May 6, 2020 (New York, NY)  Race Forward, a leading multi-racial racial justice organization, names Cathy Albisa as the new Vice President of Institutional and Sectoral Change. 

In this role, Albisa will provide strategic leadership in the arena of planning and executing the work of Race Forward and its national program that advances racial equity in local and state governments, the Government Alliance on Race & Equity (GARE). Albisa will play a significant role in strategy development, organizational networking, alliance building, and relationship management with a specific goal of increasing the capacity of the organization and its allies to catalyze movement building for racial justice. 

“It is humbling to step into a role supporting the extraordinary work of this staff and our members to transform government and other institutions for the public interest through racial equity, especially in this moment where the strength of our institutions is so central to our fight for multiracial democracy,” said Cathy Albisa.  “And there is no better time to fight for racial equity than in the wake of this pandemic that has laid bare the inequities that plague every corner of our social fabric, leading to needless loss of lives and livelihoods in communities at the frontlines of injustice.” 

Prior to joining Race Forward, Albisa was the co-founder and Executive Director of Partners for Dignity & Rights (formally NESRI), a social movement organization that supports community groups across the country and their campaigns for structural change. Partners for Dignity & Rights is the home of the Dignity in Schools Campaign and the Worker-Driven Social Responsibility Network. She serves on the Human Rights Commission in New York City, and has been published widely on economic and social rights, racial and gender justice issues, and human rights generally.

“We are honored and thrilled to welcome Cathy to the Race Forward family,” said Glenn Harris, President of Race Forward. “During these very difficult and uncertain times, I can’t think of a stronger visionary to lead us in the strategy development and to catalyze institutional transformation in the public, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors. Cathy is committed and passionate about our work, and she will deliver results for the communities we serve.” 

Albisa has also been a Director at the Center for Economic and Social Rights, an Associate Director at the Human Rights Institute at Columbia Law School, a co-director of the Human Rights and Gender Justice clinic at CUNY Law School, and a constitutional rights litigator at the ACLU and the Center for Reproductive Rights. She has also served in the leadership of boards of directors such as the Center for Constitutional Rights, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, and the Center for Social Inclusion, among others. Cathy graduated with a JD from Columbia Law School and a BA from the University of Miami.

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Founded in 1981, Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward is home to the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE), a national network of government working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all. Race Forward publishes the daily news site Colorlines and presents Facing Race, the largest multi-racial, multi-generational conference on racial justice in the U.S.