The Opportunity Agenda Welcomes Traci Lester as New President
Seasoned Executive and Nonprofit Leader to Guide the Organization’s Vision for Narrative Change and Social Justice
The Opportunity Agenda (TOA), an organization focused on changing the narrative on social justice issues, announces the appointment of Traci Lester as its new President. She will start her new role on January 21, 2025.
A dynamic nonprofit executive and champion for diverse voices, Lester brings decades of leadership experience in arts, education, and community empowerment to advance TOA’s mission of reshaping narratives to achieve an inclusive America.
Traci embodies the bold vision and innovative leadership that define The Opportunity Agenda. Her deep expertise in narrative change and community empowerment will accelerate our efforts to amplify diverse voices, reshape societal narratives, and advance justice and opportunity for all.
Lester joins TOA following executive leadership roles at prestigious organizations including The Center for Fiction, National Dance Institute, and Reach Out and Read of Greater New York. Her expertise in narrative-shifting through arts and education uniquely positions her to lead TOA’s innovative approach to social justice communication.
I am incredibly honored that The Opportunity Agenda’s Board of Directors has selected me to lead the organization during this important period in its growth. TOA is a leader in narrative change and transformation, and in a world where narratives significantly influence our social reality, TOA’s mission is more important than ever. Together with our vibrant community of advocates, artists, and changemakers across America, we will continue to build new pathways to justice, uplift unheard voices, and empower the next generation of social justice leaders with the resources and skills they need to effect meaningful, lasting change.
A recognized industry leader, Lester was named to TheGrio’s 100 List as an African-American history maker and received multiple accolades including the Manhattan Borough President’s recognition as a Cultural Leader in New York City. She currently co-chairs the Board of Directors of The New York City Arts in Education Roundtable, serves on the MPA Advisory Board for the School of Public Affairs and Civic Engagement at San Francisco State University, and is an adjunct faculty lecturer at Baruch College’s Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs.
Lester holds degrees from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Rutgers University, and San Francisco State University, with additional certification from Columbia University’s Institute for Nonprofit Management. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Education at New York University.
Under Lester’s leadership, TOA will continue its commitment to building cultural and narrative power to move our nation toward a vision of justice, equity, and opportunity for all, while expanding its organizational impact through strategic communication and collaborative partnerships.
For media inquiries, please contact J. Rachel Reyes, Director of Strategic Communications and Network Engagement, at press@opportunityagenda.org.
About The Opportunity Agenda
The Opportunity Agenda (TOA), alongside its network of experts, advocates, creatives, and communicators, is dedicated to changing the conversation on social issues to drive public support for more just and equitable policies. Leveraging a 20-year social justice legacy, the nonprofit offers expertise, resources, and training to ignite creative ideas and build power within communities. TOA empowers advocates to communicate in ways that will create change by spreading stories of justice and equality, while uplifting diverse voices to drive public support for a multiracial democracy with equal opportunity for all.
