11.14.2022 / Press Release

Families USA appoints nonprofit advocacy leader Yael Lehmann Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Families USA Executive Director Frederick Isasi announced today that Yael Lehmann has joined the leading national voice for health care consumers as Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships.

Lehmann will be responsible for developing and designing strategies that engage national, state and local partners in all sectors to create a country where the best health and health care are equally available to everyone. She will also cultivate and nurture new and diverse strategic alliances, and ensure that these coalitions build power and consensus around Families USA’s mission and goals.

Lehmann has extensive nonprofit and advocacy experience, specifically in the food access and nutrition spaces. Prior to joining Families USA, Lehmann ran her own consulting firm supporting nonprofits through strategic planning, relationship-building, special events, development and other areas. She also served as Executive Director of the Common Market Mid-Atlantic, where she and her team partnered with government agencies, local farmers, schools, community groups, nonprofits and many others to provide almost one million produce boxes sourced from local farms to food-insecure families in New York City, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. As President & CEO of the Food Trust, she provided strategic leadership, served as the organization’s primary fundraiser and successfully advocated for the creation of the federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative. Lehmann holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts in social welfare from the University of California at Berkeley.

“We are thrilled to have such a seasoned, creative, and respected leader as Yael joining Families USA. She will guide our efforts to strengthen partnerships across diverse interests to unify political powerbases to fight for health for all,” said Families USA’s Executive Director Frederick Isasi. “At a time when almost half of our nation is forgoing needed health care because of cost, and our family, friends and neighbors of color continue with unequal access to health and health care, her creativity, energy and activism, particularly decades advocating for food access and nutrition for vulnerable populations, will be a tremendous asset.” Isasi added, “With Yael at the helm of our strategic partnerships, we will continue to take on and win against entrenched corporate health care interests that push for the status quo at the expense of the health and financial securities of families across this nation.”

“I am thrilled to be joining Families USA. The organization aligns with my dedication to enabling everyone to live a healthier life no matter where they live or how much money they make,” said Lehmann.” “I’m looking forward to growing and expanding our partnership base to create strong support from all corners of the country as we work to ensure the health care system is putting people at the center of their work.”

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