Amaha Kassa Email & Phone Number

New York, New York, United States

Founder and Executive Director of African Communities Together (ACT), a national membership organization of immigrants and refugees from sub-Saharan Africa and their families. ACT’s mission is to empower the African immigrant diaspora to integrate socially, advance economically, and engage civically, and thereby to improve the lives of Africans in America and on the African continent.ACT’s model integrates direct services, grassroots organizing and leadership development, and advocacy for policy reform. ACT is raising a powerful new voice on behalf of the African immigrant diaspora in America.In July 2012, Open Society Foundations and Echoing Green awarded Amaha an inaugural Black Male Achievement Fellowship in support of ACT. This award recognizes projects by exceptional social entrepreneurs with the potential to significantly improve the lives of black men and boys.Our work is focused on three priorities: engaging African immigrants in advocacy for humane immigration reform, addressing the crisis of unemployment and under-employment in African communities, and expanding language access to essential services for African immigrants.ACT launched our New York City chapter in 2012. In 2015, we began work the Washington, D.C. metro area. In 2022, we launched our third chapter in Philadelphia, PA. ACT also convenes and manages the African Immigrant Legislative Forum.(AILEF), a national network of African immigrant organizations and leaders.

Completed full-time, four-year joint J.D./M.P.P. degree program at UC Berkeley School of Law and Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Studies focused on immigration, U.S. public policy, human rights, international law, and international development.

Conducting research and writing on local housing policies designed to exclude undocumented immigrants.

Consult on a part-time basis to progressive nonprofit organizations, labor unions, foundations, and campaigns. 16 years experience in development of organizations, fund raising, campaign leadership, policy advocacy, and staff development, as well as research and writing. Past clients include the Greenlining Institute, the Common Counsel Foundation, Puget Sound SAGE, Movement Strategy Center, and NAACP President Benjamin Jealous.

Worked as a legal intern on projects to bring civil suits against human rights violators on behalf of torture survivors.Assisted in filing a complaint against a psychologist involved in abusive interrogations at Guantánamo Bay. Researched New York law setting professional standards for psychologists. My research was incorporated into an administrative complaint with NY's licensing board and a court motion to compel the board to act.Developed a profile of human rights conditions and access to justice in a Latin American country and drafted a legal memorandum outlining the implications of these conditions for the statute of limitations in U.S. courts.

Worked as a legal intern on projects to defend the constitutional rights of immigrants.Supported advocacy that helped a group of deported youth gain readmission to the country under humanitarian parole. Conducted legal research that was used to successfully defend the youth in deportation proceedings.Drafted set of proposed reforms to Border Patrol procedures on detention and removal of undocumented youth on behalf of the ACLU.

Served as Lead Organizer, Co-Executive Director, and then Executive Director.• Grew the organization’s annual budget from $15,000 to $1.2 million.• Hired, trained and supervised a diverse and talented staff of 17 organizers, researchers, administrative staff and program directors. • Led the work of the organization on more than a dozen winning policy campaigns. • Provided critical support to campaigns that improved working conditions for an estimated 30,000 low-wage workers.• Organized and managed several large and effective cross-sectoral coalitions.• Published 6 major and several smaller research reports that have gained widespread public attention and citation from academics and policy makers. • Maintained financial health: during the nine years of my tenure, at no time did EBASE run out of operating funds or lay off staff due to budget shortfalls.• Worked with Board, staff and consultants to develop a long-term strategic plan for EBASE after my departure.

Served as an organizer and representative for this union of Silicon Valley government, nonprofit and healthcare workers (formerly SEIU Local 715). Was personally responsible for 1,200 County hospital workers. •Interpreted union contract, negotiated with managers, and presented grievances to arbitrators. •Successfully negotiated with a professional management attorney to get a first contract for nonprofit service workers. Negotiated contracts for two County bargaining units.•Lobbied the Board of Supervisors and other policy makers. Analyzed and communicated the impacts of budget and policy decisions on members.•Recruited worksite leaders, tripling the number of elected stewards in my jurisdiction. Recruited dozens of volunteer member organizers and member political organizers. Helped develop and run steward training programs. •Regularly participated in election campaigns for issues and candidates, phoning and talking door-to-door with hundreds of voters.

Designed and implemented outreach program to educate Medi-Cal recipients and service providers about the transition to “Medi-Cal managed care,” promote enrollment in a publicly sponsored, not-for-profit plan option, and encourage participants to select a primary care provider.

Recruited youth and students from college and university campuses across the country to participate in a training program for union organizers.

M.P.P., Public Policy Analysis

Graduated from four-year joint J.D./M.P.P. program.

J.D., Law

Bachelor Of Arts