WASHINGTON, DC— A new chapter of American Rights at Work begins today as Kimberly Freeman Brown has been chosen as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective immediately. Through her background rooted in progressive causes, Kim brings a wealth of experience and accomplishment to her new role.

“Our new Executive Director brings new energy and a fresh vision to American Rights at Work,” said David Bonior, Chair of American Rights at Work. “She will be a valuable asset to the labor community and others who share our commitment to ensuring workers’ rights. Kim has been with us since the beginning and I know she is the right person at the right time to lead us into the future.”

Kim’s tenure with American Rights at Work began when she was recruited as its founding Communications Director. She helped raise the organization’s profile from an unknown entity to a trusted voice on labor issues. In 2007, she moved up to become the group’s Deputy Director. Before joining American Rights at Work, Kim served as the Communications Director of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial and as an organizer and communications strategist to organizations like the Children’s Defense Fund and the Peace Development Fund.

The granddaughter of a union worker, Kim learned from an early age the value of union membership. Kim’s entire professional career has been in service to local, national, and international issue-based advocacy organizations. Whether organizing African-American college students to mobilize the community around poverty and children’s issues or helping members of impoverished, polluted communities to plead their case before the United Nations, she always uses her passion and intellect to bring the voice of those left out of the political process to bear on public policy.

“I look forward to moving new ideas to win fairness, justice, and dignity for working people, while building on American Rights at Work’s accomplished agenda,” said Freeman Brown. “We are truly in the midst of a historic moment to pass meaningful labor law reform. There’s no doubt about it, we will get the Employee Free Choice Act over the finish line. Arm in arm with our broad network of allies, we will make the economy work for everyone again. But the vision of the American Dream will begin, not end, with real labor law reform, and we will work, not wait, to create another opportunity like this.”

An extended bio of Kimberly Freeman Brown is available here.