Together, we can make a difference

Rashida Abuwala, Principal, has worked for close to 20 years as an applied researcher, foundation and non-profit executive for social, racial and economic justice. She works with diverse stakeholders, including lived-experts and community members to partner on grant-making, research, policy solutions, and systems change in child welfare/family regulation and the juvenile legal system.

Before founding New Tomorrow, Rashida was a Director at the Redlich Horwitz Foundation, where she spearheaded deinstitutionalization efforts to move children out of restrictive and harmful foster placements throughout New York state. It resulted in a 45% decrease in institutional placements over five years and was scaled across the state through public-private partnerships involving investments of over $3.5 million.

Prior to this Rashida led a transformation of services at the historic Boys’ Club of New York. As Chief Program Officer, she co-developed and implemented a five-year strategic plan, resulting in new supports, improved youth outcomes, an increase in stakeholder engagement and over one million dollars in new funding. 

Rashida started her career as a community organizer, and has worked in criminal justice reform, youth development, and community development supporting babies to seniors. She has presented at national and local conferences and authored several articles and papers on related topics. 

A proud graduate of New York City public schools, Rashida also holds an honors BA from Wesleyan University and an honors MSc from the London School of Economics. She is a member of the Advancing Culturally Responsive and Equitable Evaluation Network, a graduate of Coro Leadership NY and has served on the boards of the Wesleyan University Center for Prison Education, the South Asian Womxn’s Creative Collective and the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership.