Jennifer Jones Austin
Jennifer Jones Austin is a civil rights attorney, social policy advocate, and nonprofit executive who serves as the CEO and Executive Director of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), a leading anti-poverty organization in New York City. She is a native of Brooklyn and a devoted faith and justice leader. Jones Austin was deeply influenced by her father, Rev. Dr. William Augustus Jones, Jr., a prominent civil rights leader and confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Under her leadership, FPWA supports over 170 human service and faith-based organizations, impacting more than 1.5 million New Yorkers annually. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University, a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law, and a Master of Science in Management and Policy from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service.
Jones Austin has held several significant public service roles, including Senior Vice President at United Way of New York City and Deputy Commissioner at the NYC Administration for Children’s Services. She chaired the NYC Racial Justice Commission, leading to the adoption of groundbreaking charter amendments embedding racial equity into the city’s governance. Additionally, she serves on Governor Kathy Hochul’s Community Commission on Reparations Remedies.
She is a leukemia survivor and this inspired her to author her memoir, Consider It Pure Joy, which portrays her journey through illness and recovery. Aside from her advocacy, Jones Austin is the first female co-host of WBLS’s “Open Line,” where she discusses pressing community issues. Undoubtedly, her commitment to justice and equity continues to ignite transformative change across New York and the world.