Former head of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission Sheryl Davis pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of self-dealing and misusing taxpayer funds — as her attorney launched a fiery defense, saying his client had begged for help from the city.
Davis, clad in a black blazer and pink shoes, was surrounded by supporters and defense attorney Tony Brass at San Francisco Superior Court Thursday as she entered the courtroom in silence to enter pleas of not guilty to a battery of charges stemming from her time leading the Dream Keeper Initiative, a $120 million program to aid the city’s black community that imploded in scandal in 2024.
“She’s not a crook, she’s not hiding anything,” Brass told reporters.
Brass said Davis had been forthcoming with investigators and repeatedly told the city she needed staffing help in running the massive spending plan.
“She was the one asking for accountability. If she was profiting from the system, why would she have ever done that?” Brass added.
Davis is accused of a “pervasive pattern of self-dealing” during her time leading the Dream Keeper Initiative, launched in 2021 in response to the police killing of George Floyd.
She allegedly used her partner James Spingola’s nonprofit, Collective Impact, as a “slush fund” to help pay for PR for her children’s book, celebrity-studded events and other expenses described as “frivolous” by a prior city audit — as she was directing millions in city funds towards the organization.
She allegedly paid a $10,000 speaking fee to Sonya Curry, mother of Warriors star Steph Curry, and paid out tens of thousands to artists like Goapele to perform at city-sponsored events — and the launch party for her children’s book, “Free to Sing.”
She and Spingola, who lived together, shared bank accounts and she allegedly wielded significant sway over Collective Impact, which she led before joining the Human Rights Commission as director in 2018.
Davis also allegedly splurged on pricey parties using city funds, including an ice rink rental, DJ floral arrangements and catering in Philadelphia costing $2.1 million, $267,000 on gala tickets and sponsorships, and $60,000 for a venue rental at the Golden State Warriors’ Chase Center.
Davis also approved millions in grants to another nonprofit, Homeless Children’s Network, that paid out $140,000 to her young son for research assistance.
“Ms. Davis was funneling city money to Collective Impact, while also steering how Collective Impact spent its funds, both for [Human Rights Commission] use and for her personal benefit,” prosecutors said.
Brass said the city knew about her ties to Collective Impact when they hired her to lead the Human Rights Commission.
“The mission of the agency was to get money to the hands of the people who needed it very quickly, immediately — and Collective Impact … was the route through which the money was going to go,” Brass said.
Davis is due back in court on May 6.
