Before leading United Way of NYC, Grace C. Bonilla ran the city's Human Resources Administration, the largest social services agency in the country, and founded its COVID-19 Racial Equity Taskforce.

Seher Khawaja leads Equal Pay Today, a national coalition behind successful pay equity legislation in 44 states. Her writing on wage justice has appeared in The Hill, the Daily News, and Ms. Magazine.

First elected in 2002, Senator Liz Krueger chairs Albany's Senate Finance Committee. Founding co-chair of the Bipartisan Pro-Choice Caucus. Key force behind the Reproductive Health Act and NY's ERA.

Appointed by Mayor Mamdani in January 2026, Afua Atta-Mensah leads NYC's Office of Equity & Racial Justice. Her office delivered the Preliminary Citywide Racial Equity Plan within 100 days.

Nathifa Forde leads NYC Her Future, a city initiative focused on young women and girls of color. Previously she led the NYC Young Men's Initiative and teaches at Medgar Evers College, her alma mater.

Developmental psychologist. 1,600+ scholarly citations. Lancet Commission advisor. Research lead on the State of the World's Men 2026 report. Dr. Taveeshi Gupta studies how gender norms shape violence and opportunity.

As Manhattan Borough President, Gale helped pass a reform to the deed restriction process, add “caregivers” to the City’s anti-discrimination law, and remove criminal history questions from initial employment applications.

Ana L. Oliveira has led The New York Women's Foundation for 20 years, growing grantmaking from $1.7 million to $125 million+ across 500 organizations. Previously ran Gay Men's Health Crisis for seven years.

Two decades in nonprofit leadership development. Columbia Business School alumna. Former Director of Training at the Workforce Professionals Training Institute. Tirza Barnes builds stronger leaders.

Sherry Hakimi co-founded Pirth.org after online harassment escalated to real-world threats. The platform now operates in 243 languages across six continents, serving people facing online violence.

Laura is a pioneering advocate with 30 years of experience at the intersection of racial justice, gender equality and economic justice. In a career spanning the public, private and nonprofit sectors, Ms. Edidin has sought justice for survivors of sexual violence, police misconduct and hate crimes.

Sharon has over 25 years of workforce and economic development experience at the local, state, and national levels. She is personally motivated to advance WCC’s mission and support initiatives to reduce social, racial, and economic disparities.

Ane is a policy strategist, social worker, and gender-based violence expert. Ane advances feminist, survivor-centered policies through research, coalition building, and legislative advocacy. She co-founded the EMPOWER Center to provide integrated care to survivors of sex trafficking.

Michelle A. Henry is East Region Executive for Community Engagement in JPMorganChase's Office of Corporate Responsibility. She previously held roles in the firm's Global Philanthropy team and was Vice President of Workforce Services at MAXIMUS. She holds an MPA from NYU Wagner.

Penny Cagan is Board Chair of Women Creating Change and a senior risk advisor to financial institutions. She has led operational risk programs at UBS Americas and MUFG Americas, and is an adjunct lecturer in Columbia University's Enterprise Risk Management Master's program.

Keesha Gaskins-Nathan directs the Democratic Practice–United States program at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. A longtime organizer, lobbyist, and trial attorney, she previously served as senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice and led the League of Women Voters Minnesota.

Gregory J Morris is CEO of the NYC Employment and Training Coalition. He brings more than 25 years of experience in education and workforce development, and previously served as President and Executive Director of the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center.

Peggy Shepard is co-founder and executive director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice. She served as the first co-chair of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council and was the first female chair of the EPA's National Environmental Justice Advisory Council.

Priya Mulgaonkar is Director of the Green Co-op Council. An organizer and urban planner, she has worked on environmental justice and climate resilience, including as Resiliency Planner for the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, and was named a GreenBiz 30 Under 30.

Rosemonde Pierre-Louis is Executive Director of the NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research. She previously served as Commissioner of the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence and as Manhattan Deputy Borough President.

Lourdes A. Rivera joined Pregnancy Justice as its first president in 2023. She brings more than 30 years of leadership in reproductive rights and justice, health law, and philanthropy, and previously led U.S. programs at the Center for Reproductive Rights.

Dr. Alethea Taylor is Executive Director of Hour Children, a nonprofit connecting children with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated mothers. She is an adjunct assistant professor at Hunter College, a member of The Independent Rikers Commission, and formerly led Greenhope Services for Women.

Lara Pham is Interim Executive Director of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative. She previously served as deputy director at the Counter Extremism Project and as an advisor at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and has testified before Congress.

Aamina Awan-Khan is Co-Chair of the Amplify Her Leadership Network. Her career spans government, nonprofits, and finance, including the U.S. Department of State, the Clinton Foundation, the United Nations, and Credit Suisse. She is a 2022 Presidential Leadership Scholar.

Amanda Septimo represents the South Bronx's 84th District in the New York State Assembly. A lifelong Bronx resident, she began organizing as a teen and previously served as District Director for Congressman José E. Serrano.

Sabrina Stratton is Senior Vice President, Northeast Regional Director at Amalgamated Bank, where she leads the commercial bank in the region. She joined the Women Creating Change Board in 2019 and has served as Secretary, Treasurer, and Board Chair.

L. Joy Williams is a political strategist, civic leader, and President of the NAACP New York State Conference. She chairs Higher Heights PAC and hosts #SundayCivics, a four-time NAACP Image Award-nominated podcast that teaches adults how to understand and navigate the political system.

Champions inclusive academic culture, community partnerships, and workforce development to prepare future healthcare leaders and strengthen equity across health education and institutions.

Champions equitable housing, neighborhood development, and economic opportunity while working closely with communities to improve quality of life across New York City.

Builds partnerships that expand economic mobility, support entrepreneurs, and create inclusive opportunities through innovative collaborations between government, business, and community organizations.

Leads strategies that expand affordable caregiving by connecting philanthropy, innovation, and policy to build a stronger care economy for families nationwide.

Author, activist, and longtime feminist organizer advancing gender equity through writing, public education, and advocacy while continuing Gloria Steinem's legacy of movement building.

A 20-year-old Brooklyn resident sharing her story with economic stability as a young woman in the workforce working toward a successful healthcare career that gives back to communities.