Rev Al Sharpton

Founder & President

As one of the preeminent civil rights leaders of our time, Reverend Al Sharpton serves as the founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), anchors Politics Nation on MSNBC, hosts the nationally syndicated radio shows Keepin’ It Real and The Hour of Power, holds weekly action rallies and speaks out on behalf of those who have been silenced and marginalized. Rooted in the spirit and tradition of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., NAN boasts more than 100 chapters across the country to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunity for all.

Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson

Chairman of the Board

Reverend Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson was born on June 14, 1949, in Philadelphia to William and Amanda Richardson. The Richardson family, like many other African American families, was anchored in the church during the pivotal 1950’s. As a youngster growing up in one of the nation’s major cities, the young man who would grow to national prominence as a religious leader and activist, received his early education in the public schools of Philadelphia. He graduated from West
Philadelphia High School in 1966 and enrolled in the Community College of Philadelphia.

Michael A. Hardy Esq.

Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Esq.

Michael A. Hardy, Esq. has been a practicing attorney since 1988. He is admitted to the Bar of the State of New York, each of the New York State Federal Districts, The Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. In 2008, he officially assumed the position of General Counsel to the National Action Network. He is one of the Founders of the National Action Network. He has been involved in Movement politics and the fight for a more perfect union since 1981.

Ebonie C. Riley

Senior Vice President of Policy and Strategic Partnerships

Ebonie C. Riley currently serves as Senior Vice President of Policy and Strategic Partnerships. She is the highest-ranking woman in the organization in NAN’s History. Previously serving as Washington, DC Bureau Chief of NAN’s Washington, DC Bureau, she is the youngest Policy Director of any legacy Civil Rights organization. The function of the Bureau is to advocate for and influence Federal public policy that reflects the needs and desires of the communities we serve based on the Action Agenda set forth by our national board and senior leadership. In this capacity, Ms. Riley serves as a conduit for information about what is happening in the halls of Congress, the office and administration of the President, and the chamber of the United States Supreme Court. Moreover, she and her team educate lawmakers and other stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities facing our communities by advocating for more resources and policies that help invest and advance economic and social equality in our communities….

Dominique Sharpton

Director of Membership

Dominique Sharpton is the eldest daughter of two to Rev. Al and Kathy Jordan Sharpton. She has been an influential force in the National Action Network since she formally joined in 2008. Since 2008, as the membership director, Dominique has led the increase in NAN members while working with chapters around the country to increase their membership. She has not only led the organization in terms of expansion, but she has staunchly promoted activism with the rising youth, motivating real action. She has worked hard to encourage, empower, and educate the youth for the continuation of civil rights activism and to bridge the gap between the new and the old, to ensure action in the generations to come.

REV. NELSON B. RIVERS, III

Vice President, Religious Affairs and External Relations

REV. NELSON B. RIVERS, III came from the small farming community of Bennett’s Point, SC and nearby Charleston, Rev. Nelson B. Rivers, III, son of Merelyn and the late Nelson Rivers, Jr., is a preacher of the Gospel, civil rights professional, and community organizer. He has served as the guest preacher at churches in 23 states from Florida to California and Hawaii.

Rev. Jonathan E. D. Moseley, Sr.

Western Regional Director

Rev. Jonathan E. D. Moseley, Sr. is currently the Interim-President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Action Network and the Western Regional Director which includes California, Nevada, Arizona and Oregon under the leadership of President and CEO Rev Al Sharpton. Prior to the elevation in October of 2019, he served as Vice President of the Los Angeles Chapter and liaison to the local Unions, community organizations and ecclesiastical organizations. In addition, he has over a decade of work joining both Civil Rights organizations and the church community in the fight against education and health inequality, Police brutality, the homelessness Crisis and bringing statewide legislative policy into law.

Ashley Sharpton

Founder & Director of NAN Youth Huddle

Ashley Sharpton is an activist, community organizer, entertainment and media entrepreneur, podcast host, social media manager, the youngest daughter of Rev. Al Sharpton (international civil rights leader/TV host) and Dr. Kathy Jordan Sharpton, and the younger sibling to Dominique Sharpton-Bright. Ashley graduated from Poly Prep Country Day School in 2005 with credits/honors, later she went to study sociology at the illustrious Hampton University after earning 4 scholarships to Hampton and other leading HBCU’s.

Derek Perkinson

NYC Field Director

Derek Perkinson joined the National Action Network as the NYC Field Director, in 2018. Perkinson oversees NAN advocacy and organizing efforts, including staff and volunteer leader efforts, the individual New York City chapters, and the 18 committees in all five boroughs. Derek manages the House of Justice, the National Action Network’s National Headquarters in Harlem. Before joining NAN, Derek worked at the Black Institute – a think tank and nonprofit advocacy organization – where he served as the Chief Community Organizer in their New York City office. He has years of experience organizing communities of color to advocate and engage in political campaigns, criminal justice reform, economic justice, census, and voting rights, civic engagement, and immigration policy.

Derek is a member of Community Board 10 in Harlem. He also sits on the Advisory Boards for the P.O.S.T. Act (Protection Oversight Surveillance Technology), calling for transparency and accountability within the NYPD’s use of surveillance technology and Climate Crisis Policy, advocating for our climate.

Jennifer Jones Austin

Jennifer Jones Austin a fourth-generation leader of faith and social justice, Jennifer fights for equity. As CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), an anti-poverty, policy and advocacy organization with 170 member agencies and faith partners, she has led and secured monumental changes in social policy to strengthen and empower the disenfranchised and marginalized. Jennifer brings to her work a profound understanding of the link between race, poverty, law and social policy in America, and the role religion plays.

Ms. Trudy B. Grant

Manager, Religious Affairs and External Relations

Trudy Lucas Grant’s passion from a very young age was the fight for liberty and justice for all. God blessed her with the opportunity to work in her true calling when in March 2010 she accepted the position of Manager of Stakeholder Relations for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).