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For Immediate Release: Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Contact: Germonique R. Jones 202-339-9331, gjones@communitychange.org
Former Women’s Union President Assumes New Managing Director Position
Washington, DC- The Board and Staff of the Center for Community Change is pleased to announce the appointment of Mary Lassen to the new position of Managing Director of the organization. Ms. Lassen has stepped down as the Board Chair of Center for Community Change and assumed her new role March 10, 2008.
“Mary has a remarkable combination of management and organizing experience, together with her deep knowledge of the Center and alignment with our values. I believe that we will forge a highly effective partnership that can provide stronger and highly integrated management and strategic leadership that will enable the Center to move to a higher level,” said Deepak Bhargava, executive director.
As Managing Director, Ms. Lassen will run the organization on a day-to-day basis and ensure that all parts of the organization are working in an integrated way to achieve its goals and strategic vision to strengthen the leadership, voice and power of low income communities nationwide. Cecilia Muńoz, Vice President of Public Policy at the National Council of La Raza and former Vice Chair of the Center’s Board was elected Board Chair.
Ms. Lassen is an experienced community organizer working at ACORN, where she served as Head Organizer in Missouri and Texas, and at the Committee for Boston Public Housing. She also has significant experience in local and state policy advocacy, partnership building, and communications. For three decades, Ms. Lassen has had extensive experience managing organizations, building teams, and developing staff and leaders. She is the former President of The Women’s Union in Boston and served as Senior Fellow at the Boston Foundation where she worked on strategies to improve education and economic opportunities in Massachusetts’ community colleges.
The Center for Community Change has grown significantly in both size and complexity over the last five years under Deepak Bhargava’s tenure. We believe there is an historic opportunity to win policy change that benefits low-income communities of color in the next few years. The Center’s growth and this important opening for change have highlighted the Center’s need for both greater management depth and increased focus on strategy for external impact.
Founded in 1968 to honor the life and values of Robert F. Kennedy, the Center for Community Change is one of the longest-standing champions for low-income people and communities of color. The Center for Community Change will celebrate its 40th Anniversary in Washington, DC on May 5, 2008.
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