WASHINGTON, DC – Martin Eakes, chief executive officer of the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), today announced that LaShawn Warren has joined the board of directors of the nonprofit, nonpartisan research and policy advocacy organization. CRL works to promote financial fairness and economic opportunity for all, end predatory lending, and close the racial wealth gap.
Ms. Warren is the chief policy officer for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and its lobbying arm, the SPLC Action Fund. She oversees the policy agendas of the organizations, which have a presence in several Deep South states and Washington, D.C. Her work advances policy on several fronts, including voting rights and eradicating poverty.
Warren is a civil and human rights attorney with over 25 years of experience advocating progressive public policy at every level of government. She previously served as executive vice president for government affairs at The Leadership Conference Education Fund and its lobbying arm, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Warren played an integral role in shaping and driving the strategic direction of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ multi-issue policy agenda among elected officials, advocacy groups and other vital stakeholders.
Earlier, she served as vice president of the Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative at the Center for American Progress, where her work focused on the intersection of faith and public policy advocacy.
Warren served as vice president and general counsel for the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, where she oversaw the legal, policy, communications and field programming for the organization’s criminal justice, economic development and civic engagement agendas.
Before assuming a leadership role at the Institute, Warren served as oversight counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, where she was lead counsel for the committee’s investigation into the U.S. Department of Justice’s civil rights enforcement record including fair housing and equal access to credit. Prior to that role, Warren was legislative counsel for civil rights at the Washington legislative office of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Warren is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, Howard University School of Law and Savannah State University. She has nonprofit management certification from Georgetown University.
“I am thrilled to join CRL in the fight to protect hard-working people from deceptive and harmful lending practices and financial products,” said Warren. “Our board is deeply committed to driving innovative and forward-thinking strategies that not only shield communities from financial exploitation but also build a financial system that genuinely reflects the needs and dreams of underserved communities. We’re dedicated to promoting restorative practices and policies that confront the lingering effects of past and ongoing discrimination, creating a fairer and more inclusive financial future for all."
“LaShawn brings a wealth of relevant experience to the CRL board team,” said Eakes. “She will ensure that CRL continues it leading role in ensuring that the nation’s financial markets create opportunities for all families and individuals, regardless of their income,” added Eakes.
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Press Contact: Alfred King alfred.king@responsiblelending.org