Andre Ward, Associate Vice President of the David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy, The Fortune Society
Andre Ward is the Associate Vice President of the David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy, where he oversees The Fortune Society’s advocacy efforts to reduce reliance on incarceration, promote model programing for incarcerated people, change laws and policies that create barriers for successful reintegration, and foster a just and equitable criminal justice system. (The Center is named in honor of Fortune’s founder, David Rothenberg.)
As a member of Fortune’s Executive team, Mr. Ward also helps steer overall agency operation. Mr. Ward previously served as Director of Programs at Common Justice, an organization that develops and advances transformative solutions to violence and fosters racial equity without relying on incarceration. At Common Justice, he built community partnerships to support employment, internship, housing, education, vocational training, mental health and substance use needs. At the Osborne Association, a policy advocacy and direct-service organization dedicated to transforming the criminal justice system, Mr. Ward held numerous positions over the course of six years, including Director of Workforce Development at the Osborne Association.
He is a social worker and longtime advocate and activist for at risk and vulnerable populations who face barriers to employment and have criminal justice, chemical dependency and/or mental health issues.
Additionally, he is a former adjunct lecturer at Medgar Evers College and has lectured at several colleges on the east coast. In addition to being author of the book: “A Guide to Right Thinking for Reentry: A comprehensive study book for the presently and formerly incarcerated.” he is certified as an anger management specialist and mental health first aid instructor. He is a motivational speaker and Life Skills coach. Mr. Ward is also the Executive Producer and Co-Host for: On the Count: The Criminal and Prison Justice Report that airs on 99.5FM WBAI radio New York City, and is currently a student in a Doctorate of Social Work program that he is scheduled to graduate from in 2024.
Email: award@fortunesociety.org
