U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former presidential candidates Julian Castro and Elizabeth Warren. The largest union in New York City, Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union, also supported her. The music band The Strokes even included their song "Starting Again" in a campaign ad. They also played a concert to help raise money for her campaign. In the election, Wiley finished in third place. Eric Adams won the election and became mayor.
Leading Civil and Human Rights
In March 2022, Maya Wiley was chosen to be the president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. She also leads its sister group, The Leadership Conference Education Fund. She started these roles on May 2, 2022.
In 2023, Wiley represented the Leadership Conference at a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris. They talked about how artificial intelligence (AI) could affect people's rights. She also spoke at a special meeting in the United States Senate about AI. Wiley has also attended meetings at the White House. There, she worked with other civil rights leaders to ask for stronger voting rights. She also pushed for more economic chances for the Black community.
Personal Life
Maya Wiley is married to Harlan Mandel. He is the CEO of the Media Development Investment Fund. They live in Brooklyn with their two daughters.
