Rodriguez Brings More than Two Decades of Proven Leadership Fighting for New York’s Children, Families and Communities

A Steadfast Advocate for Children and Families, Rodriguez Returns to CCC and Assumes the Role with a Strong Track Record Championing Systemic Change and Improvements in Education, Housing, Child Welfare and Economic Justice

NEW YORK – Today, Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York (CCC) proudly announces that Raysa S. Rodriguez, a champion for children and families, will serve as the organization’s Executive Director, effective on March 24, 2025. Building on the organization’s legacy as an independent voice for children at this pivotal moment, Rodriguez will leverage CCC’s best in class policy research and data analysis to promote greater government accountability and more responsive policies that better meet the needs of New York’s children. Rodriguez is committed to harnessing the energy and expertise of CCC’s Board of Directors, Advocacy Council and staff to ensure that leaders at all levels of government prioritize children, families, and communities.

“In this time of crisis and uncertainty, I am propelled by a deep sense of duty and responsibility to protect New York’s children,” said Rodriguez. “Our greatest threat is not only the persistent number of children and families enduring economic insecurity, lack of opportunity, and injustice – it is also the erosion of government accountability to ensure all children are healthy, housed, educated and safe. Now more than ever, we must stand up for children and families and refocus on facts and action to advance systemic change for the benefit of the youngest New Yorkers. I am deeply honored to have been chosen to step into this role that will allow me to continue advancing CCC’s longstanding mission of uplifting and protecting New York’s children through data-driven, fact-based advocacy. I look forward to working alongside CCC’s staff, Board of Directors and our partners to tackle our city, state and country’s most urgent challenges.”

Rodriguez currently serves as the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies’ (FPWA) Chief Program and Policy Officer, overseeing the organization’s policy advocacy efforts and the delivery of programmatic supports to nonprofit partners that serve New Yorkers. She is a results-oriented leader with more than two decades of experience advancing equity for children, families and communities including expanding access to universal Pre-K for low-income preschoolers, increasing the value of housing vouchers for families with children facing homelessness, raising the lower age of juvenile delinquency and elevating the need for ongoing youth justice reforms, advocating for salary parity for the early childhood workforce, and advancing more accurate true cost of living measures to inform policymaking.

Rodriguez assumes the top leadership position at CCC with a successful track record as a nonprofit leader, building on her early experience as a graduate intern at CCC, and later serving as the organization’s Associate Executive Director for Policy and Advocacy. She also brings previous experience as Vice President of Policy and Planning at WIN, NYC’s largest provider of family shelters and supportive housing, leading efforts to improve outcomes for families experiencing housing insecurity. As United Way of New York City’s Associate Vice President for Education, she spearheaded initiatives that spanned from early childhood through K-12. And, as a Senior Advisor on Children’s Issues for the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services during Mayor Bloomberg’s administration, she supported strategies aimed at reducing poverty and strengthening early care and education.

CCC’s Board of Directors welcomes Rodriguez’s expertise and deep understanding of the many challenges facing New York’s children, families and communities and her commitment to strengthening the organization’s mission to advance well-being, equity, and justice for all of New York’s children through research, advocacy, and civic engagement.

“Raysa’s deep advocacy experience, demonstrated leadership expertise, and dedication to protecting children and families make her the ideal executive to advance CCC’s mission at this critical moment,” said Jane Blair Oberle, Citizens’ Committee for Children Board Chair. “I am certain that her leadership, work ethic and bold vision for the future will have a profound impact on CCC’s ability to advance policies that ensure all children are healthy, housed, educated, and safe. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, we are thrilled to welcome Raysa to lead this historic organization – and we’re eager to get to work.”

“Having been in the trenches working alongside Raysa for nearly 20 years on some of the most challenging issues in social and economic policy, and human services, I’ve witnessed Raysa’s unfaltering commitment to our city’s children and families,” said Jennifer Jones Austin, FPWA Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. “From early childhood education and child well-being, to housing and youth justice, Raysa’s expertise in policy coupled with her commitment to community make her an indefatigable defender of human rights. I am not only confident but excited about Raysa’s appointment as the Executive Director of CCC. I know she will lead with the same passion and dedication that has defined her life and career, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside her to help ensure the best opportunities and outcomes possible for the children of New York.”

“I am thrilled that Raysa Rodriguez, who is an inspiring, thoughtful and dedicated leader, has been named to be the next Executive Director of Citizens’ Committee for Children,” said Jess Dannhauser, Commissioner of the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). “I have had the fortune of working with Raysa for many years and I am confident that her leadership will improve the lives of New York’s children and families.”

“I have had the privilege of working with Raysa Rodriguez to build productive and meaningful coalitions to advance policies for working families, including our work on The National True Cost of Living Coalition,” said Emérita Torres, NYS Assemblymember for District 85. “Raysa is a tireless, honest advocate who brings deep expertise, a sharp policy mind, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring every child and family in New York has the resources to thrive. Citizens’ Committee for Children could not have chosen a more dedicated leader to drive their mission forward. I look forward to seeing the impact Raysa will continue to make in this new role as she fights for a more just and equitable city for all.”

“As a philanthropic partner, Trinity Church is excited to see the impact Raysa Rodriguez’s leadership will have on advocating for better outcomes for New York City children,” said Bea de la Torre, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Trinity Church NYC. “Ms. Rodriguez brings a wealth of experience to the role and the right framework, which is based on centering the needs of children first and foremost.”

Throughout her career, Rodriguez has focused on evidence-based solutions to advance the well-being of New York’s children. A proud product of NYC’s public school system, Rodriguez was born and raised in the Bronx, where she served as a public school teacher early in her career. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development from Cornell University and a Master of Science from Columbia University School of Social Work, where she is now an Adjunct Professor.

Under Rodriguez’s leadership, CCC will amplify its impact advocating for policies and legislative strategies that support children and families while working with government leaders to position New York as a city and state that recognizes that investing in children now, leads to a better future for all of us.

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About CCC: Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York (CCC) educates and mobilizes New Yorkers to make the city a better place for all children. CCC’s advocacy combines public policy research and data analysis with civic engagement. CCC casts light on the issues, educates the public, engages allies and identifies and promotes practical solutions to ensure that every New York City child is healthy, housed, educated and safe. For more information about CCC, visit www.cccnewyork.org