Sharon D. Daughtry

Director, Ministry Arts

Sharon Daughtry is Director of the National Department of Ministry Arts.

A graduate of Dartmouth College, Ms. Daughtry’s early experiences as a native of Brooklyn, New York, and after, Teaneck, New Jersey, informed her strong sense of community responsibility and global consciousness. This is evidenced by her participation in numerous organizations and coalitions, including National Black United Front (NBUF), Operation PUSH, Sister Against South African Apartheid (SASAA) and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Through participation in these organizations, Ms. Daughtry learned sound, principled leadership skills, the value of being a team player, the importance of great listening skills, and the necessity of taking a stand for justice.

In 1989, Ms. Daughtry, along with two colleagues, started Freedom Prep Academy, an alternative NYC high school program offering GED preparation, job readiness training and job referrals, with an emphasis on cultural studies. Ms. Daughtry finds a sense of satisfaction in knowing that most of her students graduated and became positive, contributing members of society and many are working in and pursuing professional careers.

Ms. Daughtry has served as the Associate Director of Jacob Riis Neighborhood Settlement Community Center in Long Island City, New York (1993); and, Executive Director of Sister-to- sister, a Brooklyn-based not-for-profit mentoring program, serving girls ages 7-18 who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS (1996)

After taking off extensive time to travel much of the world as an artist, Ms. Daughtry returned to Brooklyn, New York and became an award winning teacher of the Arts in the New York City Public School system.

Currently, as Executive Director of the Downtown Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance (DBNA), a signatory on the 2005 historic Atlantic Yards Community Benefits Agreement, Ms. Daughtry finds fulfillment in orchestrating and participating in programs that positively and directly impact her community, including the over 600 Brooklyn-based community partner organizations she has recruited to collaborate with DBNA. Among these programs are: DBNA’s Community Tickets Program which has given out over 85k tickets to members of the Brooklyn community, in partnership with Barclays Center; The Atlantic Yards/NETS/DBNA Community Foundation which has awarded over 400k to 78 Brooklyn community based not for profit organizations. A community health facility, located by Barclays Center, in partnership with New York Presbyterian Methodist Hospital, The Lazarus, Douglas, & Tubman Community Prison Re-entry Program; and, Invictus Youth Initiative. Ms. Daughtry is currently working on the implementation of a DBNA community Intergenerational center to be housed in the footprint of Pacific Parks in Brooklyn, New York. This facility will provide quality senior, youth and children centers with intergenerational programming.

In addition to being the second-born child of the Reverend Doctors Herbert and Karen Daughtry, Sharon is also the mother of one blessed son, Lorenzo, and one beautiful granddaughter, Lauren Joy (Boom). She is also the doting aunt of two nephews, Daniel and Myles.