Stacey Abrams has joined the Center for American Progress’ board of directors

Washington — Former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, who ran unsuccessfully in November against Brian Kemp in a bid for the governor’s mansion, is joining the Center for American Progress’ board of directors, the organization announced last week.

According to a release from the CAP, Abrams is an author, serial entrepreneur, nonprofit CEO, and political leader. Abrams served 11 years in the Georgia House of Representatives and seven as house minority leader

In 2018, she became the Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia, where she won more votes than any other Democrat in the state’s history. She has founded multiple organizations devoted to voting rights, training, hiring young people of color, and tackling social issues at both the state and national levels.

“The entire American Progress organization is thrilled to welcome Stacey Abrams to the Center for American Progress’ board of directors,” Neera Tanden, president and CEO of CAP, said in a statement. “Throughout her career, Stacey Abrams has been a trailblazer. This year, as the first African-American woman to be a major party’s nominee for governor, she inspired record turnout at the polls in Georgia and energized and galvanized progressives across the country.

“Throughout her career, she has worked on issues ranging from education to economic growth to voting rights. As a member of our board of directors, Stacey will help steer CAP as we work to achieve our mission of improving the lives of all Americans.”

Abrams is also a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations and was the 2012 recipient of the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award. She is the first black woman to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party in the United States.

“I am honored to be joining the board of Center for American Progress,” Abrams said in a statement. “Led by the extraordinary Neera Tanden, CAP has been at the forefront of progressive policy development and activism for years. Together we will find and support bold solutions on health care access, voting rights, the economy, and other critical issues our nation faces.”