Name: Delisa Saunders
Title: Deputy Director, Human Rights/Community Relations Department
Organization: American Federation of Teachers
Keywords: Teacher Diversity—strategic development--social justice collective action
Bio: Delisa is a seasoned defender of democracy, community organizer, social change
communications professional and program developer in the areas of civic engagement,
community engagement, diversity and public education.
Currently she is guiding the teacher diversity work at the American Federation of
Teachers which includes pilot programs with AFT members; developing and sustaining a
national group of teacher diversity partners who represent the political, legal,
advocacy, research and education areas of expertise and experience. In addition to this
work, she pioneered the organization’s Faith in Action program and developed Power
Vote--a high-tech/high-touch civic engagement program.
Delisa’s diverse background represents more than 25 years of experience in operational,
administrative and program support in the non-profit, government, labor and trade
association sectors. Her responsibilities have included strategic planning,
communications, grant-making, grant-seeking, civic participation, advocacy, coalition
building and program management. Before joining the AFT, Delisa was the senior
deputy field director and the former communications director at People For the
American Way where she managed public education campaigns, mobilized
communities, developed the African American Ministers Leadership Council and was
instrumental in developing the nation’s first Election Protection program.
Delisa earned her Bachelors degree in from Brown University, her Masters degree from
Cornell University and her Doctorate degree from Howard University.
For more information contact Delisa Saunders 202-256-1312
delisasaunders@gmail.com
Why she is involved in GYOC: Delisa believes that the grow your own work holds the
most promise for addressing the dire need for teachers and to increase the success
rates for students of color and Native American students by identifying, preparing and
retaining teachers who are deeply rooted in and reflective of the communities where
they teach and share the racial, cultural, linguistic and ethnic backgrounds of the
students.
Title: Deputy Director, Human Rights/Community Relations Department
Organization: American Federation of Teachers
Keywords: Teacher Diversity—strategic development--social justice collective action
Bio: Delisa is a seasoned defender of democracy, community organizer, social change
communications professional and program developer in the areas of civic engagement,
community engagement, diversity and public education.
Currently she is guiding the teacher diversity work at the American Federation of
Teachers which includes pilot programs with AFT members; developing and sustaining a
national group of teacher diversity partners who represent the political, legal,
advocacy, research and education areas of expertise and experience. In addition to this
work, she pioneered the organization’s Faith in Action program and developed Power
Vote--a high-tech/high-touch civic engagement program.
Delisa’s diverse background represents more than 25 years of experience in operational,
administrative and program support in the non-profit, government, labor and trade
association sectors. Her responsibilities have included strategic planning,
communications, grant-making, grant-seeking, civic participation, advocacy, coalition
building and program management. Before joining the AFT, Delisa was the senior
deputy field director and the former communications director at People For the
American Way where she managed public education campaigns, mobilized
communities, developed the African American Ministers Leadership Council and was
instrumental in developing the nation’s first Election Protection program.
Delisa earned her Bachelors degree in from Brown University, her Masters degree from
Cornell University and her Doctorate degree from Howard University.
For more information contact Delisa Saunders 202-256-1312
delisasaunders@gmail.com
Why she is involved in GYOC: Delisa believes that the grow your own work holds the
most promise for addressing the dire need for teachers and to increase the success
rates for students of color and Native American students by identifying, preparing and
retaining teachers who are deeply rooted in and reflective of the communities where
they teach and share the racial, cultural, linguistic and ethnic backgrounds of the
students.