It is a pleasure to reach out to you as the newest chair of the board at the Center for the Study of Social Policy. As many of you know, I joined CSSP’s board in 2021 and assumed the role of chair in December 2023, taking over for the inimitable Carol Wilson Spigner, who has served on CSSP’s board in various roles since 2001.
I came into this role deeply connected to social justice work; I have long held the following personal North Star: how do you create more just spaces? How do you create spaces where people of color and women of color can be who they are in their entirety? Justice is, to me, more than an abstract concept, but rather a tangible work in progress whose success or failure belongs to us all. I believe that CSSP, particularly under Leonard’s leadership, is an organization laser-focused on this type of justice; it is a place that accepts the need for bold, unapologetic movement towards anti-racism and the difficult work needed to make that move.
During the short time I have served on CSSP’s board, I have seen the vision of this organization begin growing into something even bigger and bolder than what it was initially built on. That is to say, CSSP has long had big ideas about ensuring that all children, youth, and families have what they need to thrive. Leonard’s vision takes that goal even further; his ideas for the future of this work are truly exciting and necessary now more than ever. As the chair of this board, I consider it my responsibility to do all that I can to support that vision and, in so doing, ensure that CSSP is united in executing meaningful work that truly benefits all children, youth, and families in the United States.
Thank you for all that you do to support CSSP, to actively work and advocate for social justice, and to be an accomplice in all the work being done to better this nation and the world that we share. I look forward to sharing more of my thoughts with you in the coming months.