Who Are We?

After 30 years of being a political operative and strategist, Sharon has taken her knowledge and experience base to create CREW to empower Undeserved and Underrepresented Constituency groups to seek real time opportunities for inclusion and intersectionality. She is a certified Democratic National Committee Finance Director.

A top Civil Rights Professional, Idelle provides strategy, guidance and resources to optimize CREW opportunities and reach in politics. Idelle has numerous distinctions including being Co-chairperson of a Leadership Committee at the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) and she is currently serving as 

Woodrow Wilson Fellow.

With over 10 years teaching experience, William works with the CEO on Curriculum development and flagship programming. He has teaching privileges at several Higher Education institutions. Professor Allen has taught 2 candidate graduating classes at the CUNY School of Professionalism.  Additionally, Professor Allen is a founder of a Political Club, District Leader and former Deputy Chief for the New York City Board of Elections.

Norma Krieger is a Pratt Institute graduate, entrepreneur, educator, curator and photographer. Based in New York and St. Croix, Norma is principal of the Krieger Creative Group, Inc. (KCG). KCG is a fine-art acquisition agency, a multi-disciplined platform representing visual artists. She is also the founder of the Brooklyn | Art Salon, a private gallery. Norma is a USVI Tourism Ambassador; Architect of the St. Croix, USVI History & Art Tour; Member of the Association of Women Art Dealers, NYC and Chair of Pratt Institute Alumni NYC Network.

Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Special Advisor for Policy and Community Affairs, for New York State Housing and Community Renewal, was first elected to the New York State Senate in 2000, where she brought years of public service and community involvement to her post as the Senator of the 36th Senatorial District; representing parts of the Bronx and Westchester Counties. 

Ms. Hassell-Thompson is the recipient of two Honorary Doctorate degrees; Mercy College, Doctor of Humane Letters; and Eastern Theological Consortium, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Christ Theological Seminary, Doctor of Humanities. She is an alumna of Bronx Community College.

During her tenure in the Senate, Ms. Hassell-Thompson served on the following standing committees: Judiciary (Ranking); Crime Victims, Crime & Correction (Ranking Chairwoman); Commerce, Economic Development & Small Business; Alcohol and Substance Abuse; Health; Finance; Rules; Chairwoman, Conference of Black Senators; Chairwoman, Taskforce on Domestic Violence; Governor Cuomo Taskforce on MWBE

Lisa Powell Graham, MPA is a proven visionary leader, with 20+ years of successes in campaign management, strategic planning, fundraising, communications, and community organizing. Lisa was a featured speaker at TEDxAlbany in December 2019 on the topic, Why Women Will Save The World. She has been an in-demand keynote and inspirational speaker for more than a decade now, specializing in women’s leadership.

A lifelong Democrat, Lisa has worked on political campaigns since she was 8 years old, when her uncle Rick Roche was elected the youngest Massachusetts State Representative in the state’s history. She grew up on campaigns, and has run and organized campaigns from the local level to the presidential level. 

Lisa earned her Master in Public Administration degree from Harvard Kennedy School of Government in 2005, with a focus on elected leadership and best practices in government. After graduating from Harvard, Lisa was hired to draft a strategic plan for performance management for the city and county of San Francisco.