Washington, D.C. — Former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams is joining the Center for American Progress’ board of directors, the organization announced today. Abrams is an author, serial entrepreneur, nonprofit CEO, and political leader. Abrams served 11 years in the Georgia House of Representatives and seven as house minority leader. In 2018, she became the Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia, where she won more votes than any other Democrat in the state’s history. She has founded multiple organizations devoted to voting rights, training, hiring young people of color, and tackling social issues at both the state and national levels. She is also a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Abrams is the 2012 recipient of the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award, and she is the first black woman to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party in the United States.
Neera Tanden, president and CEO of CAP, issued the following statement:
The entire American Progress organization is thrilled to welcome Stacey Abrams to the Center for American Progress’ board of directors. Throughout her career, Stacey Abrams has been a trailblazer. This year, as the first African American woman to be a major party’s nominee for governor, she inspired record turnout at the polls in Georgia and energized and galvanized progressives across the country. Throughout her career, she has worked on issues ranging from education to economic growth to voting rights. As a member of our board of directors, Stacey will help steer CAP as we work to achieve our mission of improving the lives of all Americans.
Abrams added:
I am honored to be joining the board of Center for American Progress. Led by the extraordinary Neera Tanden, CAP has been at the forefront of progressive policy development and activism for years. Together, we will find and support bold solutions on health care access, voting rights, the economy, and other critical issues our nation faces.
For more information or to speak with an expert, contact Allison Preiss at [email protected] or 202.478.6331.