Eric Ward (Chair)
Executive Director, Western States Center and Senior Fellow, Race Forward and Southern Poverty Law Center
Eric is a nationally-recognized expert on the relationship between hate violence and preserving democratic governance and inclusive societies. His 30 years of leadership includes founding the Community Alliance of Lane County; establishing over 120 task forces in six states through the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment; supporting immigrant...
Eric is a nationally-recognized expert on the relationship between hate violence and preserving democratic governance and inclusive societies. His 30 years of leadership includes founding the Community Alliance of Lane County; establishing over 120 task forces in six states through the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment; supporting immigrant rights advocates as National Field Director for the Center for New Community; serving as The Atlantic Philanthropies’ U.S. Reconciliation and Human Rights Executive and Ford Foundation Program Officer; and volunteer leadership with numerous organizations. Eric’s writings and speeches are widely quoted and credited with key narrative shifts in defense of inclusive democracy.