Rachel Gilmer
Associate Director for the African American Policy Forum
The Black Girls Matter: Pushed Out, Overpoliced and Underprotected Report
@RaGilmer
Living Education eFocus News discussed the findings and significance of the recent The Black Girls Matter: Pushed Out, Overpoliced and Underprotected Report with Rachel Gilmer, Associate Director for the African American Policy Forum.
Rachel Gilmer serves as the Associate Director for the African American Policy Forum, helping develop and execute the organization's strategic agenda for advancing racial and gender justice. Prior to joining AAPF, Rachel served as as the Leadership Academy Director for the Portland African American Leadership Forum, a local organization connected to a network of organizations nationally, focused on bringing together leaders from across the community to develop and advance a common advocacy strategy. In this role, she oversaw the organization's policy and research agenda, including leading a community-driven campaign focused on re-addressing the systemic displacement of Portland's historic Black neighborhoods. The campaign received national press attention and research partnerships and resulted in the allotment of 20 million additional dollars towards affordable housing in one of Portland's most rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods. While in this role, Rachel also founded a year-long leadership development program focused on creating a generative leadership pipeline and supporting young Black people in becoming transformative leaders who hold a lifelong commitment to fighting for racial justice and creating lasting change in their community.Prior to this role, Rachel held a variety of positions in government and non-profits, doing policy development, youth organizing, advocacy and social service delivery. She served as the Regional Equity Coalition Coordinator for the Office of Equity Inclusion in the State of Oregon's Health Authority. In this position, Rachel worked with culturally-diverse community-based coalitions to support them in advancing community needs and health equity through policy and program development. During her time at the State, Rachel was instrumental in advancing health equity policies related to doulas and community health workers, cultural competency training for health care providers and improved race, ethnicity and language data collection processes.Rachel graduated from Vassar College in 2010 with a degree in American Culture and Africana Studies. As a fourth year student, she received an award for her thesis, a critical analysis of the rise of Barack Obama as both an emerging hero of the African Diaspora and the new face of American hegemonic power. While researching the project, she received a grant to conduct fieldwork in France, where she worked with various civil rights organizations in Paris, studying the impact his presidency has had on Black French people’s view of themselves and America. In addition, Rachel is a graduate the Politicorps fellowship, an intensive political leadership program, the Western Institute for Leadership Development and Emerge, a national program designed to prepare women to run for elected office.Through her work in community organizing, public policy and leadership development, Rachel has demonstrated her commitment and innovative approach to advancing racial justice and equity at all levels.
Rachel Gilmer serves as the Associate Director for the African American Policy Forum, helping develop and execute the organization's strategic agenda for advancing racial and gender justice. Prior to joining AAPF, Rachel served as as the Leadership Academy Director for the Portland African American Leadership Forum, a local organization connected to a network of organizations nationally, focused on bringing together leaders from across the community to develop and advance a common advocacy strategy. In this role, she oversaw the organization's policy and research agenda, including leading a community-driven campaign focused on re-addressing the systemic displacement of Portland's historic Black neighborhoods. The campaign received national press attention and research partnerships and resulted in the allotment of 20 million additional dollars towards affordable housing in one of Portland's most rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods. While in this role, Rachel also founded a year-long leadership development program focused on creating a generative leadership pipeline and supporting young Black people in becoming transformative leaders who hold a lifelong commitment to fighting for racial justice and creating lasting change in their community.Prior to this role, Rachel held a variety of positions in government and non-profits, doing policy development, youth organizing, advocacy and social service delivery. She served as the Regional Equity Coalition Coordinator for the Office of Equity Inclusion in the State of Oregon's Health Authority. In this position, Rachel worked with culturally-diverse community-based coalitions to support them in advancing community needs and health equity through policy and program development. During her time at the State, Rachel was instrumental in advancing health equity policies related to doulas and community health workers, cultural competency training for health care providers and improved race, ethnicity and language data collection processes.Rachel graduated from Vassar College in 2010 with a degree in American Culture and Africana Studies. As a fourth year student, she received an award for her thesis, a critical analysis of the rise of Barack Obama as both an emerging hero of the African Diaspora and the new face of American hegemonic power. While researching the project, she received a grant to conduct fieldwork in France, where she worked with various civil rights organizations in Paris, studying the impact his presidency has had on Black French people’s view of themselves and America. In addition, Rachel is a graduate the Politicorps fellowship, an intensive political leadership program, the Western Institute for Leadership Development and Emerge, a national program designed to prepare women to run for elected office.Through her work in community organizing, public policy and leadership development, Rachel has demonstrated her commitment and innovative approach to advancing racial justice and equity at all levels.
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