Acclaimed Human Rights Advocate to Head Grassroots International

Human rights campaigner Chung-Wha Hong will soon join the Boston-based global justice organization Grassroots International as Executive Director. Chung-Wha served most recently as the executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), which  during her tenure developed into one of the largest and most diverse statewide immigrant rights groups in the country and played a significant role with national policy.

“We are delighted to welcome  Chung-Wha to Grassroots International,” said Soya Jung, chair of the Board of Directors. “She brings proven leadership and management skills, and a profound understanding of and passion for social change and global justice.” Chung-Wha begins her new position in December.

The recipient of numerous awards, Ms. Hong was named by New York Magazine as one of the most Influential People in Politics. She has played a critical role in national coalitions that won President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which provided work permits and relief from deportation for young immigrants.

At NYIC Chung-Wha worked with a global diaspora of immigrants — many of whom fled poverty and violence in their homelands seeking  safety and opportunity in the United States. She worked tirelessly  to create those opportunities by empowering communities to win policy victories for civil rights, worker rights, and access to education and services. She now joins a global foundation that advocates for innovative, bottom-up economic development solutions in “sending” countries throughout the Global South.

“I look forward to joining Grassroots International and the amazing community of partners, supporters and activists,” Chung-Wha said. “Whether in Haiti or Brazil or Palestine, conflicts over access to and control of water, land, and food deepen global inequality, war, and migration. I’m honored to be leading an organization that supports effective, local solutions to these problems.”