TORCHBEARER AWARD

Advocate, thought leader, author, public speaker, radio show host, CEO, and lawyer—that’s what you will find when you Google Jennifer Jones Austin. We add social justice warrior, and the list of her accomplishments is still not quite complete. Jennifer Jones Austin wears many hats. CEO of the anti-poverty, policy, and advocacy non-profit, FPWA, Jones Austin delivers real change for communities of color and New York’s most vulnerable individuals and families.

The lifelong Brooklynite chaired the first-of-its-kind NYC Racial Justice Commission to dismantle systemic racism in the nation’s largest city. Through this work, she led the passage of three charter revisions to make New York City live up to its promise of fairness and equity.

In her acceptance at the Emancipation Day Awards, Jones Austin shared that fighting a debilitating illness helped her refocus and solidify the importance of her lifelong commitment to advancing racial justice and equity.