January 28, 2026
Ms. Foundation for Women Announces New Board Member Congresswoman Lateefah Simon
The nation’s oldest women’s foundation names Congresswoman Lateefah Simon to its distinguished board
NEW YORK (January 28, 2026) – Today, Ms. Foundation for Womenis pleased to announce the appointment of Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, Representative for California’s 12th Congressional District, to its distinguished national Board of Directors. A renowned advocate for civil rights, Congresswoman Simon brings decades of leadership in philanthropy, grassroots organizing, advocacy, and activism to the Foundation’s mission of advancing equity for all.
Congresswoman Lateefah Simon is a former grantee partner and recipient of the Ms. Foundation’s 2024 Marie C. Wilson Award. Throughout her career, Congresswoman Simon has created lasting change, inspiring and paving the way for future generations. Her appointment strengthens Ms. Foundation’s dynamic and diverse board at a pivotal moment for women’s rights, furthering its commitment to building collective power and driving systemic change across the U.S.
“It’s an honor to welcome Congresswoman Lateefah Simon to the Ms. Foundation board during a time when the battle for civil rights remains as relevant and as urgent as ever”, said Teresa C. Younger, President and CEO of Ms. Foundation for Women. “As we work together to advance justice and equity, we look forward to the invaluable influence and vision that she will bring.”
Congresswoman Lateefah Simon | Board Member
Congresswoman Lateefah Simon proudly represents California’s 12th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. California’s 12th District is home to numerous diverse communities and encompasses parts of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, and San Leandro.
With over three decades of experience in organizing, advocacy, and philanthropy, Congresswoman Simon has deep roots as a Bay Area leader and activist. In Congress, Congresswoman Simon is focused on addressing the housing affordability crisis, tackling the mental health and homelessness epidemic, lowering everyday costs for working families from groceries to prescription drugs, building climate resilience, protecting women’s rights, standing up for immigrant communities, and more.
Congresswoman Simon serves as a Deputy Whip for Policy, a Vice Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and Democratic Women’s Caucus.
Early Beginnings
Congresswoman Simon’s career began in her late teens when joined the Young Women’s Freedom Center and worked with women and girls cycling through the criminal justice and foster care systems. As a young HIV test counselor and community organizer, she witnessed the impact of systemic inequities, igniting her unwavering commitment to social justice. At 19, Congresswoman Simon became the youngest Executive Director of the Young Women’s Freedom Center where she supported hundreds of young people impacted by the criminal justice system and developed groundbreaking programs to reduce recidivism by providing education, job training, and leadership development. This work laid the foundation for decades of advocacy to empower women and young people.
Later, the Congresswoman’s leadership expanded into criminal justice reform when she partnered with then-San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris to head the Back on Track program. This nationally recognized initiative offered first-time, nonviolent offenders alternatives to incarceration, reducing recidivism, and providing a second chance for participants.
Career
Congresswoman Simon has also led multiple large organizations aimed at advocating for diverse communities in the Bay Area and advancing civil rights. As the Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, Congresswoman Simon’s leadership focused on advancing groundbreaking initiatives that tackled systemic inequities, including: expanding access to legal representation for migrants and asylum seekers, individuals who were formerly incarcerated, and promoting racial and economic equity through policy advocacy and litigation. In the philanthropic sector, Congresswoman Simon served as the Program Director at the Rosenberg Foundation and President of the Akonadi Foundation and the Meadow Fund. In these roles, she managed multi-million-dollar initiatives to empower youth, hold systems accountable, and support community leadership development.
In 2016, Congresswoman Simon was appointed by then-Governor Jerry Brown to serve on the Board of Trustees for the California State University, the nation’s largest public university system. From 2016 to 2024, Congresswoman Simon was also elected to serve on the Bay Area Rapid Transportation (BART) Board. She worked to improve public safety, make ridership more accessible, and she helped steer BART through the enormous challenges of the COVID-19 crisis as Board President from 2020 to 2024. At BART, Congresswoman Simon worked with community leaders and law enforcement to implement progressive reforms. She launched BART’s Ambassador Program, a nationally recognized model for public safety that integrates unarmed ambassadors and crisis intervention specialists to improve transit riders’ safety and accessibility.
Additionally, Congresswoman Simon has served on numerous community boards, including the San Francisco Foundation, Rosenberg Foundation, Akonadi Foundation, Women’s Foundation of California, Alliance for Girls Advisory Committee, and At The Crossroads. Her leadership has earned her numerous accolades, including the MacArthur ‘Genius Fellowship, the John F. Kennedy Frontier Leadership Award, the Jefferson Award for Public Service, and recognition as California Woman of the Year.
In Congress, Congresswoman Simon remains dedicated to advancing policies that address affordable housing, public transportation, reproductive rights, climate justice, disability rights, and public safety reform. Her personal experiences as a single mother, disability advocate, and longtime community leader continue to inform her work, ensuring a focus on justice and equity.
Personal
Congresswoman Simon is a proud mother of two daughters. Her eldest lives with her husband and their new baby in the DMV area. A graduate of Howard University School of Law, she serves as a prosecutor, continuing the family’s legacy of public service and justice advocacy. Her youngest daughter is a thriving middle schooler.
Congresswoman Simon holds a degree in Public Policy from Mills College (now Northeastern University) and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.
For more information regarding the Ms. Foundation board, please visit ForWomen.org/about/our-board/.
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For more than 50 years, Ms. Foundation for Women has shaped feminist philanthropy in the United States, providing a blueprint for the establishment of hundreds of local and regional women’s funds, influencing mainstream culture through nationwide projects and campaigns, and making grants totaling over $100 million to more than 1,600 grassroots organizations across the country. Through grantmaking and capacity building, philanthropic advocacy, and thought leadership, Ms. Foundation is the national model for sustainable, trust-based philanthropic support of women-led movements. With equity and inclusion as the cornerstones of true democracy, Ms. Foundation works to create a world in which the worth and dignity of every person are valued, and power and possibility are not limited by gender, race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or age.
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