Amisha Patel

Amisha Patel has over 25 years of experience organizing for economic, racial, and gender justice. Since 2007, she has served as Executive Director of Grassroots Collaborative and Grassroots Illinois Action, organizations working to win racial and economic justice in Chicago and statewide.  GC/GIA organizes Illinois residents to build power for working families by fighting for progressive revenue solutions, living wage jobs, and quality public schools through cutting edge campaigns that directly take on austerity.

Amisha spent years leading arts-based violence against women prevention programming in communities of color in the Bay Area.  The documentary that her youth created, Young Azns Rising! Breaking Down Violence Against Women, screened in film festivals nationwide and won the Asian Emmy for best documentary.  Amisha has received numerous recognitions, including Crain’s Chicago Business 40 under 40 award, and her op-eds have appeared in Crain’s Chicago Business, Bill Moyers, In These Times, and the Chicago Sun Times.