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NEW YORK – July 13, 2022 – Lauren Schuster, former Chief of Staff to New York State Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, has joined Urban Resource Institute (URI) as the organization’s first Vice President of Government Affairs. In the newly created role, Schuster will lead and expand URI’s advocacy efforts to drive impact on public policy and legislative priorities. The introduction of a senior-level government affairs professional highlights URI’s commitment to increase advocacy that drives positive, sustainable impacts on the mission areas of domestic violence, homelessness, and poverty.
As the largest provider of domestic violence shelter services in the U.S. and a leading service provider for homeless families, URI’s direct services, prevention, and intervention programs impact more than 40,000 individuals annually. Schuster’s new role positions the organization to grow its impact substantially across New York and beyond.
“Urban Resource Institute is poised to drive transformative, systemic change in the lives of people experiencing homelessness and domestic violence. I am excited to join this team of committed thought leaders as we advocate for robust investments at the city, state, and federal levels in shelter, programs, and other supports that will empower vulnerable New Yorkers and ensure their safe and stable futures,” stated Schuster. “Working with Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal for more than a decade and through my additional experience, I learned how to effectively wield power for the benefit of marginalized New Yorkers.”
Reporting directly to Nathaniel Fields, Chief Executive Officer of URI, and serving as a member of URI’s Senior Leadership Team, Schuster will be responsible for designing and implementing strategic plans for achieving the organization’s advocacy goals. By connecting with legislators and government regulators to inform views on issues of domestic violence and homelessness, Schuster will help advance legislative solutions to key issues affecting URI’s diverse staff and clients, as well as the social services sector. Schuster will also work to ensure constituencies are educated about legislative issues and developments relevant to URI’s mission areas. Schuster will act as an advisor to Fields, the Executive Leadership team, and the Board of Directors to ensure that the organization is aligned on policy and is best positioned to serve its stakeholders through advocacy.
“Following an effective decade as Assemblymember Rosenthal’s Chief of Staff, Lauren understands how the power of advocacy and legislation can benefit vulnerable New Yorkers,” noted Fields. “At URI, we are always looking to expand our impact and this shift to focused advocacy will allow us to develop a thoughtful policy agenda and better advocate for survivors on the legislative front. Lauren’s comprehensive experience and tactful approach is exactly what we need to hit the ground running.”
In her role as Chief of Staff for Assemblymember Rosenthal, Schuster helped draft and pass into law more than 100 pieces of legislation, working directly with the state’s legislative system. She previously served as the Environmental Campaign Coordinator and a staff attorney for the New York Public Interest Research Group, where she managed a statewide federal climate campaign, built a diverse coalition of over 300 organizations, and conducted advocacy across all levels of government. A New York State attorney, Schuster received her Doctor of Law from St. John’s University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from New York University.
Schuster’s hire marks a meaningful step in URI’s vision of a world free of domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, and trauma.
About Urban Resource Institute (URI):
Urban Resource Institute (URI) transforms the lives of domestic violence survivors and homeless families by empowering individuals, families, and communities, particularly communities of color and other vulnerable populations, to end cycles of domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, and trauma by increasing safety and resiliency. As the largest provider of domestic violence shelter services in the US and a leading provider of homeless services, URI’s programs impact more than 40,000 individuals annually through prevention, intervention, education, and direct services in both residential and non-residential settings in New York. URI is recognized as a thought-leader with influence across the U.S. and beyond. For more information, please visit www.urinyc.org.
If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, call NYC’s 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-621-HOPE or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.
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