Teal Inzunza, LMSW

Teal Inzunza, LMSW, the newly appointed Associate Vice President of Justice Initiatives at the Urban Resource Institute (URI), stands at the forefront of advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and homeless families. In her newly created role, reporting directly to Amanda Eckhardt, Chief Program Officer, Inzunza assumes a pivotal position within URI’s Senior Team.

 

With a robust background as the Director of Economic Empowerment at URI for the past five years, Inzunza has been a steadfast advocate for economic justice in New York City, demonstrating expertise in coerced debt, LGBTQ survivor support, and navigating housing and public benefits systems. In her new capacity, Inzunza will lead a team overseeing ten programs  with a $7 million budget, encompassing People and Animals Living Safely, clinical support, economic empowerment, legal services, crime victim services and prevention and intervention as solutions to end domestic violence and homelessness.  URI’s Justice Initiatives will work in partnership with survivors and impacted communities at the intersection of poverty and racism to end the cycles that fuel homelessness and violence.

 

A licensed social worker, Inzunza’s commitment to creating pathways for survivors to overcome economic challenges is evident in her co-chair role in the Domestic Violence and Economic Justice Task Force. Beyond her role at URI, she co-founded the Economic Justice for Survivors Collaborative and is an active member of the National Coerced Debt Working Group.

 

Inzunza’s impact extends nationally, with authored reports and op-eds, including “Reinvesting in Economic Justice, Equity, and Solidarity for Survivors in NYC.” Her dedication has earned her recognition, receiving the Systems Changer Award from Her Justice in 2023 and the Change Maker Award from the Anti-Violence Project in 2022.

 

A Licensed Master Social Worker, Inzunza most recently served as the Program Director of the Economic Empowerment Program at URI, focusing on serving homeless families, including survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence. Her advocacy extends to co-chairing the NYC Domestic Violence & Economic Justice Taskforce and active participation in city and nationwide working groups. Notably, Inzunza played a pivotal role in creating the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) Leadership Academy at the Anti-Violence Project, empowering TGNC survivors to become leaders in the movement for justice and equity. Inzunza’s profound commitment lies in creating an economically just and equitable world, addressing the economic impact on survivors of domestic violence, and fostering meaningful change on intersecting issues of oppression.

 

A proud alumna of Fordham University, Inzunza holds a BA in Social Work and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Fordham’s Graduate School of Social Service.