Urban Resource Institute Appoints blair doroshwalther as Economic Empowerment Program Director

Urban Resource Institute Appoints blair doroshwalther

as Economic Empowerment Program Director

New York, NY (April 15, 2024) – Urban Resource Institute (URI), the nation’s largest and foremost provider of shelter and comprehensive services for survivors of domestic violence and homelessness, is thrilled to announce the appointment of blair doroshwalther, LMSW, (they/he) as the new Program Director for the URI Economic Empowerment Program (EEP).

As the Program Director, blair will lead URI’s economic justice initiatives within the Justice Initiatives department, which empowers individuals, families, and communities, particularly those facing barriers to safety. They will report to and collaborate closely with Teal Inzunza, Associate Vice President of Justice Initiatives, to deepen and grow the program’s impact.

“blair’s extensive experience and unwavering dedication to economic justice make him an invaluable asset to our team,” says Inzunza. “Their passion for creating equitable solutions and empowering marginalized communities aligns perfectly with URI’s mission. We look forward to the positive impact they will have as the Program Director for the Economic Empowerment Program.”

The URI Economic Empowerment Program provides financial and career education services, supporting domestic violence survivors, homeless families, and youth. blair’s commitment to economic justice is evident in their collaborative work, including co-authoring the impactful report, “Reinvesting in Economic Justice, Equity, and Solidarity for Survivors,” and advocating for legislative changes.

Their multifaceted approach, including work as a filmmaker advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and contributing to important bills, reflects their passion for inspiring action through social work and multimedia. URI eagerly anticipates the positive contributions blair will make to the team and the Justice Initiative Center.

blair is a Guggenheim Fellow and holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from New York University Tisch School of Arts, and a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Dondi Quintans, Senior Director of Marketing & Communications dquintans@urinyc.org

About Urban Resource Institute: Urban Resource Institute (URI) is a pioneering organization that transforms the lives of domestic violence survivors and homeless families by empowering individuals, families, and communities to break free from cycles of domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, and trauma. As the largest provider of domestic violence shelter services in the U.S. and a leading advocate for homeless services, URI impacts over 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, visit www.urinyc.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

For immediate assistance, please 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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