Helen Chin is the President of Communities First which is housed at Race Forward and Amalgamated Foundation where she serves as a Senior Fellow. Under Helen’s leadership, Communities First is transforming how federal, state, and local governments invest public dollars in low-wealth and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities by implementing a relationships-first approach to community-driven solutions that centers frontline communities’ leadership, innovation, and priorities.
Prior to launching Communities First, Helen worked at the Surdna Foundation for 13 years, as the Program Director for Sustainable Environments at the Surdna Foundation. She led the program’s work to support Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and low-wealth communities achieve racial equity, and economic, environmental and climate justice.
She holds a Master of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University. Presently she serves on the Advisory Committee for the Amplify Fund and Freedom Funders.