Brown’s Promise Welcomes Civil Rights Attorney GeDá Jones Herbert As New Chief Legal Counsel

Washington, D.C.—Brown’s Promise today announced the appointment of GeDá Jones Herbert as its new Chief Legal Counsel. Jones Herbert brings extensive experience in education and civil rights law, particularly with issues relating to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The announcement comes as cofounder and outgoing Chief Legal Counsel Saba Bireda transitions to a position on Brown’s Promise’s advisory board.

Jones Herbert previously worked as the inaugural Director of Programming for the Education Rights Institute at the University of Virginia School of Law and as Education Special Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF). While at LDF, she managed a nationwide docket of school desegregation litigation and supported significant advocacy and education policy efforts. 

“GeDá’s wealth of experience is impressive. I can’t think of anyone better equipped for this moment, and I’m eager to work with such a wonderful leader and partner,” said Brown’s Promise co-founder Ary Amerikaner. “We have the utmost confidence in GeDá, not just because she’s a smart, seasoned lawyer but also because she’s a joy to be around. Her heartfelt passion for equity and justice truly shines through in every facet of her work.” 

Jones Herbert’s work has connected historical injustices and contemporary civil rights challenges throughout her career. Before joining LDF, she was an attorney at the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, AL, focusing on appellate litigation and community education and drawing the connections from slavery to mass incarceration in America. She holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, a Master’s degree in School Administration and Supervision from Lipscomb University, and a B.A. in Psychology from Spelman College.

“As a fellow public school parent who has worked closely with families and underserved community members, GeDá understands the importance of our work on a personal level. She is a legal powerhouse and the person we need to propel our mission forward. Although it is bittersweet to transition out of a full-time role with Brown’s Promise, I couldn’t be more proud of all we have accomplished in these short couple of years. With GeDá joining the team, I’m fully confident in the strides we’ll take in our continued fight to fulfill the promise of Brown,” said advisory board member and outgoing Chief Legal Counsel Saba Bireda.

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Hosted at Southern Education Foundation, Brown’s Promise is fighting to advance educational equity through integration. Brown’s Promise combines research, litigation, advocacy, collaboration, and communications to create schools where children from all backgrounds learn together in excellent, well-resourced, diverse environments led by diverse educators. To learn more about Brown’s Promise, visit www.brownspromise.org/about