We are tremendously excited to welcome Anika into her role as the Foundation's newest leader, and eagerly anticipate the fresh perspectives and ideas she will bring as she helps the Ms. Foundation continue to lead the way forward, propelling the women’s and social justice movements -- and the Foundation itself -- to new heights.
Anika comes to the Foundation with a lifetime of unique and relevant experiences -- both personal and professional -- to guide her work; she has dedicated both her life and career to the fight for women’s rights and dignity, and she is part of a wave of young feminist leaders who bring new energy and creative strategies to movements for social change. Born in Bangladesh, and raised there and in Pakistan by three strong women who encouraged her to come to the US to pursue a world-class education, Anika felt the sting of inequality early on, as she witnessed her father exercising rights and freedoms that her mother simply didn’t have.
Her passion for achieving justice for the women of this world led her to a career in women’s rights advocacy, first with the Center for Reproductive Rights and then, most recently, as president of Americans for UNFPA, a leading organization focused on promoting the United Nations Population Fund in the United States. Her own life experiences have taught Anika much about how prejudice and injustice can affect lives and communities -- and also about the incredible, transformative impact that increased equality, justice and opportunity can have on those same lives. Inspired by her mother, grandmother and aunt, and by the desire to build a future filled with better opportunities for all of the world’s daughters, Anika brings to the Foundation the courage, tenacity and strategic leadership required to achieve progressive change in the 21st century. We feel so lucky to have her.
At a time when progressive ideals are under attack every single day, our work standing with and for social justice trailblazers becomes ever more important. Under Anika’s leadership we will continue to support the fight for good paying jobs and for reproductive justice; we will continue to work to end violence against women and girls, and to make sure that women are included at all decision-making tables. And we will continue to fund the most extraordinary cadre of grassroots organizations, whose daily work as social justice trailblazers leaves us in awe. Times may change but the goal remains the same: to build a nation where power and possibility are never limited by gender, race, class -- or any other factor.
It’s an exciting day at the Foundation, and we hope you’ll join us as we wish Anika the greatest success in her role as president and CEO. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll share details about events where you’ll have an opportunity to meet our new leader in person. But in the meantime, join us as we say,
Welcome, Anika!
The Board and Staff of the Ms. Foundation for Women
