We are ever so proud to announce the appointment of our own NYWF Alumnae, Rosemonde Pierre-Louis as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence. Mayor de Blasio could not have chosen a stronger leader to take that role!
Rose served on the board of The New York Women’s Foundation for six years, from 2001-2007. She was an exemplary board member and tireless supporter of The Foundation, contributing her time, energy and resources.
She has dedicated her entire career to helping New York City’s most vulnerable people. Her record includes more than 20 years as an educator, advocate and attorney for women’s rights, survivors of domestic violence, the underserved and low income and working poor. Ms. Pierre-Louis served as Manhattan Deputy Borough President from 2005 until 2013, and was responsible for overseeing several of the Borough President’s key initiatives related to transportation, domestic violence, food, and the environment, as well as the unprecedented reform of Manhattan’s 12 Community Boards and the Go Green Initiatives. She has become a champion for food justice and equity issues in the borough, especially in low-income communities. She was the impetus behind The Politics of Food Conference and subsequent report: Food in the Public Interest.
Ms. Pierre-Louis has held several leadership positions prior to becoming Deputy Borough President with organizations such as Harlem Legal Services, Network for Women’s Services, Sanctuary for Families and Queens Legal Services. She represented battered women before New York State’s Supreme and Family Courts as well as training corporate attorneys to undertake cases representing victims of domestic violence on a pro bono basis. Most notably, Ms. Pierre-Louis created and developed a program to teach battered, working and low-income women how to obtain an uncontested divorce without need of an attorney. Since its inception 20 years ago, the program, the Pro Se Divorce Workshop, has been recognized as an excellent empowerment model for women and is now being replicated throughout New York State.
Ms. Pierre-Louis is a frequent lecturer on domestic violence and the law, and served as an adjunct Professor at Fordham University School of Law for six years. Rosemonde Pierre-Louis is the first Haitian American to serve as a Deputy Borough President. Ms. Pierre-Louis completed her undergraduate studies in political science at Tufts University, and earned a law degree at Case Western University School of Law.
Please join me in congratulating Rose in her new role serving the people of New York City!
Advance Justice For Women
