Lisa Owens is the Executive Director of the Hyams Foundation, which supports Massachusetts-based racial justice organizing groups working to build power and transform systems. She sees her role as collaborating with progressive funders in her ecosystem to make consistent, meaningful investments in building movement infrastructure and in providing multi-year general operating support to grassroots organizing groups and coalitions.
She brings over 30 years of experience building local grassroots organizations and supporting local and national movements. She previously served as the Executive Director of City Life/Vida Urbana, a prominent housing justice group that organizes communities against displacement and builds collective power for systemic change. A movement builder and popular educator, Lisa has taught community organizing and nonprofit management courses at local universities. Currently, she serves on the boards of Boston Impact Initiative, Boston Ujima Project and Funders for LGBTQ Issues.