Autumn McDonald, Vice Chair
Autumn McDonald heads New America CA—the largest hub of New America —which is focused on promoting efforts that are locally-grown, grounded in economic equity, and in which innovation, technology, and compelling storytelling yield transformative solutions for our most marginalized community members. She has nearly two decades of experience working with foundations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies on strategy, advocacy, and civic innovation. Her work has focused on coalition building and innovative problem solving in service of social justice.
Before joining New America, McDonald served as a senior advisor to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee through the FUSE Corps executive fellowship. During her tenure, she led the women’s economic empowerment agenda, shaping policies, programs, and public-private initiatives to improve economic and social opportunities for women and families throughout the Bay Area. Throughout her career, McDonald has led work related to economic mobility, education, place-based initiatives, and distressed communities. McDonald also serves on the boards of Equal Rights Advocates and has a bachelor’s from Stanford University, a master’s from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a master’s in the Learning Sciences from Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy. She, her husband, and their three children live in Oakland.