National Urban League Appoints New SVP to Oversee Racial & Social Justice Initiatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 1, 2020) -- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today announced the appointment of Jerika Richardson to lead the organization’s work in the area of police reform, criminal justice reform and related areas.

“Jerika has a depth of experience and expertise, particularly around the issues of criminal justice and police accountability, that can creatively shape and inform the National Urban League work on this key pillar of our mission,” Morial said.

Richardson will assume the role of Senior Vice President, Equitable Justice and Strategic Initiatives on September 15. She will be responsible for developing the organization’s strategies, advocacy, and public education in the areas of police reform, criminal justice and related areas.

She is currently Senior Advisor and Secretary to the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, the nation’s largest, independent police oversight agency, where she oversees its Policy & Advocacy, Outreach & Intergovernmental Affairs, Communications, and Case Management units.

Prior to her work at the Board, Richardson served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Counsel to the Mayor of New York City, managing a policy portfolio devoted to equity, access, and diversity. She began her tenure at the Mayor’s Office as a Special Advisor to Mayor Bill de Blasio focused on media relations and planning on criminal justice and public safety. She also has worked as Senior Spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in the Southern District of New York, and as a Field Producer and Off-Air Reporter for ABC News.

She is an alumna of Spelman College, where she majored in English, and the University of Michigan Law School.

About the National Urban League
The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities.  The National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its 90 local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy, providing direct services that impact and improve lives of more than 2 million people annually nationwide.  Visit www.nul.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @NatUrbanLeague.