Sheena Meade

Sheena Meade empowers the disenfranchised through her leadership in legal system reform and her advocacy for second chances. As Chief Executive Officer of The Clean Slate Initiative (CSI), she directs a national bipartisan effort to automatically clear eligible arrest and conviction records across the US.

Under Meade's guidance, CSI has played a crucial role in passing legislation that has opened the door for 3 million people to receive full or partial record clearance. In April 2023, The Audacious Project awarded CSI a significant financial commitment of $75 million, supporting the organization's mission to potentially benefit up to 14 million individuals. At the TED2023 Conference in Vancouver, BC, Meade shared her personal story and the goals of CSI during a well-received TED talk.

Before her current role at CSI, Meade co-founded the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) and served as its first Organizing Director. She was instrumental in the Second Chances Amendment 4 campaign in Florida, which successfully restored voting rights to 1.4 million people. As part of this initiative, she raised $15 million and significantly mobilized voter support.

Meade is frequently featured in major media outlets such as Ebony, CNN, PBS News, and Newsweek, where she is recognized for her influential leadership in nonprofit sectors and criminal justice reform. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Public Welfare Foundation and holds positions on several other boards, including the Policing Project at NYU School of Law, Live Free USA, and the Florida Coalition on Black Civic Engagement.

Her ability to unite various stakeholders, including celebrities like Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, John Legend, and Roc Nation in nationwide voter registration drives, underlines her exceptional organizing skills and commitment to social change. Meade's personal narrative, from overcoming early life challenges to becoming a prominent nonprofit executive, deeply enhances her public speaking engagements on themes of resilience and transformation.