Luisa H. Taveras, Esq.

Luisa H. Taveras, Esq., leads WPA as the Interim CEO, advancing the organization as it enters its next phase of growth, impact, and influence. As a former public defender and criminal justice reform advocate with over twenty years of experience, Luisa’s background with the criminal legal system and public policy informs her leadership.

Luisa founded her consulting practice in 2016 and served as principal, specializing in strategic planning and leadership development for funders and nonprofits. Before founding her consulting practice, she worked as a program officer with the U.S. Programs at the Open Society Foundations (OSF) Justice Fund. In this role, she managed multiple grant-making portfolios totaling to $5 million annually at the intersection of justice, education, employment, and immigration.

Luisa also served as a member of the steering committee of the Youth Transition Funders Group (YTFG) and as co-chair of the YTFG Justice Work Group, a national network of over 100 funders that support the well-being and economic success of young people. Prior to joining OSF, she held leadership positions at the Vera Institute of Justice and the Center for Court Innovation, where she collaborated with government and community stakeholders to advance systemic reform.

Luisa has a comprehensive understanding of the court system and the significant impact that legal involvement has on women and their families. Before her transition to systemic reform and philanthropy, Luisa had a successful career as a trial attorney in New York City with Neighborhood Defender Service (NDS) and SEIU, 32BJ Legal Fund, representing clients in Criminal, Supreme, and Family Court, in all aspects of their legal matters from pre-arrest intervention through verdict or settlement. She also represented clients before federal, state, and city suspension, and housing eviction.

Luisa holds a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law, where she was the recipient of the Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award. She is admitted to the NYS First Judicial Department, the U.S. Supreme Court, and is a member of the American Bar Association. She is a Coro Leadership New York Fellow and holds certifications in executive leadership from New York University School of Social Work and FranklinCovey, as well as financial management from the U.K based Management Accounting for Non-Governmental Organisations (MANGO) and Nonprofit Finance Fund. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University, where she double majored in History and Latin American Studies.

Luisa is dedicated to finding solutions for women impacted by the justice system, as well as supporting their families and communities. She focuses on addressing the disproportionate effects that the criminal justice system has on women and communities of color. As the Interim CEO of WPA, Luisa uses her expertise to collaborate with staff, community stakeholders, and public officials to advance the organization’s mission to eliminate the incarceration of women.