Jennifer Jones Austin 

Jennifer Jones Austin is a fourth-generation faith and social justice leader who has dedicated her career to advancing equity and expanding opportunity for New Yorkers.

As CEO and Executive Director of Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), an anti-poverty policy and advocacy organization representing 170 member agencies and faith partners, Jones Austin has led successful efforts to strengthen the social safety net and advance policies that empower disenfranchised and marginalized communities. Her work has focused on the intersection of race, poverty, law and public policy.

Jones Austin previously chaired the New York City Racial Justice Commission, the first municipal racial justice commission of its kind in the nation and served as Chair of the New York City Board of Correction, where she oversaw the rulemaking process that ended solitary confinement in New York City jails.

She currently serves as Vice Chair of the National Action Network board and has held leadership roles on numerous public and nonprofit commissions, including the New York State 400 Years of African American History Commission, Fordham University’s Feerick Center for Social Justice Advisory Board, Harvard University’s Center for Law, Brain and Behavior Advisory Board and the COVID-19 “Roll Up Your Sleeves” Task Force. She was also a Visiting Scholar at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work and Scholar in Residence at Alliance University's Center for Racial Reconciliation (CRR).

Jones Austin served as co-chair of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s transition team and advised the City’s universal prekindergarten expansion and NYPD Reform and Reinvention Collaborative.

She is the author of Consider it Pure Joy and editor of God in the Ghetto: A Prophetic World Revisited.

Jones Austin earned a juris doctor from Fordham University School of Law, a Master of Science in management and policy from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service and a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University.

“I am honored to serve as Chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board. Trust between government and the communities we serve lay at the heart of public safety. It is our responsibility as public servants to deepen trust by promoting transparency and integrity through our every action. As Chair, I will work to advance CCRB’s critical mission of accountability and look forward to the work ahead.”