FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gillian Linden
703.402.6507
gillian@rosengrouppr.com
AUSTIN, TX (October 9, 2024)—After serving for two years as the Executive Director of the Austin campus of Jeremiah Program (JP)—a national nonprofit with one of the most successful strategies for disrupting generational poverty among single mothers and their children—Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia, Ph.D., has been named as the organization’s VP of Alumni & Public Policy.
In her new position, Gonzales-Dholakia is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to facilitate successful transitions for JP alumni families following graduation, ensuring continued support along their economic mobility journey. She will also oversee the advancement of JP’s public policy agenda, advocating for initiatives that support the organization’s mission and goals and promote systemic change.
“From the start of her time at JP, Gloria has been an exceptional leader, committed to creating a successful environment for our moms and kids and growing strong community partnerships and participation,” said Chastity Lord, President and CEO, Jeremiah Program. “Gloria’s historical knowledge of JP, coupled with her deep background in civic engagement, made her the perfect candidate to take on this position. As we head into the election, with so much at stake for single moms, it is even more critical that we elevate our public policy work.”
With 20 years in nonprofit, civic engagement, social justice and education sectors, Dr. Gonzales-Dholakia has a successful and storied career. She served as a faculty member at St. Edward’s University and has held leadership roles at the Leander Independent School District, the Hanger Foundation and most recently was the executive director at Jolt—a progressive civic engagement organization focused on building the political power and influence of young Latinos in Texas.
“Public policy is not just a professional interest for me; it is a deeply personal and enduring passion,” said Dr. Gonzales-Dholakia. “In my new capacity, I can bring together my experience to support Jeremiah Program in activating our alumni and current moms to harness their voices, driving initiatives that not only support individual growth but also challenge and transform the structures that have historically held them back.”
JP is currently engaged in a non-partisan Get Out the Vote campaign, to engage JP moms as voters and as trusted community advocates. This campaign builds on JP’s commitment to centering the identities of single moms and addressing the unique challenges they face in getting out to vote, such as childcare, transportation, and meals for their children, impacting their ability to fully exercise their power.
About Jeremiah Program: Jeremiah Program (JP) is a national organization whose mission is to disrupt the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children, two generations at a time. By investing simultaneously in a mother’s vision for her personal and professional goals and the education of her children, she simultaneously reauthors her family’s outcome as well her community’s — proof points matter. In 2023, JP actively served over 2,000 moms and children across nine cities in Austin, TX; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Brooklyn, NY; Fargo, ND-Moorhead, MN; Las Vegas, NV; Minneapolis, MN; Rochester, MN; and St. Paul, MN.