Sheena Meade empowers the disenfranchised. She is a walking barrier breaker and one of America’s leading experts on legal system reform.
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CEO, Clean Slate Initiative
Board Member, Public Welfare
Board Member, The Policing Project
Dr. Sheena Meade is the CEO of The Clean Slate Initiative (CSI), where she leads a national bipartisan effort to pass policies that automate the sealing of eligible arrest and conviction records across the United States.
Under her leadership, CSI has helped pass legislation in 14 states and D.C. that has created a path for more than 18 million people to receive full or partial record sealing. The organization was named one of the Top 10 Female-Led Companies in SUCCESS magazine and, in 2023, received a $75 million commitment from The Audacious Project to support CSI’s six-year strategy to unlock opportunities for up to 14 million additional people—an unprecedented investment in second chances.
A sought-after speaker, Sheena shared her personal story and CSI’s mission at the TED2023 Conference; her talk has received over 1 million views and counting. She later served as commencement speaker at Cheyney University, the nation’s first HBCU, where she was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service in 2024. Her voice has reached global audiences through platforms including the Milken Institute Global Conference, The Aspen Institute Forum on Children and Families, SXSW, The Legal Tech Fund, and the Concordia Summit. She is also the recipient of the 2024 BMe Vanguard Award. In 2026, she was elected to the Council on Criminal Justice, in recognition of her leadership and expertise in advancing second-chance policies nationwide.
Sheena’s leadership exemplifies bipartisanship and coalition building. She has collaborated with cultural and political leaders alike and was featured as a spokesperson for the directly impacted in John Legend’s award-winning documentary Home/Free. She has also worked alongside Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Kerry Washington, Roc Nation, and the NFL coalition. Sheena has been featured in media such as Forbes, CNN, Ebony, CBS, PBS News, Newsweek, and more, as one of America’s most influential and dynamic nonprofit leaders.
Before joining CSI, Sheena helped build and scale the Nobel Peace Prize- nominated Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) as its first Organizing Director and served as Senior Advisor to the Amendment 4 Florida Campaign, Sheena raised 15 million dollars, mobilized thousands of impacted families and supporters to get to the polls, which restored voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians. Sheena currently serves on the boards of the Public Welfare Foundation, Live Free USA, the Florida Coalition on Black Civic Engagement, and The Policing Project at NYU School of Law.
Sheena Meade lives in Orlando, Florida, with her husband, Desmond Meade, and their five children. She draws on her life as a wife, mother, ‘glam-ma’, and community advocate to inspire and connect with audiences.
Ask Sheena about these accomplishments and her drive, her answer is simple: “I’m just Sheena.”
Sheena is regularly featured in media such as Ebony, CNN, PBS News, Newsweek, and more, as one of America’s most influential and dynamic nonprofit leaders, women empowerment experts, and the premier voice for criminal justice reform.
Over the course of her life, she has worked in communities around the country, channeling her passions and skill to advocate for those who need it most. She exemplifies bipartisanship by bringing together political notables to address critical issues related to justice. Her grassroots organizing savvy has led to successful voter registration drives around the country, including working with the likes of Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, John Legend, and Roc Nation.
Sheena currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Public Welfare Foundation and also sits on the boards of Live Free USA and the Florida Coalition on Black Civic Engagement.
Her own journey epitomizes resilience.
Her own journey epitomizes resilience: from teenage mom and survivor of domestic violence to acclaimed executive, proud mother of five children, and half of one of America’s most dynamic power couples. Her husband, Desmond, shares his wife’s passion about criminal justice reform and voting rights. His organization, FRRC — an organization Sheena helped build — was recently nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Perhaps the greatest tool Sheena has in her arsenal is how she makes people feel.
Whether it is someone who has fallen on hard times or a multimillionaire; she connects with them and leaves them feeling inspired. Ask Sheena about these accomplishments and her drive, her answer is simple: “I’m just Sheena."