Amy Crawford

Amy began her career as a public defender and has spent much of her career leading organizations and initiatives focused on transforming systems that disproportionately harm, control, surveil, and detain marginalized communities. Prior to joining FWD.us, she served as Managing Director of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives at The Bronx Defenders, where she led an innovation portfolio and partnership development and worked across the organization on strategy, fundraising, resource allocation, organizational systems, and data-driven decision-making. She previously served as Deputy Director of the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College, where she helped lead the organization through a period of significant national growth, strengthening its organizational infrastructure, expanding its funding and partnerships, and developing and implementing its strategic agenda across multiple violence reduction portfolios.

Throughout her career, Amy has partnered with executive leaders, boards, government officials, funders, community organizations, and other cross-sector partners to build high-performing organizations and translate ambitious strategies into lasting impact. Her work has included developing and implementing organizational strategy, building operational and financial infrastructure, securing philanthropic support, launching and scaling new initiatives, and strengthening partnerships across government, philanthropy, academia, and communities.

Amy holds a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where she was a Toll Public Interest Scholar, and a B.A. from the University of Virginia, where she majored in Sociology and African-American Studies. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Catskill Agrarian Alliance and is a member of the New York State and California State Bars.