Overview:
Haitian American attorney Ritha Pierre has been named general counsel at Race Forward, a national racial justice organization founded in 1981. Pierre says her role will focus on strengthening the group’s legal strategy while building stronger connections with communities of color—including the Haitian community facing challenges ranging from immigration and employment to housing, education and health care.
Experienced Haitian American attorney Ritha Pierre has been recruited as general counsel at Race Forward, a national racial justice organization based in Washington, DC— with 44 years of history. This new position allows her to strengthen the organization’s legal advocacy strategies and expand its engagement with communities of color — including Haitians — that are facing growing challenges related to immigration, employment, housing, education and healthcare.
Race Forward announced Pierre’s hiring this month, describing her as a seasoned attorney with deep experience in labor law, nonprofit governance and community-based advocacy.
“Her strategic legal expertise and fluency in labor relations and employment matters will be invaluable as we navigate increasingly challenging and uncertain times,” said Glenn Harris, president of Race Forward, in a press release on Dec. 10.
A New York native with deep Haitian roots through her parents and grandparents, Pierre said the role aligns closely with her personal values and long-standing commitment to racial equity.
“As a Black woman who has both experienced and witnessed the impact of intentional efforts to undermine equity and inclusion, including the recent loss of hundreds of thousands of Black women from the workforce, finding an organization truly aligned with my values is invaluable,” she said.
“I bring a blend of legal expertise, grassroots advocacy and creative problem-solving that is especially vital in this moment,” Pierre added.
“My goal is to strengthen Race Forward’s internal and external systems so the organization can continue advancing equity with integrity, courage, and care.”
Bringing Race Forward closer to Haitian communities
Race Forward, founded in 1981, is nationally known for its racial equity training, policy advocacy and its annual “Facing Race” conference. But the organization remains unfamiliar to many Haitian American communities, a gap Pierre said she hopes to help close in her new role.
“Haitian communities are facing layered crises right now — from immigration uncertainty and the end of TPS [Temporary protected Status] protections to housing instability and workforce exclusion,” Pierre told The Haitian Times.
“Race Forward has tools, legal expertise and national reach that can support that fight, but partnerships are essential.”
“We need organizations that are not afraid to stand firm for equity and humanity, especially as those values are under attack. That matters deeply for Haitian communities right now.”
Ritha Pierre
Pierre said she sees Race Forward as an ally that can help Haitian-led organizations navigate complex legal and policy environments, particularly as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives come under political attack across the United States.
“We’re in a very challenging time for people of color,” she said.
“We’re seeing organizations retreat under pressure from the current administration, law firms, businesses and universities dismantle DEI programs, and communities left exposed. It’s critical to have institutions that are not afraid to stand firm.”
Pierre brings over 14 years of legal experience to the role, including positions as general counsel at RiseBoro Community Partnership—one of New York’s largest human services organizations—and earlier work as an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn and associate general counsel at Service Employees International Union (SEIU) —Local 32BJ, representing primarily healthcare and public service workers.
Her background in criminal justice, labor rights, nonprofit governance and human services shapes her legal approach at Race Forward. She holds degrees from St. John’s University, Fordham Law, and a master’s in bioethics from Columbia University, which she pursued after organizing a post-earthquake service trip to Haiti.
“That experience forced me to think deeply about responsibility, ethics and global solidarity,” she said. “Those questions stay with me.”
How can legal strategy protect equity amid political backlash?
As general counsel, Pierre manages Race Forward’s legal affairs and advises its leadership on risk, compliance and navigating the shifting legal terrain facing racial justice organizations.
The urgency of her role has grown as federal policies threaten programs like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and humanitarian parole, which directly impact millions—including hundreds of thousands of Haitians.
Pierre said she is part of a coalition addressing the TPS crisis and sees Race Forward contributing through legal analysis, advocacy support and convening power to bolster immigrant communities under pressure.
“Immigration is a racial equity issue,” she said. “And Haitians are often at the center of policies that test how far this country is willing to go in denying personhood.”
Pierre said her long-term goal is to help Race Forward become a stronger legal and strategic voice in national equity debates—to build stronger networks and partnerships while remaining grounded in community realities.
“Our work has to move beyond theory,” she said. “It has to be practical, accountable and rooted in the lived experiences of communities — including Haitian communities that are often overlooked.”
For Pierre, the appointment is both professional and personal.
“As a Haitian American, aligning my work with my values matters,” she said. “This role allows me to do that — and to ensure our communities are not fighting alone.”
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