Forward Through Ferguson Welcomes Annissa McCaskill as Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Jia Lian Yang
Director of Storytelling & Communications
Forward Through Ferguson
314–396–2953
jia@forwardthroughferguson.org
Forward Through Ferguson Welcomes Annissa McCaskill as Executive Director
The new leader will guide the organization’s development into an anchor institution focused on anti-racist systems change.
ST. LOUIS (September 19, 2023) — Following a thorough and equity-focused executive leadership search process, Forward Through Ferguson (FTF) has named Annissa McCaskill as its next Executive Director, effective at the beginning of October 2023. Previously, McCaskill served as the Executive Director at Dutchtown South Community Corporation, where she led the organization’s efforts to advance neighborhood vitality through community empowerment, housing stabilization and real estate development through a socioeconomic and Racial Equity lens.
“Annissa has a proven track record of success in leading nonprofit and governmental organizations, and she is deeply committed to the St. Louis community,” said Elise Miller Hoffman, Forward Through Ferguson Board Co-Chair. “We are confident that she is the unflinching leader that Forward Through Ferguson needs to drive the organization’s next phase of growth. I know that she will be a powerful voice in our community, and I look forward to working with her to make our region a place in which all St. Louisans can thrive.”
“The competitive and thoughtful selection process was inclusive of both the Forward Through Ferguson board and staff, who were all aligned in their support of Annissa taking the helm,” added Josina Greene, Forward Through Ferguson Board Co-Chair. “At this critical juncture, propelling Forward Through Ferguson to and through its next phase of regional systems change implementation, education, advocacy, and community activism requires a specific set of results-oriented skills and proven experience, and Annissa has that.”
A native of Earlington, Kentucky, Annissa G. McCaskill has called the Greater St. Louis Area home since 1996. A graduate of HBCU Livingstone College (B.S. Political Science), and Indiana State University (M.P.A.), Annissa has worked in the municipal government and non-profit sectors for over 25 years and possesses competencies in organizational development, community engagement, and relationship creation. An entrepreneurial professional with a rare understanding of the need for convictive action toward racial and social equity, Annissa believes her work should be one of service. As such she has served on various boards such as the Mid-America Workforce Investment Board, the YWCA Head Start Board, and the Board of Directors for Catholic Urban Programs. She is an active member of the Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®. Annissa takes most pride in being a sister, a friend, an advocate and a mother.
“I am thrilled and honored to join the Forward Through Ferguson team,” remarked McCaskill. “Their dedication to fostering equity, justice, and positive change in our community is truly inspiring. I eagerly look forward to collaborating with this talented and passionate group to make a meaningful impact and create a brighter future for all. Together, we will work tirelessly to dismantle systemic barriers and build a more inclusive and equitable society.”
Annissa McCaskill will be publicly introduced as Forward Through Ferguson’s new Executive Director at the organization’s upcoming Racial Equity Happy Hour hosted on Wednesday, September 20 from 5:30PM to 8PM at Earthbound Beer. Limited tickets available for purchase at bit.ly/RE23-HappyHour.
Forward Through Ferguson’s Racial Equity Happy Hour kicks off the organization’s annual #GiveFTFDay, 24 hours of online giving to benefit the organization. Learn more, donate, and create a campaign at givebutter.com/giveftf23.
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Forward Through Ferguson is an anti-racist systems change organization based in St. Louis, Missouri. We work to transform the St. Louis region and the nation towards Racial Equity, based on the calls to action outlined by the Ferguson Commission following the killing of Michael Brown Jr. in 2014. We seek a transformed St. Louis region where, regardless of race and ZIP code, there is justice for all, opportunity to thrive, and boundless possibility for all of our youth. Moving forward through the legacy of the uprising, leveraging new ways of being, we will change our region and inspire the nation.
Learn more at forwardthroughferguson.org and follow Forward Through Ferguson on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Youtube @stlchange.
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