Melva Miller

(She/Her/Hers)

CEO – The Association for a Better New York

“New Yorkers are ready for a new vision for our city. I am excited to join the Advisory Board to get to work advancing a racially equitable future through policy reforms that reduce barriers and promote a just city for all” says Melva M. Miller, Association for a Better New York (ABNY) CEO.

Melva M. Miller, the Association for a Better New York's (ABNY) first Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for the strategic direction and guidance for all aspects ABNY's work including moving the organization's vision forward through economic development, long-term planning, stakeholder engagement, strategic partnerships, and the expansion and evolution of ABNY's membership. Prior to this role, Ms. Miller led the organization's Census initiative for an accurate count of New York where she supported and supplemented the 2020 census efforts by the US Census Bureau, State and City of New York, and in coordination with community-based organizations to help New York City and State achieve the most accurate census count possible.

Ms. Miller has also served as the Deputy Borough President of Queens, working with the Borough Presidents on moving Queens forward. Ms. Miller's achievements include the creation of the Jamaica NOW Action Plan, a $153 million stakeholder-driven strategy to increase quality employment, economic diversity and financial security in downtown Jamaica. She was also the lead organizer of the Western Queens Tech Strategic Plan, an initiative that produced a five-year, $300,000 planning initiative that produced a blueprint for equitable growth of the Long Island City and Astoria tech ecosystem. Ms. Miller has held several senior economic development roles throughout her career, including Director of Economic Development for the Borough of Queens and Founding Executive Director for the Sutphin Boulevard Business Improvement District. She serves as Vice Chair of Habitat for Humanity NYC and Westchester and Greater Jamaica Development Corporation boards of directors; on the Board of Directors of New York City Tourism + Conventions and Downtown Brooklyn Partnership; serves on the advisory boards of the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College and NYU Wagner NYC 2025; and is a member of the board of advisors for the NYU Furman Center.

Ms. Miller holds a bachelor's degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, a master's degree in social work from Hunter College School of Social Work, and received a second master's degree in philosophy from The Graduate Center at the City University of New York. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Social Welfare program at CUNY's Graduate Center.