We are delighted to announce the appointment of Lisette Le as director of Barr’s Racial Wealth Equity Initiative.
Lisette brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership with a consistent focus on work in communities. She has convened and facilitated diverse stakeholder groups. She has built and aligned coalitions around shared priorities. Throughout her career, she has advanced public policies for social justice. Lisette served for four years as Executive Director of the Vietnamese American Initiative for Development (VietAID) in Boston’s Fields Corner neighborhood. She was Executive Director of the Massachusetts Voter Table. Prior to that, she was a field and political coordinator for Right to the City – a national alliance focused on collective action “to build democratic, just, and sustainable communities.” Lisette started her career with Boston’s Chinese Progressive Association and most recently was a principal with Kittleman & Associates, a nonprofit executive search firm.
“Throughout her career, Lisette has brought a deep respect for the communities she has served and a keen focus on driving change,” said Jim Canales, Barr’s president. “Her skills, experiences, and approach all align to what we sought in a leader for Barr’s Racial Wealth Equity initiative. She is a collaborator who knows how to guide and support diverse coalitions. She is a leader who has built deep and trusting relationships in communities of color across Greater Boston. And she understands the policy and other system levers that enable change.”
“I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to join the Barr Foundation and lead this new facet of its broader work to center racial equity,” said Le. Moreso, “I’m looking forward to learning from, working with, and meeting new partners who are eliminating the racial wealth gap and building strong, resilient communities.”
Lisette’s first day will be Tuesday, February 21.
For centuries, systemic racism codified through policy and reinforced through practice has prevented people of color from realizing their full potential for wealth creation. We aspire to a world where racial wealth equity is commonplace, and we believe that supporting activities to close racial wealth gaps in Greater Boston will help move us towards that vision.
Barr’s Racial Wealth Equity Initiative launched in Spring 2022. As of this writing, the initiative has provided nearly $15 million in initial grants. We look forward with eager anticipation to how this work will continue to evolve and grow under Lisette’s leadership.
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