Dear friend,

I’m writing to share some deeply personal news. After nine years serving as Executive Director of Advancement Project —and over twenty-five years as a founding staff member —I have made the decision to transition out of this role at the end of November. This choice comes with a full heart and a fierce belief in the power of our people. It has been the honor of a lifetime to lead this organization in the fight for racial justice and multiracial democracy, shoulder to shoulder with organizers, visionaries, and everyday people who refuse to settle for anything less than liberation.

From the start, Advancement Project has been a first responder in moments of civil rights crisis and community uprising—on the frontlines of the fight for Black and Brown lives. We stood with communities after Hurricane Katrina, represented protesters, and supported the organizers following the killings of Trayvon Martin, Freddie Gray, Mike Brown, and far beyond. With our grassroots partners, we’ve taken on the voter suppression machine, helped restore the voting rights of over 250,000 people with convictions in Virginia and 1.4 million in Florida, and anchored the movement to end the school-to-prison pipeline. We’ve always believed that building power is a cornerstone of our collective freedom—and we have never backed down from defending it. 

As I step away from this role, I do so with immense pride in what we’ve built together. I’ve watched Advancement Project grow from a team of three to a dynamic, Black women-led organization with over 40 brilliant, committed staff—movement lawyers, strategists, organizers, communicators, and administrative staff. We’ve trained a new generation of creative legal advocates, partnered with over 75 organizations in 18 states, and continued to innovate in our approach to movement lawyering.  We've built a leaderful organization that is ready for the next 25 years.

This moment in history calls for bold, unapologetic action. The forces of oppression are relentless, but so are we. This organization is strong, visionary, and ready for what’s next. This year alone, we are working to:

Protect the right to free, public education and the rights of immigrant and LGBTQIA+ students,
Defend the right to organize and protest so that we can all speak truth to power,
Stop power grabs from authoritarian policymakers, and 
Protect the freedom to vote and expand it to people with felonies on the state level.

I believe deeply in the power of collective leadership. Advancement Project’s strength lies in its people—our grassroots partners, Board of Directors, executive team, staff, and every single one of you who has walked alongside us in this fight.

In the coming weeks, we’ll share more about what’s ahead. But today, I want to say thank you. Thank you for refusing to waver in the face of injustice. 

Our struggle is righteous. Our people are powerful. And our victory is inevitable—because we will make it so.

With love and in solidarity,
Judith Browne Dianis