National nonprofit hires first executive to strengthen representation, openness and inclusivity in internal and external practices
Media Contact: Allison deBrauwere, adebrauwere@strength.org
WASHINGTON, DC – Share Our Strength, a national anti-hunger organization, has appointed Robert Simmons as managing director of diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI). In this role, Simmons will develop and lead the vision behind Share Our Strength’s DEI priorities to ensure these core values are reflected across the organization’s work, including its award-winning No Kid Hungry campaign.
Simmons will cultivate and champion a sustainable approach to DEI as part of Share Our Strength’s executive team, leading the design and implementation of a new diversity framework and developing goals that support it. By leveraging data, insights and industry trends, he’ll play a key role in continually refining the organization’s systems, tools, policies and practices.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Robert into this role which is so critical to our mission and core values,” said Serena Williams, chief people officer at Share Our Strength. “Just as we’re committed to amplifying the connection between racial inequity, poverty and hunger in our work, we’re also dedicated to strengthening representation, openness and inclusivity in our internal culture and policies. Robert’s leadership and vision will be key to ensuring DEI is top of mind in all facets of our organization.”
Simmons joins Share Our Strength following his most recent work as the executive director of the Black Educators Initiative for Urban Teachers in Baltimore, and as senior equity advisor for Strategic Community Partners, where he collaborated with communities to support equity-focused strategic plans and program evaluations.
“I’m honored to join Share Our Strength in this essential work, especially during this pivotal time in society when the systemic inequities that have long existed in various communities are being examined for the first time by many, while others continue their life long pursuit of justice,” said Robert Simmons, managing director of diversity, equity & inclusion at Share Our Strength. “This is an organization committed to ensuring that DEI is not a box to check, it is an understanding that how we think, talk and act impacts historically-marginalized communities; it is a commitment to ensure that every day we enact our commitment to justice. I’m excited to continue the work Share Our Strength has already begun, while introducing new ideas and practices to take it to the next level.”
Throughout his career, Robert has led numerous diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in higher education and city government. His career highlights include work in public education as a middle school teacher in Detroit Public Schools; working as chief of innovation and research for the District of Columbia Public School system; and serving as the vice president for strategy and innovation for the Campaign for Black Male Achievement where he developed a national framework for improving outcomes for Black and Latino males in high school. Robert is a graduate of Western Michigan University and has a Doctorate of Education from Hamline University.
In addition to his role at Share Our Strength, Robert teaches courses at American University on anti-racism and diversity, equity and inclusion, and serves as the co-host for the 3XDope Podcast.
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About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, 1 in 4 kids could face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty.
About Share Our Strength
At Share Our Strength, we're ending hunger and poverty – in the United States and abroad. Through proven, effective campaigns like No Kid Hungry and Cooking Matters, we connect people who care to ideas that work.