For immediate release: December 21, 2017
Contact: Sean Simplicio
510.325.7089
sean@theopportunityinstitute.org
 

THE OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTE NAMES NATASHA O’DELL ARCHER VICE PRESIDENT FOR STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT

Experienced non-profit Leader will help shape the Strategy and Future Vision of an emerging policy think-tank Promoting Social Mobility and Equity by Improving Outcomes from Early Childhood through Early Career

(Washington DC) -- The Opportunity Institute (OI) today announced that Natasha O’Dell Archer has joined the national non-profit as Vice President for Strategy and Development. As a strategic change agent, Natasha has 20 plus years experience advancing national partnerships, with a proven track record for developing and maintaining strategies to strengthen organizational effectiveness, and promote equity.

“Natasha’s last decade of non-profit experience with the Council for a Strong America is laced with success in launching the first direct-services arm of the organization, focused on promoting equity in local communities of color, also serving as a principal strategist, working with other leaders to secure major grants, and drive expansion of the organization,” said, Christopher Edley, Jr., Co-Founder and President of The Opportunity Institute.  “Natasha has expertise cultivating long-standing strategic partnerships and serving as the Executive in charge of Fight Crime:Invest in Kids, the founding organization of the Council For A Strong America umbrella.”

As part of the Executive leadership team, Natasha will plan and execute the Opportunity Institute's short, medium, and long-term strategic planning and fundraising activities with the goal of significantly increasing both the organization’s scope and significance in the equity space.

Most recently, Natasha served as the National Director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, while simultaneously serving as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the umbrella non-profit, Council For a Strong America -- an education policy hub with over 10,000 combined member leaders, consisting of police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, retired generals, business leaders, faith leaders, and athletes/coaches, all fighting for investments in kids. During her tenure, Natasha raised millions to grow the organization, and won billions in state and federal dollars, through issue advocacy campaigns for at-risk kids and families across the country.

In her previous career, Natasha served as an award-winning television producer. After gaining experience at the “New Maury Povich Show,” and the “Montel Williams Show,” Natasha went on to help build the most successful start-up on Black Entertainment Television, the top-rated live daily show, “106 & Park.” Subsequently, Natasha was responsible for bringing in record-breaking ratings on solo-produced signature specials.

An honors graduate of New York University, and the University of Miami School of Law, Natasha holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications Studies and a Juris Doctor.

For more information, please visit: www.theopportunityinstitute.org

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About The Opportunity Institute

The work of The Opportunity Institute cuts across issue silos to address the complex barriers to social mobility at critical junctures in people’s lives. We focus broadly on educational opportunities, beginning with infant and toddler development and continuing to PreK through grade 12 schooling, higher education completion, pathways out of incarceration, and into early career and family support. Our projects include Partners for Each and Every Child, Renewing Communities, Science of Learning and Development, The Mathematics of Opportunity, and Too Small to Fail.