Imari Paris Jefferies

Imari Paris Jeffries is executive director of Embrace Boston, where he is leading a citywide racial equity transformation through The Embrace memorial, the Embrace Center, and community organizing efforts. Paris Jeffries has a wealth of experience in the nonprofit management, racial equity, community activism, education reform, and social justice sectors and currently serves as a trustee of the University of Massachusetts (UMass) System, Mass Humanities, Mass Budget, Policy Center, and Governor Baker’s Black Advisory Commission. Previously, he was the executive director of Parenting Journey, CEO of the Italian Home for Children, chief operating officer of Jumpstart, interim CEO of Boston Rising, and executive director of Friends of the Children-Boston. Paris Jeffries has supplemented his work with volunteer service on several boards, including Jumpstart, the African American Federation of Greater Boston, Save the Harbor, Save the Bay, the Elizabeth Peabody House, and the Massachusetts Mentoring Partnership. He was recently named one of Boston’s Most Influential Bostonians by Boston Magazine and the Boston Business Journal’s Power 50. A three-time graduate of UMass Boston, Paris Jeffries is currently pursuing his Ph.D. through UMass Boston’s Higher Education Program. He is also an Army veteran, serving from 1991 to 1996.