Chirlane McCray

McCray was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and spent her early years there. Her mother, Katharine Clarissa Eileen (née Edwards), was an assembly worker at an electronics factory, and her father, Robert Hooper McCray, was an inventory clerk at a military base.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsamericasnow.com/nycs-new-first-lady-makes-barbadians-proud/|title=NYC'S New First Lady Makes Barbadians Proud - Caribbean and Latin America Daily News|date=December 12, 2013|access-date=August 1, 2018}} She is of Barbadian and St. Lucian descent, but traces her grandmother's last name (Quashie) to Ghana.{{cite news |newspaper=Amsterdam News |url=http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2012/mar/29/my-familys-journey-to-ghana/ |title=My family's journey to Ghana |last1=de Blasio |first1=Bill |last2=McCray |first2=Chirlane |date=March 29, 2012 |access-date=January 2, 2015}}

When she was ten years old, her family moved to Longmeadow, Massachusetts, becoming only the second black family in the area. Other families in the neighborhood circulated petitions demanding they leave. During a portion of her high school years, McCray was the only black student in her school.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/02/nyregion/once-alienated-and-now-a-force-in-her-husbands-bid-for-mayor.html?_r=0|title=Once Alienated, and Now a Force in Her Husband's Bid for Mayor: Chirlane McCray Plays Key Role in de Blasio Campaign|first=Michael|last=Barbaro|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 1, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2013}} McCray cites her early experience with racism and bullying as part of the reason she began to write, using her poetry as an outlet for her anger.{{cite news |last=Marantz |first=Andrew |url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/08/05/significant-other |title=Significant Other |magazine=The New Yorker |date=August 5, 2013 |access-date=January 2, 2015}}{{cite web|last=Villarosa |first=Linda |url=http://www.essence.com/2013/05/09/politicians-wife-chirlane-mccray/ |title=Chirlane McCray: From Gay Trailblazer to Politician's Wife |publisher=Essence.com |date=May 9, 2013 |access-date=August 14, 2013}} She wrote a column for her school newspaper in which she denounced classmates for their racism.

McCray enrolled at Wellesley College in 1972. While studying there, she became a member of a black feminist organization known as the Combahee River Collective.

After graduating from college, McCray moved to New York City to work for Redbook. She published an essay in Essence in 1979 titled "I Am a Lesbian".{{cite news |url=http://observer.com/2012/12/the-lesbian-past-of-bill-de-blasios-wife/ |title=Ancient History: The Lesbian Past of Bill de Blasio's Wife |first=Hunter |last=Walker |newspaper=New York Observer |date=December 5, 2012 |access-date=January 2, 2015}} Essence later described the essay as "groundbreaking", asserting that it was "perhaps the first time a Black gay woman had spoken so openly and honestly about her sexuality in a Black magazine". The purpose of the essay was to "dispel the myth that there are no gay black people".{{cite web|last=Mcdonough |first=Katie |url=http://www.salon.com/2013/05/09/bill_de_blasios_wife_chirlane_mccray_on_the_fluidity_of_love_and_the_political_spotlight/ |title=Bill de Blasio's wife, Chirlane McCray, on the "fluidity of love" and the political spotlight |work=Salon.com |date=May 9, 2013 |access-date=August 14, 2013}} Some of her poetry is included in Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology.{{cite web|url=http://blackoncampus.com/2009/10/18/pioneering-black-feminist-makes-history-again/ |title=Pioneering Black Feminist Makes History Again |first=Ajuan |last=Mance |publisher=Black On Campus |date=October 18, 2009 |access-date=August 14, 2013}}

In 1991, McCray entered politics. She worked as a speechwriter for New York City Mayor David Dinkins.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/02/nyregion/02notebook.html|title=The Family Bible Is a Guest for the Oath, but Not a Participant|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Michael|last=Barbaro|date=January 1, 2010|access-date=August 16, 2013}} During the Clinton administration, she worked for the New York Foreign Press Center as a public affairs specialist.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_uwGa9Z4eigC&pg=PA236|title=The Plum Book: U. S. Government Policy and Supporting Positions for 9,000 Federal Civil Service Positions|publisher=DIANE Publishing|year=1996|page=236|isbn=0788135708}} She also worked as a speechwriter for the New York State Comptroller Carl McCall and for New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson.{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/de-blasio-wife-prominence-mayoral-race-article-1.1350974 |title=Bill de Blasio's wife, Chirlane McCray, opens up on her role as the mayoral race's most visible spouse |first=Jennifer |last=Fermino |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=May 21, 2013 |access-date=August 14, 2013}}

File:Bill de Blasio family 2012.jpg

In 2004, McCray left Thompson's office to work in the private sector.{{cite web |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/334244683 |title=Ferrer's Pitch For Ballpark |first=David |last=Seifman |newspaper=New York Post |date=August 8, 2004 |access-date=August 14, 2013 |archive-date=January 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102191939/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nypost/doc/334244683.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug%208,%202004&author=David%20Seifman&pub=New%20York%20Post&edition=&startpage=&desc=FERRER%27S%20PITCH%20FOR%20BALLPARK |id={{ProQuest|334244683}} |url-status=live }}{{subscription required|date=August 2013}} She worked for five years at Maimonides Medical Center.{{cite web|url=http://www.billdeblasio.com/meet-the-de-blasios/about-chirlane |title=About Chirlane |publisher=BilldeBlasio.com |access-date=January 2, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330160107/http://www.billdeblasio.com/meet-the-de-blasios/about-chirlane |archive-date=March 30, 2014 }} She also worked for Citigroup in its public relations department for six months before deciding it was "not a good fit". During her husband's campaign for mayor of New York City in the 2013 election, she edited his speeches and helped interview candidates for staff positions.

When de Blasio became mayor, he hired publicist Rachel Noerdlinger to be McCray's chief of staff.{{cite news|first1=Michael M.|last1=Grynbaum|first2=Nikita|last2=Stewart|first3=William K.|last3=Rashbaum| title = At City Hall, Backstage Player Is Cast in Main Stage Uproar| newspaper = The New York Times| date = October 3, 2014| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/04/nyregion/hired-for-behind-the-scenes-skill-city-hall-aide-rachel-noerdlinger-is-now-front-and-center.html| access-date = November 18, 2014}} Later in 2014, Noerdlinger resigned her post following a series of controversies surrounding her behavior and that of persons close to her.{{cite news|first=Jennifer|last=Fermino|title=Rachel Noerdlinger, former Chirlane McCray aide, kept ex-con boyfriend updated through controversy| newspaper = New York Daily News |date = February 28, 2015|url = http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rachel-noerdlinger-ex-con-boyfriend-updated-troubles-article-1.2133232| access-date = July 28, 2018}}

In his second month in office, de Blasio named McCray chair of the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/07/nyregion/de-blasio-appoints-chirlane-mccray-his-wife-to-lead-nonprofit-group.html|title=De Blasio Appoints Chirlane McCray, His Wife, to Lead Nonprofit Group|last=Taylor|first=Kate|date=February 6, 2014|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 11, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} Since then, the Fund has focused on mental health, immigration, and youth workforce projects.{{Cite web|url=http://www1.nyc.gov/site/fund/initiatives/priority-areas.page|title=Priority Areas - Mayor's Fund|website=www1.nyc.gov|access-date=October 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102062907/http://www1.nyc.gov/site/fund/initiatives/priority-areas.page|archive-date=November 2, 2017|url-status=dead}} In May 2018, The New York Times reported that McCray had last visited the offices of the Mayor's Fund in May 2017. The Times further reported that according to McCray's public schedule, she had spent 19.5 hours in 2017 on work for the Mayor's Fund; however, her spokeswoman estimated that McCray spent 10% of her work schedule on Mayor's Fund business.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/nyregion/city-nonprofit-that-thrived-after-9-11-lags-under-mayors-wife.html|title=Once-Thriving City Nonprofit Sputters Under Mayor's Wife, Chirlane McCray|first1=William|last1=Neuman|first2=J. David|last2=Goodman|newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 29, 2018}}

In November 2015, McCray led the launch of ThriveNYC, a plan to overhaul the city's mental health and substance abuse services.{{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2017/12/chirlane-mccray-national-mental-health-reform/|title=NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray Weighs in on Federal Mental Health Reform|website=The New York Observer |date=December 4, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/operations/downloads/pdf/pmmr2017/thrivenyc.pdf|title=ThriveNYC: A Mental Health Roadmap for All|website=NYC.gov}} ThriveNYC promotes a shift from a traditionally more reactive model, which can strain police, prisons, hospitals, and schools,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/14/magazine/chirlane-mccray-and-the-limits-of-first-ladyship.html|title=Chirlane McCray and the Limits of First-Ladyship|last=Ghansah|first=Rachel Kaadzi|date=February 9, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 11, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} to an integrated public health approach focusing on awareness and early identification.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fphnyc.org/innovators/media/news/mental-health-is-a-public-health-issue/|title=Fund for Public Health - New York|website=www.fphnyc.org|language=en-US|access-date=October 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812150855/http://www.fphnyc.org/innovators/media/news/mental-health-is-a-public-health-issue/|archive-date=August 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/thrivenyc.page|title=ThriveNYC|website=www1.nyc.gov|access-date=October 11, 2017|archive-date=August 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812181420/https://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/thrivenyc.page|url-status=dead}} In February 2019, Politico criticized ThriveNYC for having an "opaque budget" and "elusive metrics".{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2019/02/27/with-opaque-budget-and-elusive-metrics-850m-thrivenyc-program-attempts-a-reset-873945|title=With opaque budget and elusive metrics, $850M ThriveNYC program attempts a reset|website=Politico PRO|date=February 27, 2019 }} In a March 2019 article on ThriveNYC, The New York Times reported: "Public health officials credit the plan for drawing attention to mental health… At the same time, some initiatives failed to get started, while others placed unrealistic demands on already strained mental health services". The Times added: "A spreadsheet of nearly 500 data points tracked by City Hall included almost none related to patient outcomes".{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/22/nyregion/thrivenyc-mental-health-.html|title=Chirlane McCray, de Blasio's Wife, Is Questioned Over His 'Revolutionary' $1 Billion Mental Health Plan|first=J. David|last=Goodman|newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 22, 2019}}

ThriveNYC drew harsh criticism over allegations of mismanagement and accusations that it had failed to produce records of tangible results. As of March 2019, nearly $850 million in funding for McCray's mental health program was unaccounted for; furthermore, the program was on track to spend $1 billion over five years. Bronx Councilman Ritchie Torres criticized ThriveNYC, stating that there was "no evidence it’s working".{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2019/03/27/theres-too-much-money-in-chirlane-mccrays-hands/|title=There's too much money in Chirlane McCray's hands|first=Bob|last=McManus|date=March 28, 2019}}

In 2021, ThriveNYC was made permanent by executive order, "rebranded" as the Office of Community Mental Health, and allocated a further $115 million. The spending plan includes $96 million for B-HEARD, an initiative that dispatches EMTs and social workers as first responders to 911 calls involving mentally ill people in an effort to prevent confrontations with the police.{{Cite web |last1=Marsh |first1=Julia |last2=Golding |first2=Bruce |date=2021-06-30 |title=Budget deal adds $115M in spending by former ThriveNYC |url=https://nypost.com/2021/06/30/budget-deal-adds-115m-in-spending-by-former-thrivenyc/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hicks |first=Nolan |date=2021-05-06 |title=De Blasio rebrands wife's $1B ThriveNYC, makes program permanent |url=https://nypost.com/2021/05/06/de-blasio-rebrands-wifes-1b-thrivenyc-makes-program-permanent/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |language=en-US}}

In March 2018, McCray stated that she was "seriously considering" running for office in 2021 (the year that de Blasio's second and final term as New York City mayor ended). McCray added that she would not run for mayor of New York City.{{cite web|url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2018/03/13/first-lady-chirlane-mccray-considering-run-for-office-in-2021|title=First Lady Chirlane McCray considering run for office in 2021|website=www.ny1.com}}{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2018/12/03/chirlane-mccrays-latest-hires-hint-at-run-for-public-office/|title=Chirlane McCray's latest hires hint at run for public office|first=Yoav|last=Gonen|date=December 3, 2018}}

McCray published an essay in Essence in 1979 entitled "I Am a Lesbian". In that essay, McCray "frankly discussed her sexuality and expressed gratitude that she came to terms with her preference for women before marrying a man". McCray met Bill de Blasio in 1991, when they both worked at New York City Hall for then Mayor David Dinkins. At the time, de Blasio was an aide to a deputy mayor and McCray was a speechwriter. McCray and de Blasio were married in 1994 in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.{{cite news|first=Michael Howard|last=Saul|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323820104578215653710530398 |title=Family in the Spotlight: De Blasio's Wife, Children Provide Multiracial Backdrop to Likely Mayoral Bid|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=January 1, 2013|access-date=August 14, 2013}} Asked about her sexuality, McCray has stated that she hates "labels".{{cite news|first=Natalie|last=O'Neill |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/little_did_bill_know_t1GQo3jTrVJ8gUrgMrMx0J |title=Bill de Blasio's wife recalls him first learning that she was a lesbian |newspaper=New York Post |date=May 10, 2013 |access-date=August 14, 2013}} In 2012, when asked about her 1979 essay, she commented: "In the 1970s, I identified as a lesbian and wrote about it. In 1991, I met the love of my life, married him."{{cite journal |url=http://www.out.com/news-opinion/2013/09/03/when-bill-de-blasios-wife-was-lesbian |title=When Bill de Blasio's Wife Was a Lesbian |first=Andrew |last=Belonsky |journal=Out |date=September 3, 2013 |access-date=January 2, 2015}}

McCray and de Blasio have a daughter, Chiara, and a son, Dante.{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2014/05/18/chirlane-mccray-didnt-want-to-spend-every-day-with-baby-chiara/|title=NYC's first lady: I was a bad mom|first=Bruce|last=Golding|date=May 19, 2014}} The family lived in Park Slope, Brooklyn, until their 2014 move into Gracie Mansion,{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/de-blasio-finally-settles-down-at-gracie-mansion-1406600111 |title=De Blasio Finally Settles Down at Gracie Mansion |first=Mara |last=Gay |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=July 28, 2014 |access-date=January 2, 2015}} the official residence of the Mayor of New York City.{{cite web|url=http://www.fieldtrip.com/ny/25700985.htm|access-date=2008-08-02|title=Gracie Mansion|publisher=FieldTrip.com}}

In July 2023, McCray and de Blasio announced their separation and that they will start dating other people, though the two would not be seeking a divorce.{{Cite news |last=Flegenheimer |first=Matt |date=2023-07-05 |title=Bill de Blasio and Chirlane McCray Are Separating |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/05/nyregion/de-blasio-marriage-chirlane-mccray.html |access-date=2023-07-05 |issn=0362-4331}}

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• {{cite web|url=http://www.mackcrounse.com/team/chirlane-mccray|title=Chirlane McCray|work=Mack Crounse Group|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609080754/http://www.mackcrounse.com/team/chirlane-mccray|archive-date=June 9, 2012}}
• {{facebook|ChirlaneMccray}}

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{{s-bef|before=Donna Hanover (2002)}}

{{s-ttl|title=First Lady of New York City|years=2014–2022}}

{{s-aft|after=Tracey Collins}}

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Category:1954 births

Category:Living people

Category:First ladies of New York City

Category:Writers from Massachusetts

Category:American women poets

Category:African-American poets

Category:20th-century American poets

Category:American speechwriters

Category:Spouses of New York (state) politicians

Category:Wellesley College alumni

Category:American people of Barbadian descent

Category:American people of Saint Lucian descent

Category:People from Park Slope

Category:People from Springfield, Massachusetts

Category:American women non-fiction writers

Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers

Category:20th-century American women writers

Category:Bill de Blasio

Category:American LGBTQ rights activists

Category:20th-century African-American women writers

Category:20th-century African-American writers

Category:Members of the Combahee River Collective

Category:21st-century American women writers

Category:American lesbian writers