Leila Pedersen

2021-2022 | City of Durham - Office of Performance & Innovation

LEILA PEDERSEN has spent the last decade advocating for better climate, democracy, and economic policies and practices. Most recently, she published original research and provided technical assistance to state policymakers and community partners of the North Carolina Justice Center. Previously, Leila launched and managed programs to help amplify the impact of social entrepreneurs at New America and led statewide campaigns that led to the passage of landmark legislation at Common Cause.  Leila earned her MPA from the London School of Economics and Political Science and her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. She remains an active alumnus of the Roosevelt Institute Campus Network and New Leaders Council. 

Project

The city and county of Durham launched a Recovery and Renewal Task Force (RRTF) in May 2020 to advise local elected leaders and serve as a vehicle for meaningfully engaging the community in mitigating the spread of Covid-19 and charting a course toward an equitable path to recovery. Working in partnership with groups like the Chamber of Commerce, Discover Durham, North Carolina Central University, and El Centro Hispano, FUSE will help Durham put recommendations into action and implement new initiatives centered on talent development and back-to-work programs, small business resiliency, small business promotion, and support for workers in low-wage industries.